Comparative analysis of tourism patterns in rural areas and its social-economic consequences (Case study: Masal and Siahkal Counties)

Askari ZadMasouleh, Afshin; Amar, Teimur; Ramezani Gourabi, Bahman

Comparative analysis of tourism patterns in rural areas and its social-economic consequences (Case study: Masal and Siahkal Counties)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ PhD Candidate of Geography and Rural Planning,Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

³ Professor, Department of Geography, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The development of tourism in any form has had various effects and consequences for rural economic foundations.
Objectives: This paper aims to comparatively analyze tourism patterns and its social economic consequences on the rural areas of Masal and Siahkal.
Methodology: The study is applied in terms of purpose and inductive-comparative in nature. The statistical population is all the villagers and experts of the tourism target villages of Masal and Siahkal Counties. Thus, there are 20 villages from each city where tourists have the most visits and overnight stays, which were selected as samples. Library and field methods were the means of data collection, and the tools were questionnaire, interview and observation. The validity of the indicators was confirmed by the opinion of the relevant professors. Also, considering that Cronbach's alpha for all research variables was higher than 0.7 (0.824), hence the reliability of the questionnaire is also acceptable. The obtained data were analyzed in the SPSS software using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.
Geographical Context: The study area of the research was the Masal and Siahkal Counties.
Results and Discussion: Friedman's test showed that there is a significant difference between the variables of social-economic consequences resulting from the development patterns of rural tourism in Masal and Siahkal Counties from the point of view of managers and experts.
Conclusion: The formation and expansion of tourism in the rural areas of Masal and Siahkal confirmed that they were developed spontaneously and without proper planning and management, thereby having positive and negative consequences. Sometimes it has caused some spatial and socio-economic transformations.

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