Allameh Tabataba’i University Tourism Management Studies 2322-3294 20 72 2025 12 22 Constraints on Local Community Involvement in the Development of Community-Based Tourism in Rural Areas Constraints on Local Community Involvement in the Development of Community-Based Tourism in Rural Areas 85 132 19494 10.22054/tms.2025.85800.3070 FA Hojjat Varmazyari University of Tehran Marziye Fathi Department of Agricultural Development and Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University College of Agriculture And Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Khalil Kalantari Department of Agricultural Development and Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University College of Agriculture And Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Journal Article 2025 05 18 Community-Based Tourism (CBT) can help improve the economic and social conditions of local communities, but there are various obstacles. This research aims to identify and analyze the obstacles to local community participation in the development of CBT in rural areas. This investigation has been conducted in nine villages in the Sarvabad and Marivan Counties of Kurdistan Province, Iran, which are recognized for their significant tourism potential. A total of 40 participants were selected using the theoretical saturation criterion, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather in-depth insights. Data coding ultimately segmented the identified barriers into nine categories, including: (1) the exogenous management of rural tourism projects coupled with limited villager involvement; (2) the absence of a monitoring system and the inadequate transmission of management information and supporting evidence to decision-makers; (3) perceived cultural disparities alongside associated negative impacts; and (4) fragile internal organizational structures within the villages. By identifying the aforementioned barriers, this research can help policymakers and researchers make better decisions for the development of CBT in rural areas. Community-Based Tourism (CBT) can help improve the economic and social conditions of local communities, but there are various obstacles. This research aims to identify and analyze the obstacles to local community participation in the development of CBT in rural areas. This investigation has been conducted in nine villages in the Sarvabad and Marivan Counties of Kurdistan Province, Iran, which are recognized for their significant tourism potential. A total of 40 participants were selected using the theoretical saturation criterion, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather in-depth insights. Data coding ultimately segmented the identified barriers into nine categories, including: (1) the exogenous management of rural tourism projects coupled with limited villager involvement; (2) the absence of a monitoring system and the inadequate transmission of management information and supporting evidence to decision-makers; (3) perceived cultural disparities alongside associated negative impacts; and (4) fragile internal organizational structures within the villages. By identifying the aforementioned barriers, this research can help policymakers and researchers make better decisions for the development of CBT in rural areas. https://tms.atu.ac.ir/article_19494_eca80bbd57f137c5e99d960730d2c52a.pdf