Tourism as a catalyst for socio-political change

Tourism is often recognized as a driver of economic growth, social change, and cultural exchange, yet its potential to challenge political systems remains underexplored. This study examines how tourism interacts with state control and social resistance in Iran, where the Islamic theocracy regulates mobility, bodies, and public spaces. Drawing on evolutionary economic geography (EEG), the research analyzes how domestic tourism influences socio-political landscapes by exposing peripheral communities to alternative values, facilitating gradual ideological shifts, and promoting resilience. Ethnographic research on Iran’s Hormuz Island reveals that domestic travelers serve as agents of transformation, disrupting restrictive norms and weakening theocratic influences. The findings highlight the emergence of an unwritten host-guest alliance, where local communities and tourists share common interests in resisting restrictive governance. Additionally, the study introduces ideological lock-in as a theoretical contribution to EEG, illustrating how rigid religious-political structures hinder adaptation and intensify pressures for systemic change. By integrating biopolitics with EEG, this study reframes tourism as a catalyst for political transformation, demonstrating how everyday acts of defiance in the tourism space can challenge authoritarian control.