Examining Islamic Religiosity and Youth Perception towards Socio-Economic and Cultural Impact of Tourism Development in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

This research aimed to investigate the impact of youth’s “Islamic Religiosity” on the “Socio Economic and Cultural Impacts of Tourism Development” in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan which is one of the most attractive areas in the world for tourists. The study used “Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM)” technique for empirical investigation. Micro data from 355 undergraduate and post graduate students from the three campuses (Gilgit, Hunza and Ghizer) of Karakoram International University was collected using random sampling method. The results of the study explicate that higher religiosity level of youth in the study area has a significant positive impact on tourism development. The study provides implications for tourism developers and other stakeholders to design tourism development policies in the light of youth perceptions, so that rapid and sustained economic development in the region can be achieved.