The effect of social capital on environmental behavior of tourists visiting Ilam city

 Concerns for nature conservation and the conservation of natural resources have also increased with increasing travel and people's interest in tourism and nature tours. The concern of all environmentalists is how to use natural resources properly and protect them for future generations. In this regard, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of social capital on environmental behavior.

 This research has been done with a descriptive-correlation method. The statistical population of the study includes tourists entering Ilam city in 2018, of which 384 are selected using Cochran formula by simple random sampling method. The Nahapit and Guchal (1998) social capital standard questionnaire and Emamgholi (2011) environmental behaviors standard questionnaire are used to collect field data. Data are analyzed by SPSS software using correlation and regression tests.

 The findings show that social capital has a significant relationship with the environmental behavior of tourists. Also, the components of social capital have a significant relationship with environmental behaviors. From among the components of social capital, the cognitive capital component, with a beta coefficient of 31%, has the greatest effect on explaining environmental behaviors. The results of the study of the relationship between social capital and environmental components also show a positive relationship between social capital and saving on gas, electricity and water consumption by tourists. However, there is no relationship between social capital and the use of standard products, environmental protection and the use of recyclables.

 conservation of the environment is a principal the education of which shall be concerned in the initial living years; So that, would be accepted by the local society and tourists as a social principal.