An Analysis of Rural Tourism Status with a Community-Based Approach in Guilān Province

Emami, Seyyedeh Fatemeh; Darbān Astāne, Ali Reza; Rezvani, Mohammad Reza; Ghadiri, Mojtaba

doi:10.22124/gscaj.2022.20471.1095

An Analysis of Rural Tourism Status with a Community-Based Approach in Guilān Province

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Post-Doctoral Researcher, Geography, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

² Associate Professor, Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

³ Professor, Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

10.22124/gscaj.2022.20471.1095

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the status of rural tourism with a community-based approach in Guilān Province. This research is applied in purpose and follows a descriptive-analytical approach. The statistical population includes residents of villages with thriving tourism sectors as well as local business owners. To determine the sample size, Morgan's table was used, identifying 384 individuals. However, to enhance reliability and minimize errors, the sample size was expanded. Ultimately, 550 questionnaires were completed by villagers and 220 by business owners. For data analysis, AMOS (version 24) was used to assess goodness-of-fit indices, followed by path analysis in SPSS (version 26) to evaluate the state of community-based tourism in Guilān Province. The findings reveal that management and sustainability of tourism businesses, ownership in tourism activities, local employment, community participation in tourism initiatives, and equitable distribution of benefits play a significant role in fostering community-based tourism in rural areas of Guilān. Therefore, by creating a secure environment for local investment, providing essential facilities for easier access to financial services, supporting youth entrepreneurship, and implementing legal protections for local communities, it is possible to enhance and expand community-based tourism in the region.

Highlights

Local community employment, active participation in tourism programs, and equity in benefit distribution are influential and determining factors in the success of community-based rural tourism, and providing secure investment conditions along with legal support can significantly contribute to the sustainable development of this type of tourism.
Active participation of the local community in the economic, social, and environmental domains is considered a key indicator of the success of community-based tourism, and the role of non-governmental organizations in educating and empowering local communities—especially in promoting gender equity and supporting women—is highly effective.

Keywords

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