Introduction: Marine and coastal tourism is recognized as a key driver of economic development in coastal areas. However, its impacts on the livelihood structures of traditional communities, such as nomadic groups whose territories lie adjacent to these shores, have not been fully examined. Focusing on Chabahar County, this study aims to analyze the role of such tourism in enhancing the economic sustainability of nomadic territories.
Objectives: The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of marine and coastal tourism on the economic sustainability of nomadic territories in Chabahar County.
Methodology: This applied research was conducted using a descriptive–analytical and quantitative approach. The statistical population comprised the residents of Chabahar County (236,200 people), from whom 384 individuals were selected through simple random sampling based on Cochran’s formula. Data were collected via a researcher-designed questionnaire (including 8 indicators and 36 items), whose validity and reliability had been confirmed. After verifying the normality of the data, Pearson correlation, one-sample t-test, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were applied using SPSS and Lisrel software for analysis.
Geographical Context: This research has been investigated in the territory of the nomads of Chabahar County.
Results and Discussion: The Pearson correlation test results indicated a positive and significant relationship between maritime-coastal tourism and all eight economic components. The strongest correlations were observed in product and sales diversification and labor market transformation. The one-sample t-test results indicated that the mean scores of all investigated indicators were significantly above the average level (value 3). For example, components such as increased income for fishermen, creation of seasonal jobs, and financial self-reliance recorded the highest means. Finally, CFA results confirmed the good fit of the model and ranked the components, identifying economic activity diversification (factor loading = 0.83) as the most influential, followed by income (0.82) and product and sales diversification (0.80). Overall, the findings indicate a multidimensional and meaningful impact of marine and coastal tourism on the economic transformation of Chabahar’s nomadic territories.
Conclusion: The results clearly show that the development of marine and coastal tourism serves as a strong, multidimensional catalyst for economic growth in the nomadic territories of Chabahar County. This industry not only promotes business growth, employment, and income generation, but also enhances economic resilience and reduces livelihood dependency through diversification of economic activities and structural transformation of the labor market. Therefore, targeted planning and investment in this sector can be regarded as a key strategic approach toward achieving sustainable and comprehensive development in the coastal areas of Sistan and Baluchestan Province.