The effects of rural tourism on the sustainability of local communities(Case study: Rural areas of Rudbar Qasran around Tehran metropolis)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc. Department of Human Geography, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor Department of Human Geography, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Purpose: The current research aimed to identify rural tourism's role in the sustainability of local communities in Rudbar Qasran villages.
Methods: The research method is qualitative-quantitative, and the statistical population in this research includes two groups: First, specialists and graduates of tourism and rural geography were targeted for interviews. (until the results are saturated), so 50 individuals as participants were determined by available sampling. Second part: Rural residents (Rudbar Qasran), of which 375 people were determined as the sample size based on random sampling. The grounded theory model and SPSS software were used to analyze the information in the qualitative and quantitative parts.
Results: The results in the qualitative section extracted factors such as culture, Integrated and coherent management in the village and tourism organizations, legal and financial, infrastructure, using specialized labor, marketing, and avoiding inconsistent patterns. Also, the Kendall rank correlation test results showed that concepts of the mentioned categories and semantic units could be generalized to the population. In the quantitative part of the research, spearman correlation and regression showed a significant and positive relationship between the factors proposed in rural tourism development and local communities sustainability (economic, social, and environmental dimensions). Also, the regression results showed that among the factors entered into the regression equation, the factor (integrated and coherent management in the village and tourism organizations) predicts positive changes in the dependent variable (sustainability of local communities) more than other factors. Among all factors, "integrated and coherent management in the village and tourism organizations," with a value of 0.167, directly affects the stability of the local communities of Rudbar Qasran villages.
Conclusion: All the tourism development factors raised in this study can take a big step in the sustainability of local communities in Rudbar Qasran villages. These factors will improve the employment status and income of residents of local communities. Furthermore, if the service sector improves, public and private investments will provide welfare conditions for the residents of the villages.

Keywords


Ahmadi M. (2018). Analysis of the factors affecting the development of cultural tourism and its effects on economic sustainability: a case study on the rural areas of Zanjan Province, Journal of Regional Planning, 8(29), 79-92.
Amirmostofian, T., Imani Khoshkhoo, M., Khaniki, H., (2021).  Identifying the effective factors of social networks on tourism branding in Iran, Journal of tourism and development, 10(1), 337-362.
Anabestani, A., Masoumi, M., (2021). Factors affecting lake tourism of the development in Iran (Case Study: Lakes of Fars Province), Journal of Applied Research in Geographical Sciences, 21(63), 193-216.
Avijit, G. 1998, Ecology and Development in Third World, Second Edition, Routledge, London.
Awedyk, M., &Niezgoda, A. (2016).New opportunities for future tourism after 25 years of political and socioeconomic transformation –foresight in Poland's tourism planning. Journal of Tourism Futures' (2), 137-154.
Axinn, G. H., Axinn, N. W. 1997. Collaboration in Rural Development, a Practioner.
Badri, S.A., Darban Astane, A., Sadi, S., (2017). Impact of border markets to promote socioeconomic indicators rural frontier areas, Case study: Bashmaq Border Market, Marivan, Spatial Planning, 7(3), 41-62.
Boroomand, B., Kazemi, A., Ranjbarian, B. (2018).   Developing a domestic model for tourism destinations competitiveness measurement in Iran, New Marketing Research Journal, 8(2), 129-145.
Baggio, R., 2019. Measuring Tourism: Methods, Indicators, and Needs. ©Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2019 E. FayosSolà, C. Cooper (eds.), The Future of Tourism, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3- 319-89941-1_13.
Bel, F., Lacroix, A., Lyser, S., Rambonilaza, T., Turpin, N 2015. Domestic Demand for Tourism in Rural Areas: Insights from Summer Stays in Three French Regions. Journal of Tourism Management, 46, pp. 562-570.
Burke, R. and Hughes, J.C. (2018). Handbook of Human Resource Management in the Tourism and Hospitality Industries. Edward Elgar Publishing, Inc., USA.
Chaskin, R. J., Brown, P., Venkatesh, S., & Vidal, A. 2001.  Building Community Capacity. New York: Aline De Gruyter.p44.
Dobie, P. 2004, Models for National Strategies: Building Capacity for Sustainable Development, Development Policy Journal, Vol. 1, and Special Issue: Capacity for P31 Sustainable Development, 2004.
Dwyer L., Edwards D., Mistilis N., Roman C. & Scott N. 2009. Destination and enterprise management for a tourism future. Journal of Tourism Management, 30 (2): 63-74.
G.KO, James, 2001. Assessing Progress of Tourism Sustainability, Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved, Annals of Tourism Research, 28(3): 817–820.
Garau, C. 2015. Perspectives on cultural and sustainable rural tourism in a smart region: The case study of marmilla in Sardinia (Italy). Journal of Sustainability 7(5): 12- 25
Gjorgievski, M., & Nakovski, D. 2012. Tourism-the Basis for Local Development of Rural Spaces in Maleshevo Region (Maleshevo Mountains). Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning, 177
Hall, M. and Page, S., 2001. "The geography of tourism and recreation environment Place and space" Routledge, London.
Ibrahimpour. H. Roshandel Arbatani, T., (2012).  A survey of factors influencing ‎tourism based on expectations and conceptions and Gap Analysis (Case Study: Sareien Tourism City in Ardabil), Journal of Business Management, 3(8), 1-22.
Jaliliyan, M., Akbarpour, M., Tavakoli, J., (2022).  Identifying and analyzing the driving forces involved in developing tourism industry in Kondoleh Village, Sahneh County, Journal of Social Studies tourism, 10(2), 131-156.
John J. Pigram and Salah Wahab. 2005. Sustainable tourism in a changing world, tourism, development, and growth; The Challenge of Sustainability, Edited by Salah Wahab and John J. Pigram, London, and New York.
Latifi, G., Ghaempour, M. (2016). Impact of free trade zones on welfare and social development of urban and rural areas (Case Study: Salafchegan Free Trade Zone), Social Development & Welfare Planning, 7(27), 189-232.
Lotfi Aghel, R., Moussai, M., Vosooghi, M. (2018). Examining the role of social factors affecting the development of tourism (case study: Hamadan City). Journal of Economics and Islamic Banking. 26. 259-282.
Mahmoudi, M., Chizari, M, Kalantari, K., Roknadin Eftekhari, A. (2022). Investigating the factors affecting agritourism development in the citrus gardens (Case: Coastal Provinces of Caspian Sea ), Tourism Studies, 17(57), 79-111.
Mahoney, M., Potter, J.-L., & Marsh, R. 2007. Community participation in HIA: Discords in teleology and terminology. Critical Public Health, 17(3), 229-241.
Mancini, J. A., Martin, J. A., & Bowen, G. L. 2003. Community capacity and social organization: The role of community in promoting health and preventing illness. New York: Kluwer Academic/ Plenum Publishers.p67.
Maladan, M., Dragan, M., Snezana, U. 2014. Economic effects of rural tourism in eastern Serbia based on sustainable development—Quaestus multidisciplinary research journal. www.quaestus.ro › uploads › 2012/02 › maksimovic.mladan1.pdf.
Mir Katouli, J., Mossadegh, R. (2011). A study on the rural tourism status and its role on handicraft business development, Case study: Southern Estarabad, Gorgan, Journal Urban - Regional Studies and Research, 2(7), 137.
Mohammadi, K., Mohammadzadeh Nasirabadi, M., Sharghi, T. (2020). Identifying and investigating factors affecting sustainable development of rural tourism (Case Study: Zarrabad Village, East Alamut District of Qazvin), Rural Development Strategies, 6(4), 427-443.
Naim Abadi, N., Javan, F., (2021). Analysis of barriers to tourism policy in the urban environments of Gilan Province, Journal of Urban environment planning and development, 1(3), 1-16.
Rahmani, E., Hadiani, Z., (2016). Analysis of the effects of Chabahar free industrial trade zone on the economic and physical dimensions of Chabahar City, Journal of Studies of Human Settlements Planning, 11(34), 85-100.
Rahmani Fazli, A.R. Azizpour, F. Shamanian, M. (2018). Analysis of entrepreneurship development capacities in Damghan rural area. Journal of Space Economy & Rural Development, 8 (2). 133-156.
Sharply, R. 2002. Rural tourism and the challenge of tourism diversification: the case of Cyprus, Tourism management 23, 233- 244.
Taheri, J., Ahmadi, H., (2021). Investigation and analysis of factors affecting the development and prosperity of urban tourism (Case: Old Tehran, District 12 of Tehran Municipality). The first national tourism economy conference. Lorestan, Khorramabad.
Swarbrooke, j. 1998. Sustainable Tourism Management, Newyork, Cobi.
Verity, F. (2007). Community capacity building – a literature review; Retrieved from: http://www.health.sa.gov.au –p10.