Investigating Social Relations between Eco-Tourists and Local People of Hormoz Island

Ecotourism creates special opportunities to identify a wonderful aspect of nature, provides new information for tourists, and improves the living conditions of the host society. Since the Hormuz Island has a great capability in ecotourism, it can attract a large number of eco-tourists. Identifying and analyzing the friendly networks between eco-tourists and local people of Hormuz Island are the main aims of this study to investigate such relationship and their social effects. Upon conducting interviews and completing questionnaires by selected people, the collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, network’s analysis, and Visone’s software. Investigating the social relations between eco-tourists and local people showed that the formation of an informal friendly relationship and cooperation between the inhabitants and eco-tourists of Hormuz Island positively influenced ecotourism. Created social networks helped ecotourism continue in Hormuz Island and would have desirable economic and environmental effects for local people and Hormuz Island. This can have positive consequences such as increasing ecotourism development, sustainable ecotourism, and better ecotourism recognition for Hormuz Island inside and outside of Iran.