Infrastructure-driven development and sustainable development goals: Subjective analysis of residents’ perception

Belt and Road initiatives (BRI) transportation infrastructural development project started a new bilateral relationship amongst countries and acquired an important position to contribute to tourism and sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2030. The SDG1 (Poverty alleviation) and SDG 15 (Environmental protection) are globally highly challenging goals. Therefore, the current study using an integrative conceptual model addresses the fundamental role of BRI in achieving SDG 1 and SDG 15 in the presence of tourism development (TD) as a mediating variable. Based on stakeholder theory, using subjective analysis, the present study examines residents' perception of the BRI transportation infrastructural development, tourism development, SDG 1, and SDG 15. Using a self-administered questionnaire, collected a sample of 800 questionnaires data. The structural equation modelling analysis (SEM) indicated that the residents' perceive that the BRI transportation infrastructural development as a catalyst positively contributing to achieving SDG 1; however, it negatively correlates with SDG15. Besides, residents' perception of tourism development partially mediates between BRI transportation infrastructural development and SDG1 and SDG15. The study contributes to stakeholder theory and understanding residents’ perceptions that may help key stakeholders in future policy and planning.