Abstract
This study aims to investigate the relationships between urban tourism development and sustainable city growth in Almaty, Kazakhstan, by integrating economic, environmental, and socio-cultural dimensions through a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach. A structured questionnaire survey was administered to 1136 residents between July and August 2025 to measure their perceptions of tourism impacts, satisfaction with urban life, and support for sustainable tourism. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and SEM were employed to validate the hypothesized model. Results reveal that urban tourism development significantly enhances economic (β = 0.397, p < 0.001), environmental (β = 0.307, p < 0.001), and socio-cultural (β = 0.373, p < 0.001) dimensions of sustainability. These factors, in turn, positively influence residents’ satisfaction (β = 0.343, p < 0.001), which subsequently strengthens their support for sustainable urban tourism. The findings highlight that economic and environmental benefits play a stronger role in shaping residents’ satisfaction compared to socio-cultural aspects. The study contributes to the theoretical integration of the Social Exchange Theory and the Triple Bottom Line framework, offering empirical evidence on how urban tourism can act as a catalyst for sustainable development. Policy implications include promoting equitable, environmentally responsible, and community-oriented tourism planning strategies in Kazakhstan’s urban centers.