Hojjat Varmazyari; Marzye Fathi; khalil kalantari; Muhammad Asef Shaiq
Abstract
Rural tourism as a global industry has been considered an effective solution for rural development. One of the most important issues in rural tourism is that it is community-based. Community-based tourism aims to create economic benefits and improve the quality of life for the local communities. The ...
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Rural tourism as a global industry has been considered an effective solution for rural development. One of the most important issues in rural tourism is that it is community-based. Community-based tourism aims to create economic benefits and improve the quality of life for the local communities. The first and most important principle in community-based tourism is the participation of all stakeholders in the planning and development process. However, in developing countries, its realization has been faced with problems. This research was conducted to analyze the components of community-based rural tourism development in Marivan and Sarvabad cities.Materials and Methods The statistical population was the villagers over 15 years old (women and men, marginal strata, and local elites) in the villages with high potential for tourism in Marivan and Sarvabad Counties of Kurdistan province. A survey method was used to collect information. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. In addition to dispersion and centrality statistics, inferential tests of mean comparison and exploratory factor analysis were used to analyze the data.Discussion and ResultsFrom the point of view of different strata of rural society, the most important component of community-based rural tourism development is "inclusiveness and horizontal networking. " In this regard, facilitators and governmental and non-governmental agents of rural tourism should consider a suitable mechanism to strengthen the dialogue and exchange of opinions between the representatives of different sections of the villagers, the participation of the poor sections in the decision-making and planning process, and the division of social responsibilities among the villagers. "Empowerment and strengthening of infrastructures" are the second component that can be effective in developing community-based tourism, especially by creating a sense of collective identity among villagers and education and raising awareness. "Open and demand-oriented innovation" has been the third effective component in developing community-based tourism. In this regard, it is emphasized to use the advice and help of external experts and produce local products based on market needs. The fourth component, "preserving local authenticity," is another important component in developing community-based rural tourism. Strengthening the sense of belonging and employing villagers will preserve and strengthen cultural authenticity and realize the community-based approach. The last extracted component emphasizes profit and fair participation as a condition for realizing the community-based approach in rural tourism development.ConclusionThis study can play a major role in providing correct insight to the authorities on promoting local communities’ participation in the tourism industry and their benefits. Among the solutions that are suggested concerning the topic of the present study is the emphasis on the development of low-cost rural tourism projects, which by providing the gradual and successful entry of marginalized groups into the process of planning and development of rural tourism at the end, lead to the empowerment of the people experiencing poverty and the use of the high potential of rural women.
Maryam Mahmoudi; Mohammad Chizari; khalil kalantari; Abdolreza Roknadin Eftekhari
Abstract
Introduction
As one of the multifunctional agricultural strategies, agritourism refers to farming-related activities carried out on a working farm or other agricultural settings for recreational, tourism, and educational purposes (Arroyo et al., 2013). Despite the suitable conditions in the coastal ...
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Introduction
As one of the multifunctional agricultural strategies, agritourism refers to farming-related activities carried out on a working farm or other agricultural settings for recreational, tourism, and educational purposes (Arroyo et al., 2013). Despite the suitable conditions in the coastal provinces of the Caspian Sea, agritourism activities have not yet developed much in those areas. In this respect, the present study intended to investigate and identify the factors influencing the provision and development of tourism services by gardeners in the coastal provinces of the Caspian Sea, namely Golestan, Gilan, and Mazandaran.
Materials and Methods
The statistical population of this research included all multifunctional and monofunctional gardeners in Golestan, Gilan, and Mazandaran provinces. Using Cochran’s formula, the study calculated the sample size of monofunctional gardeners to be equal to 280 people (N=12004). A stratified random sampling method was to select the samples. Moreover, the research employed the estimation method since there was no valid data on the population size of gardeners providing agricultural tourism services (or multifunctional gardeners). For this purpose, the managers, officials, farmers, and village residents were interviewed, through which the statistical population of multifunctional gardeners was estimated to be 240 individuals. Using the Morgan sampling table, the study calculated the sample size to be 148 participants selected through convenience sampling. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Cronbach’s alpha method was employed to calculate the reliability of the questionnaire. Considering the results of completing 30 pre-test questionnaires in Roknkola village located in Ghaemshahr city, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated to be higher than 0.7 for all sections of the questionnaire. Finally, the descriptive and inferential statistics (logistic regression test), done by SPSS software, were used to analyze the data.
Results and Discussion
This study showed that the relatively positive attitude of multifunctional gardeners providing agritourism services in their gardens towards agritourism whereas the monofunctional gardeners had a neutral perspective. The levels of knowledge and skills of monofunctional and multifunctional gardeners concerning agritourism development were moderate and high, respectively. According to the results, participation in entrepreneurship training courses, the level of knowledge and skills in agritourism development, entrepreneurial skills and spirit, and gardeners’ attitude towards agritourism explained 66.7 percent of the dependent variable (provision of agritourism).
Conclusion
According the research results, the two variables of age and income level did not significantly affect the prediction of the variable of acceptance and implementation of tourism businesses. In contrast, the farmers’ entrepreneurial knowledge and skills were found to be one of the variables influencing the acceptance and implementation of multifunctional agriculture and diversification of agricultural activities, including the provision of agritourism services. Hence, it is recommended that the entrepreneurial skills of farmers be strengthened as a creative and innovative response to environmental changes, including agricultural multifunctionality. Other recommendations are: Organizing appropriate training courses to strengthen farmers’ skills and entrepreneurial spirit using a balanced combination of human and technical communication skills; providing entrepreneurship education in school, vocational schools, and agricultural colleges in order to introduce and strengthen the concept and spirit of entrepreneurship; training the entrepreneurial workforce in cooperation with Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agricultural Jihad, and non-governmental organizations; establishing a system of incentives (esp. financial incentives) or subsidies for the farmers who have a specific business management plan; and providing financial and monetary funding for the projects with a prerequisite for entrepreneurship education.
Mohammad Javad Jamshidi; Nasser Barak Pour; Khalil Kalantari
Abstract
Excessive attention to the potentials of religious tourism in Mashhad has led to the unbalanced distribution of tourism services. The goal of the present research is to investigate the effects of the political economy of Mashhad religious tourism on the unbalanced distribution of tourism services. In ...
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Excessive attention to the potentials of religious tourism in Mashhad has led to the unbalanced distribution of tourism services. The goal of the present research is to investigate the effects of the political economy of Mashhad religious tourism on the unbalanced distribution of tourism services. In order to achieve this goal, the unbalanced distribution of tourism services in Mashhad is firstly explained based on the Mashhad urban database. Then, by interviewing people familiar with the political economy of Mashhad, the effects of religious tourism's political economy on the uneven distribution of tourism services are explained. The findings of the study indicate the role of religious tourism actors and the political economy conditions prevailing in religious tourism in intensifying the focus of tourism services around the holy shrine of Razavi. Of the most important research strategies, the establishment of integrated tourism management, the preparation of a comprehensive urban tourism plan in Mashhad and the promotion of the level of participation of private sector investors and civil society in the context of Mashhad's political economy can be noted.
mohamad javad jamshidi; Naser Barakpur; khalil kalantari
Abstract
In recent decades, urban tourism has led to various spatial evolutions in the holy city of Mashhad. Excessive concentration of key actors of Mashhad urban tourism on the potential of religious tourism caused to the lack of optimal attention to the potential of other types of urban tourism. It is tried ...
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In recent decades, urban tourism has led to various spatial evolutions in the holy city of Mashhad. Excessive concentration of key actors of Mashhad urban tourism on the potential of religious tourism caused to the lack of optimal attention to the potential of other types of urban tourism. It is tried in this research with a descriptive approach, to study spatial effects of urban tourism attractions on Mashhad tourism services. For this purpose, the spatial data of the Mashhad urban database has been used. The results of this study indicate the significant spatial effects of Razavi Shrine on the spatial distribution of tourism services studied in this study. Compared to the Razavi Shrine, other tourist attractions have had a different effect on the spatial distribution of urban tourism services in Mashhad.
