Scale Development for Ecotourism in the Context of Sustainability: A Perspective From the Gulf Countries

Ecotourism is an emerging service industry worldwide. Due to its recognition, the current study focuses on developing, evaluating, and measuring the sustainability performance of ecotourism processes. Moreover, the study aimed to bridge the gap between ecotourism theory and practice, providing policymakers with insights to balance conservation priorities with visitor experiences. The study followed a structured approach for scale development. In the first phase, based on the comprehensive literature review, expert judgment, and interviews from the Gulf Countries Council (GCC), an initial pool of items was generated. In the second phase, pilot testing and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were conducted to assess items' clarity, structure, reliability, and dimensionality. In the third stage, confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess scale validity, robustness, and generalization. The study explored the key dimensions of ecotourism sustainability. Initially, many items were generated from the published literature; however, based on the study context, scale items for the seven (7) dimensions of ecotourism sustainability were developed, tested, and verified. All the constructs showed satisfactory internal consistency, and environmental harmony came as a strong dimension of ecotourism sustainability. The study provides a validated tool for ecotourism policymakers, operators, and community leaders to develop sustainable development strategies and also contributes to the sustainability theories and the ecotourism literature.