Agricultural and Rural Economics

Agricultural and Rural Economics

Feasibility Study of Rural Tourism Development in the Villages of Dishmuk District Kohgiluyeh and Boyrahmad Province

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ali Farhadi Doust 1
Mehdi Nooripoor 2
Maryam Sharifzadeh 3
Maryam Afereydouni 4
1 Master's degree in Rural Development, Department of Rural Development Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Yasuj University, Yasuj, Iran.
2 Professor, Department of Rural Development Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran.
3 Associate Professor, Department of Rural Development Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran.
4 Ph. D. Student of Agricultural Development, Department of Rural Development Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran.
10.30490/etr.2026.367539.1069
Abstract
Introduction: Today Tourism is recognized as one of the most influential economic, cultural, and social activities in the world and plays a key role in achieving sustainable development. For developing countries like Iran, which face challenges such as unemployment, shortage of foreign exchange resources, and heavy dependence on oil revenues, tourism development can be an effective tool for diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on limited and unstable oil resources. Iran, with its prominent position among countries with historical, cultural, and natural attractions, has the potential to expand this industry at national and international levels. In the meantime, rural tourism, due to its grassroots nature and reliance on local resources, provides extensive opportunities for creating employment, increasing income, preventing rural migration to cities, and preserving natural and cultural heritage. Therefore, targeted and sustainable development of rural tourism can not only contribute to the economic growth of rural areas, but also be used as an effective strategy towards achieving balanced development, spatial justice, and social and environmental sustainability in the country.
Materials and Methods: This research is applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of its nature and data collection method. The statistical population of the study consisted of all villagers living in tourism-prone areas of Dishmuk district, including villages: Lirab, Ajem, Imamzadeh Mirsalar, Sartang Lirab, Esfandan, Darghak, Sargach, and Deh Ahmad, which were 4687 people in total according to the census. The sample size was 198 people selected as a statistical sample using the Cochran formula. The sampling process was carried out in two stages: in the first stage, samples were selected from among the districts and villages using a multi-stage cluster method, and in the second stage, within each selected village, samples were selected using random sampling with proportional assignment to achieve appropriate representation of the research population. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire based on the TELOS model for assessing the feasibility of rural tourism development, which includes six dimensions: technical, economic, legal, operational, scheduling, and socio-cultural. The questionnaire questions were designed in a closed form and based on a five-point Likert scale. The content validity of the tool was reviewed and confirmed by experts in the field of rural development and tourism. The reliability of the questionnaire was also examined through a pre-test in an area outside the study area, and the Cronbach's alpha value was between 0.70 and 0.92, indicating appropriate reliability of the tool. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software.
Conclusion and Suggestions: The results of the study showed that among the 6 dimensions studied for the feasibility of tourism development in Dishmuk district, the cultural-social and economic dimensions were the most appropriate dimensions of the conceptual framework of the study with the lowest coefficients of variation of 0.11 and 0.20, respectively. Also, the results of the one-sample t-test indicated that the   current situation for tourism development in the study area in economic and cultural-social dimensions was above the average level (3), and therefore these dimensions had a relatively good situation in the study area, but in terms of other dimensions, namely operational, technical, scheduling and legal, the situation was below average, below average, weak and weak, respectively, and therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the operational, technical, scheduling and legal dimensions with the efforts of the authorities and local people and by relying on positive points such as economic and cultural and social dimensions. In order to improve the conditions for rural tourism development in Dishmuk, it is suggested to create appropriate regulations to facilitate matters related to tourism development, and also to install a sign indicating the completion of projects to improve the timing variable. Also, by allocating taxes from the people of the region to the development of infrastructure related to transportation routes and the tourism industry in Dishmuk, steps can be taken to develop tourism in Dishmuk. Finally, this research showed that Dishmuk has the capacity to develop the tourism sector.
Keywords
Feasibility study
tourism development
Dishmuk
rural tourism
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