Urban Infrastructure, Quality of Life, and Pro-Tourism Behavior: Evidence from Turkistan city, Kazakhstan

Abstract

This study examines the moderating role of residents' gender on the relationship between urban infrastructure development and both quality of life and pro-tourism development behaviors in Turkistan, Kazakhstan. Using a survey-based approach, data were collected from local residents and analyzed through structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings reveal that gender, particularly being female, positively moderates the association between urban infrastructure development and residents’ perceived quality of life as well as their supportive behaviors toward tourism development. This suggests that female residents are more responsive to improvements in urban infrastructure and more likely to engage in pro-tourism behaviors, potentially due to equal access to infrastructure benefits and economic opportunities. The results support the proposed hypotheses and provide insights into the gender-sensitive dynamics of urban and tourism planning. This research contributes to sustainable tourism development by emphasizing the importance of incorporating gender considerations in urban infrastructure strategies to enhance residents’ quality of life and engagement in tourism initiatives. The findings have practical implications for policymakers and urban planners seeking to design inclusive infrastructure projects that encourage community participation and support sustainable tourism development.