Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001The Effect of Rural Guidance Plan on the Subjective Quality of Life among Rural Communities (Case Study: Fariman County)بررسی تأثیر اجرای طرح هادی روستایی بر کیفیت ذهنی زندگی روستاییان (مطالعۀ موردی: شهرستان فریمان)1202961110.22067/jrrp.v5i4.48639ENFahimeh JafariFerdowsi University of MashhadAliakbar AnabestaniFerdowsi University of Mashhad0000-0003-1461-5893Hamdollah Sojasi QeydariFerdowsi University of MashhadJournal Article20150725Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
In the literature of rural development, the main goal is to promote the quality of rural life and the welfare of the villagers, especially the socio-economic status of a particular class of people, i.e., the poor villagers. To upgrade the physical structure of the village is among the ways to achieve this goal. Therefore, rural construction has been among the measures taken by the government to tackle this issue over the last years, which include not only changes in rural communities, production methods and economic organization of rural communities, but also measures relevant to improving infrastructure, political, and social matters and the relation of the community members with each other. Therefore, one of the most fundamental issues in the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, is how to improve the socio-economic status or the living conditions of the people living in small villages. Their share in economic and social development is too modest. Today, rural Conduct plans are the most important means of directing rural development in Iran. The final goal of such plans is to provide the conditions for welfare and improving the quality of rural life, and maintain it in rural areas. Two decades after the implementation of rural Conduct plans in Iran, and having learned valuable experiences, it is essential to know what the implications of these plans are for the rural communities, and whether they have reached their ultimate goals, i.e., improved quality of life, and providing a lively and healthy environment for rural people? Therefore, the main research question is to what extent have the rural conduct plans been effective in improving the quality of life of the villagers in Fariman County?
2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Rural conduct plans are among the rural construction plans which can play a fundamental role in development of rural areas. These projects, with their potentials and - capacities can make ground for improvement of public facilities and welfare, such as modernization of rural housing, newly made sidewalks, and residential space, improving the lives of the villagers and their participation. Rural conduct plans are the revitalization of rural areas in social, economic and physical dimensions.
Quality of life is a broad concept that has many definitions. Some have defined it as the viability of a region, others have defined it as a measure for the attraction and some have defined as welfare, social well-being, happiness, satisfaction, etc. Therefore, the quality of life is a complex, multi-dimensional and qualitative term about the conditions and population in a special geographical area that relies on subjective or qualitative indicators and on objective or subjective ones, too.
3. METHODOLOGY
The research is an applied one conducted in descriptive-analytical and correlational method using survey and questionnaires. The population included 22 villages in which rural conduct plans have been implemented; eight villages with a total population of 3835 households were selected. Employing the Cochran formula, 249 rural households were selected from the villages of the study area, they were interviewed based on random sampling method. Data collected from the questionnaires, were analyzed using statistical analysis methods in SPSS, and fitness research model in EQS software.
4. DISCUSSION
Step-by-step regression was used to assess the effectiveness of rural conduct plans on subjective dimension of quality of life. According to coefficient of determination that shows the specification of a variance and variation of the dependent variable through independent variable, in the final stage, it was 0.57 which indicates the indicators of independent variable explain 57% of variation of dependent variable. According to the results, the model was implemented in four stages, and in each stage the most influential variable was introduced to the model. At the end, all the variables, land use and distribution of services, rural environment, quality of housing and street network were introduced to the model which explained 57 percent of variations in quality of life. The amount of P-Value or the significance level is 0.000, which is smaller than 0.05. Therefore, the null hypothesis test, implying the insignificance of regression model, was rejected with 99% confidence. Eventually, we may conclude that among the indicators of implementing the rural Conduct plans, ‘to maintain the land-use’ and ‘distribution of services’ had the greatest impact on the subjective dimension of villagers’ quality of life.
5. CONCLUSION
Currently, the rural Conduct plans are viewed as the most significant and the only rural development document in our country whose only aim is to improve the quality of rural life and bring more prosperity into rural areas. The results show that there is a direct and complete correlation between the variables (correlation coefficient 0.75). In other words, there is a strong and positive relationship between implementing rural Conduct plans and subjective improvement in the quality of villagers’ life in the study area. As the success rate of rural Conduct plans increases, the quality of life of the villagers increases as well. Therefore, to achieve the desired objectives, all individuals involved in this project, including shareholders who are rural residents and the Islamic Revolution Housing Foundation, should play their role in better implementation of the project. It is essential that all those involved in the project help each other to achieve all-round development of rural areas, as the development of rural areas makes way for national development.Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001Evaluating the Situation of Environmental Culture’s Reproduction in Rural Areas (Case Study: A Pilot of Carbon Sequestration Project in Jazmourian)ارزیابی وضعیت بازآفرینی فرهنگ محیطی نواحی روستایی (مطالعة موردی: پایلوت ترسیب کربن جازموریان)21372965810.22067/jrrp.v5i4.55710ENJavad BazrafshanUniversity of Sistan & BaluchestanAbuzar PaidarUniversity of Sistan & BaluchestanJournal Article20160508Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Implementation of carbon sequestration projects (CSPs) in rural areas is one of the international measures of achieving a sustainable environment, with a regional cooperative and logistical approach, and recently is being implemented in rural areas in Iran, including Jazmourian in southern Kerman. After two years of implementation of the project, the present study aims to investigate the role of CSP in changing the environmental culture and correcting practical behavior of the rural beneficiaries in Jazmourian. The research questions are as follows: what are the manifestations of changes in and reproduction of rural beneficiary's environmental culture, pursuant implementation of CSP in Jazmourian? And whether the changes in villagers’ behavior and practice regarding exploitation of the environment in areas where CSP is being implemented, is the same.
2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Reproduction means regeneration and recreation of beings and places that are endangered and face extinction. Renovation and reconstruction approaches lack the required attention to environmental values while reproduction is a comprehensive approach with a monolithic, strategic outlook for sustainable development. Reproduction is a unified attitude and a measure which results in the solution of the problems and seeks a sustainable situation in terms of environment, economy, society and the physical aspect of the region.
Major views and approaches related to the present study are those of culture building approach, theoretical model of adjusted behavior, and human ecology, all of which are subsumed under the category of sustainable development (the new environmental paradigm). According to the paradigm, cultural capacity building is in fact fostering several beliefs in human beings:
Belief in innovation
Belief in science (scientism)
Belief in future
Belief in humans’ ability in solving varied problems (self-confidence)
Belief in and respect for the environment (environmentalism)
Contrary to the discourse of classical environmental theories, the new ecological paradigm is prevalent today.
According to “theoretical model of adjusted behavior”, beneficiaries’ behavior is influenced by their values and attitudes and an environmentally-friendly behavior will not be displayed, unless beneficiaries change their norms and values. Those with views adhering to the human ecological school believe that beneficiaries should adapt and conform to their habitat.
3. METHODOLOGY
The present study is a descriptive-analytical one and the data were gathered through library and field methods, using a questionnaire and observation. Research population consists of the 8 villages were CSP pilot is being implemented in Jazmourian, (68 of the development team leaders who are also members of CSP) were enumerated completely and make up the sample population, for only team leaders, as village residents and CSP members, have the necessary knowledge and eligibility for the purpose of data gathering. The measurement used in the study was a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity was established by academic experts and a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.868 confirmed its reliability. The data was analyzed using weight propagation (WP).
4. DISCUSSION
As for the first hypothesis, the findings of the WP model indicate that members of the development teams in Ziarat Mirmeghdad and Heydarabad villages had the lowest rate of reproduction and those of Boohang, Grouchan, and Chahdasht had the highest rates of reproduction of environmental culture. The findings of Fisher's ANOVA test show that there is a statistically significant (sig=0.000) difference among the eight villages under study, in terms of reproduction environmental culture. As for the second hypothesis, the findings reveal that , except for the two villages of Ziarat Mirmeghdad and Heydarabad, implementation of CSP in Jazmourian district has improved the degree of reproduction of environmental culture, whose manifestations can be seen in the raised awareness of people regarding the environment and its resources, implementation of seedling production projects, seedling planting, creation of biological windbreaks, reduction of the pressure on pastures, and creation of technical and artistic jobs, etc.
5. Conclusion
The present study aims to investigate the degree of reproduction of environmental culture in the rural areas of the CSP pilot study in Jazmourian. A review of previous studies and theories leading to the present research revealed that nowadays, capacity building and cultural reproduction are major needs in rural communities in their quest to achieve sustainability. Improving environmental performance of villagers and reproduction of rural culture necessitates creation and implementation of comprehensive plans which, in an orderly process, address such issues as sensitization, orientation, mobilization of masses, institutionalization, along with empowering locals and winning their trust and cooperation.
The best approach to improve the environmental culture of Jazmourian villagers is to emphasize a knowledge-based approach and the best strategy for the villagers of the region is that of industrialization (small, workshop-based, artistic industries and jobs that are not dependent on water) together with the strategy of expansion of environmental measures with the help of villagers, both of which can be proper substitutes of conventional agricultural methods.
The value of the findings of the study lies in their ability to detect and assess the effects of collaborative programs in improving villagers’ degree of environmental reproduction, manifest in three ideological, behavioral and practical aspects.
Considering the weakness and vulnerability of the region's environmental system, along with deficiencies in the villagers’ environmental culture and the opportunities presented by CSP to rectify the situation, following practical suggestions are made:
Offering hands-on courses to introduce the environment and the capacity of its resources, along with effective exploitation methods and protection of environmental resources.
Offering orientation classes to remove the remaining livestock from Jazmourian pastures and developing man-made grasslands for them.
Encouraging and introducing top stockbreeders, in terms of reducing the dependence of livestock to the pasture, and supporting industrial animal husbandries which are highly efficient.
Continuing and developing environmental projects in villages, to the best of ability, specifically implementation of windbreakers around farms, home gardens and extending verdant courtyards in homes, creating and protecting rural parks in collaboration with the rural municipality, people and the office of natural resources.
Continuing technical courses and supporting the newly created jobs for men and women
Creating model farms which are environmentally friendly, together with encouraging and introducing top farmers in terms of their protective performance of water and soil resources.
And etc.Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001Strategic Compilation of Rural Tourism Development Using SWOT- ANP Integrated Model (Case Study: Savar Village in Bonab County)ارائه راهبرد توسعۀ گردشگری در مناطق روستایی با استفاده از مدل تلفیقی SWOT- ANP (مطالعۀ موردی: روستای صور شهرستان بناب)39562969210.22067/jrrp.v6i2.55686ENMirnajaf MousaviUniversity of UrmaiSoghra Niroumand ShishavanUniversity of BonabAli Majnouni TotakhaneUniversity of BonabAhmad AftabMohaghegh Ardabili UniversityJournal Article20160504Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
The importance of tourism in the present era, more than anything else, depends on the economic cycle that has a high potential in the fields of local and international economic dynamics. However, despite significant progress in many aspects of human's life and their ability to solve problems and great challenges, rural areas still face with numerous challenges; because, previous strategies had not been successful in dealing with rural development issues such as poverty, employment, health, food security, and environmental sustainability. One of the strategies used currently in most developing countries, which were implemented in other countries with positive results, is the development and promotion of tourism in the rural areas that have potentiality for tourism. Due to what stated above, to improve development in rural areas, especially in Savar (a village in Bonab, in East Azarbaijan) with its numerous historical, natural and social attractions for tourists, it is needed to take advantage of appropriate strategies and approaches to develop rural tourism considering the circumstances as well as human and natural characteristics.
2. Theoretical Framework
The issue of rural tourism was developed in the 1950s, and it was in the 1960s and 1970s that the economic aspects of rural tourism for farmers and local communities attracted the attentions. Since then, planners and experts in different countries have been carrying out wide activities to attract tourists and develop tourism activities by offering a variety of strategies and approaches as many people believe that tourism development is the only way to develop rural areas and that it can change the direction to growth led by tourism. Thus, tourism is the fundamental element of moving towards rehabilitation and rebuilding of rural areas. Some people see tourism as a part of tourist market.
According to different opinions and theories on tourism and rural development, their objectives and effects, it can be said that rural tourism, on the one hand, is providing new opportunities for many rural areas to revival of rural communities. On the other hand, developments without planning cause social and environmental damage in rural settlements.
3- Methodology
The aim of the present research is functional and the research method is descriptive analysis. In this research, data were collected through using two ways: documentary (Secondary data) and survey (Basic data). Tools used in survey were a questionnaire and an interview. One hundred fifty questionnaires were distributed among the three groups in the local community of Savar village, authorities of cultural heritage, handcrafts and tourism organization of Bonab city, governorate and Municipal of Bonab, Islamic Revolution Housing Foundation of Bonab and also tourists coming to this region (n= 200). Finally, 400 questionnaires were distributed. The next step of study was conducted in two stages: SWOT analysis was used to develop appropriate strategies, and then with ANP approach the strategies were prioritized.
4-Findings
After analyzing the findings, strategic factors were determined and alternative strategies had been developed.
Offensive strategies (OS):
Codification of development plan of Savar village in cooperation with all stakeholders.
Paying attention to the demands and needs of tourists and trying to give logical response to needs.
Identifying tourism potentials of the village and trying to turn these into tourist attractions.
And etc.
Strategies of diversification (ST):
Developing programs focusing on providing rural attractions to convert potential revenue source to actual source
Supporting popular cooperatives (NGOs) in the field of tourism development in the village of Savar
Trying to use all the potentials of seasons to attract tourists based on the four seasons of the village of Savar
Defensive strategies (WT):
Reduction of administrative bureaucracy and providing financial incentives to attract and retain private sector
Developing educational programs to train local forces
Replacing closed attitude with facilitated attitudes
Using new advertising and marketing technologies
Forming think tank attended by government and private experts for planning based on regional realities
Finally, according to assessments that have been made, defensive strategies (WT) with weight of 0/214, has first priority in tourism development planning of Savar village, and after that, the following strategies are as following:
Weaknesses-Opportunities strategic (WO), Offensive strategies (OS), strategies of diversification (ST):
Offering various incentives to private investors for working on tourism projects of Savar tourist village
Reduction of administrative bureaucracy to expedite projects and plans for tourism development in the village.
Development of land transport network and elimination of black spots of the current link road in order to have access to Savar village
Preparation of comprehensive tourism marketing and advertising programs according to the needs of different sectors, to maximize the effectiveness coefficient of these efforts
Holding educational and entrepreneurship courses for the local community of Savar village and promoting tourism culture of visitors to the village.
5- Conclusion and Suggestions
The results of the SWOT model represent tourism development strategies of Savar village in four following strategies: defensive strategies (WT), review strategic (WO), Offensive strategies (OS), strategies of diversification (ST). The results of determination of priorities of strategies using the ANP model shows that in planning for the development of tourism in Savar village, defensive Strategies (WT) must be in priority for planners; hence, the most important programs and defensive Strategies for development of tourism in Savar village are recommended:
Paying serious attention to the development of residential and welfare infrastructure with the aim of satisfying tourists and increasing the shelf life/ durability of them in the village of Savar
Paying attention to consistent advertising and creation of information tools like designing websites, advertising teasers, and …
Removing barriers to investment, especially, by supporting the participation of private sector investment in Savar village
Providing professional training to local community in order to learn how to behave with tourists
Adopting systematic and holistic thinking among managers, planners, private sector, local community and tourists in order to make decisions based on the facts of this region.Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001Assessing the Impacts of Implementing a Guidance Plan in Rural Sustainable Development (Case Study: Kandovan Village, East Azerbaijan Province)ارزیابی اثرات اجرای طرح هادی در توسعۀ پایدار روستایی (مطالعة موردی: روستای کندوان، آذربایجان شرقی)57712972710.22067/jrrp.v5i4.56337ENBahram ImaniMohaghegh Ardebili University0000-0002-6158-5925Ebrahim KhalifehUniversity of Tarbiat ModaresKhadijeh EbrahimiUniversity of Mohaghegh ArdebiliJournal Article20160529Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Despite the implementation of various construction and development projects at a local level, the majority of rural settlements in Iran are faced with several environmental, physical, social, cultural, and financial challenges through an unstable process; this is due to the domination of partial attitude as well as the absences of a systemic approach in the rural development planning system of Iran. Given the presence of distinct human and environmental conditions and capabilities along with the implementation of guidance plan, the historic and tourist village of Kandovan is faced with a number of different problems and inadequacies in the physical domain which have affected other dimensions of development. The present study aims at assessing the impacts of implementing a guidance plan in the sustainable condition of Kandovan historic village. Despite the studies conducted on the examination of effects and performance of rural guidance plans in Iran, paying attention to analysis and assessment of performance regarding the implementation of guidance plan in the physical sustainability and unsustainability of Kandovan village within the framework of sustainable physical development indices is one of the most significant features that demonstrate the scientific authenticity and value of the present study.
2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
In order to elaborate on the topic of the study, it is attempted to investigate theoretical subjects including the systemic approach, rural sustainable development (physical) and its most important indices (within the framework of systemic approach) as well as rural guidance plan. The systematic view and mindset along with the systemic doctrine is one of the acceptable schools in most scientific fields according to which, examinations and analyses in this regard are carried out. Rural sustainable development involves the management and conservation of the existing natural resources and orientation of technical and institutional changes in a way that achieving human needs and constant provision of such requirements are guaranteed for the residents of cities and villages, both in the present and future. Such a development would protect the sustainability of land and water resources as well as the genetic resources of plants and animals; moreover, it would not lead to environmental decay and it is convenient, viable and acceptable in terms of technical, economic and social aspects, respectively. To this end, rural guidance plans is the first systematized and comprehensive national attempt for the physical organization of villages in Iran; since 1988, the plan has been provided for more than 20000 villages and implemented in over 8000 villages. In fact, a rural guidance plan that is implemented and involves a physical aspect can be considered as one of the most important management tools of rural development in Iran.
3. METHODOLOGY
The present study was conducted through a descriptive-analytical method and data collection was carried out using documents and field work. To estimate the sample size based on Cochran’s formula, 310 samples were indicated and the same number of household questionnaires were distributed and completed. In order to test and perform a statistical analysis regarding the success rate of guidance plan in the physical sustainability/unsustainability of the village being studied, one-sample t-test was used.
4. DISCUSSION
The occurrence of various challenges confirm the functional weakness of the guidance plan in the village being studied which demonstrate the unsustainable process of development; in terms of environmental-ecological aspects, these challenges include not using native architecture patterns in new constructions, inappropriate landscape condition of rural houses and construction patterns, small usage of indigenous material in the construction pattern of the houses, failure to follow conventional patterns to preserve the physical identity of the village in new constructions, reduced confrontation factors of risks and natural disasters (earthquakes and floods) in the village through the implementation of the guidance plan, improper condition of physical development in the village, poor conditions of roads in the village, incompatibility of a number of applications, non-compliance of new houses concerning the future development of the village, absence of a waste collection system and landfill in the village, lack of attention toward the aesthetics of environment in the village, and inattention of the guidance plan implementation to the preservation of natural and cultural heritage such as gardens, landscapes, and valuable textures of the village. Considering the social and institutional dimensions, these challenges involve high rate of sending immigrants, low participation of people in actions and activities related to the village and low awareness level of the public. Finally, in terms of the economic aspects, the challenges include low support of guidance plan implementation aimed at the sustainability of local economic activities, unemployment, and low welfare level of the public.
5. CONCLUSION
The results of the study show that overall, the extent of satisfaction toward the implementation of guidance plan in various indicators related to the three ecological, social-institutional, and economic indices are at a level below average; consequently, it can be acknowledged that in spite of the attempts and endeavors taken place, provision and implementation of rural guidance plan has been unable to mitigate the inadequacies and provide a physical sustainability of the environmental system under investigation (Kandovan village), due to the domination of partial attitude and absence of a systemic and comprehensive approach. To eliminate or reduce the physical inadequacies of the village case study, a set of recommendations are presented in the following, within the systemic approach and physical sustainable development framework: With respect to the elimination of physical inadequacies of the village, it is necessary to provide principled actions and plans so that it would result in the physical improvement of the village as well as the continuity of its identity; furthermore, providing legal and institutional capacities in order to facilitate and increase public participation in the physical development process of rural regions (which can improve the capacity of rural population retention) is essential.Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001An Analysis of the Obstacles in front of Rural Social Insurance Using Analytical Network Process (ANP) in Hamedan Countyواکاوی موانع پیش روی بیمه اجتماعی روستاییان با استفاده از فرایند تحلیل شبکه ای در شهرستان همدان73912976510.22067/jrrp.v6i2.56620ENHassan AfrakhtehKharazmi University0000-0002-5077-7032Hamid JalalianKharazmi University0000-0002-8831-5247Asghar TahmasebiKharazmi UniversityMaryam ArmandKharazmi UniversityJournal Article20160608Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the preventive factors and current obstacles in the path of providing necessary conditions and requirements to promote this kind of insurance for achieving sustainable rural development.
Methodology: This study is a practical research, which has a qualitative nature. The study population includes policyholders and insurance brokers and experts of the field in Hamadan City. Sampling was performed in a purposeful and regulated manner according to the people's mastery and the knowledge of the subject using the snowball technique. The main method of the Grounded Theory data collection is in-depth interview with the study population, which after interview with 60 experts (n = 13), brokers (n = 17) and policyholders (n = 30) the theoretical saturation is achieved. In the next step, in order to determine the relationships between problems and prioritize them in line with problem resolving, the ANP method is used .
Findings: According to the obtained results, problems were classified into 11 basic concepts among which the managerial – executive problems, socio – economic problems and institutional dissonance are the most important and the most fundamental problems facing the development of rural social insurance, respectively.
Constraints: conservatism in interviews and difficult access to some of the subjects and some information in line with the main objective of the study are the most limitations in doing this research.
Practical Implications: According to the research findings, setting the current and future plans which are based on the actuary and the economic and social realities of rural communities that are in line with the government's commitment to its legal obligations towards policyholders, revising administrative regulations and the rules of insurance fund, organizing and coordinating the activities and services in each of the areas of insurance, protection and relief, more cooperation and coordination between health insurance and rural social insurance, monitoring the activities of brokers and paying more attention to the rights of the mentioned people as major arms of the Insurance Fund in rural areas, wide advertising and making targeted television and radio programs in order to required culture – building in the rural community regarding pension are necessary measures to sustain the process of rural social insurance.
Authenticity: Considering the crucial importance of social insurance to increase the security and improve the quality of rural life and because of the vulnerability of these areas to geographic and climatic conditions and also the kind of living and their less ability to deal with accidents, in this study, for the first time, problems and challenges of rural social insurance have been prioritized with a holistic view and base on the ANP method.Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001Spatial Assessment of the Relationship between Environmental Vulnerability and Rural Community Resilience in East-Azerbaijan Provinceسنجش فضایی رابطۀ آسیبپذیری محیطی و ظرفیت تابآوری جامعۀ روستایی در استان آذربایجان شرقی931072980410.22067/jrrp.v6i2.57081ENEhsan Pashnezhad SielabTarbiat Modares UniversityMojtaba RafieyanTarbiat Modares UniversityMahdi PourtaheriTarbiat Modares UniversityJournal Article20160626Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Resilience and vulnerability represent two related yet different approaches to understanding the response of systems and actors to environmental changes. Rural community resilience assessment can be regarded as a recent development in the field of resilience assessment and the last decade has been a proliferation of works focused on this topic. Research into vulnerability and resilience to hazard is increasingly growing during the last decades. Vulnerability and resilience can be viewed as separate but often linked together. Vulnerability is a degree of harm in a system that exists before events like disasters or contributes to the amount of risk of exposure, while resilience is the condition that helps systems to absorb, deal with, and adapt to hazard and disasters. The purpose of this study is to develop an innovative integrated approach to deal with natural hazard and to promote rural community resilience capacity in terms of rural planning. Under the grounded main approach of this research, the entire paper attempts to answer this question: is there any significant relationship between environmental vulnerability and rural community resilience capacity? If so, where and which spheres are most vulnerable in the environmental condition or where is the most resilient in the term of rural communities? To answer these question East-Azarbijan is used as study area.
2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
While the tree concepts of resilience, adaptive capacity, and vulnerability have developed isolation, they have to converge within different disciplinary fields. The concept of vulnerability is used among a variety of fields and disciplines such as disaster management, ecology, development, economics, anthropology, geography, global change, and environmental studies. Vulnerability does not only show exposure to hazards, but also it exists in the resilience of the systems experiencing the hazard. In the term of social-ecological system introduced four clusters of factors which seem to be important in building resilience. These factors include 1) learning to live with change and uncertainty 2) fostering diversity in the variety forms 3) promoting learning with multidisciplinary approach, and 4) making opportunity for self-organization.
Environmental vulnerability spheres identification is an important step for sustainable environmental protection framework.
3. METHODOLOGY
In order to explore the relationship between environmental vulnerability and rural community resilience, we developed an innovative research methodology by using vulnerability and resilience assessment literature review. In this sense, EVI and RCRI Indies were used to gain insight of the distribution of environmental vulnerability and its relation with rural community resilience. It was decided that to better understanding of the linkage between EVI and RCRI, GIS-based analysis had to be used. Therefore, six criteria for each one of the aforementioned indices were selected. The selection of evaluating criteria plays a pivot role in an environmental vulnerability and resilience assessment, and should be operational, indicative and representative.
In the next step, fuzzy normalization and pairwise comparison (AHP) for weighting criteria separately in each phase were used.
4. DISCUSSION
The above method yielded important results, which are presented below, focusing first on environmental vulnerability, then rural community resilience followed by classification of resilient condition in rural area at rural district units. Finally, the relationship between environmental vulnerability and rural community resilience have been argued.
The analysis of results indicates that the most vulnerable areas are located in the low level of rural resilience capacity. Regional differences in the distribution of community resilience and environmental vulnerability was also found with the west being particularly resilient. The Southeast and central region of study area are prone to low levels of resilience and high level of vulnerability.
5. CONCLUSION
This paper elaborated two new empirical frameworks (EVI and RCRI) that address the critical question of why and how rural communities should do in order to move toward a more resilient state in the future.
This article contributes to the disaster literature by assessing and linking two concepts that are highly related. To do so, environmental vulnerability and rural community assessment in counties across the East Azarbijan province was measured. The results show that the study area is threatened by environmental vulnerability in central area which encompassed in Heris, Varzegan and Tabriz counties. The environmental vulnerability increased with reduction of rural community resilience capacity. On this basis, there is a significant relationship between environmental vulnerability and rural community resilience which needs to be more considered in the local planning and rural development challenges. In other words, the findings show that there is a correlation between high levels of vulnerability and low levels of resilience capacity. However, this method still needs further attention to be improved for reducing the subjectivness of judgments. In applying this method in other regions, it is need to pay attention to what factors seem to be important in determining the local environmental vulnerability, but it is eristic to need a coherent approach to choose appropriate rural or even community resilient factors.Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001Evaluating the Performance of New Rural Management with a Good Governance Approach and Presenting Solutions for its Improvement in Rural Areas (Case Study: Shaho District, Ravansar County)ارزیابی عملکرد مدیریت نوین روستایی با رویکرد حکمروایی خوب و ارائۀ راهکارهای بهبود آن در نواحی روستایی (مطالعۀ موردی: بخش شاهو، شهرستان روانسر)1091232984110.22067/jrrp.v6i2.57099ENHamed GhadermarziKordistan UniversiryDavood JaminiUniversity of Isfahan0000-0003-2061-4387Journal Article20160627Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Rural chiefs can play a significant role in promoting the goals and policies of government and people in rural areas as a link between government and people. However, it is necessary to note that the source of power and legitimacy in the urban and rural governorship, is all the citizens and villagers, and their presence in all aspects and pillars of the civil society. In a nutshell one can state that the main task of modern rural management is to preserve and achieve sustainable rural development as a public institution with its specific tasks. Regarding the activity and presence of more than a decade of rural managers in different affairs of villagers, the basic question that can be surveyed is that what is the satisfaction level of villagers from rural managers based on good governance indicators, and what solutions do the villagers propose to improve the status of good governance indicators in their villages? According to the stated issues, the purpose of the present study is to evaluate the performance of modern rural managers with a good rural governance approach and providing solutions for improving it among rural communities, which is performed as a case study of Shaho village which is located in Ravansar County.
2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The United Nations Development Program defines governance as the following: exercising economic, political and administrative authority for the administration of the affairs of the country at all territorial levels, including the means by which the government promotes cohesion and social integration, and ensuring people's welfare and prosperity. The criteria for "good governance" are presented by Garau et al. and according to them, the set of criteria should be examined and considered in a coherent and mutually reinforcing way: 1- The process of democratic decision making, 2- Legitimacy, transparency and accountability, 3- Efficiency and effectiveness, 4- Fairness and justice, 5. Participation and inclusion, 6. Transfer of affairs to the lowest possible level. According to the Majlis (Parliament) Research Center, the governance indexes in Iran are as follows: 1. Accountability 2. Consensus base 3. Transparency 4. Participation 5. Law orienteers 6. Responsibility 7. Justice. 8. Efficiency and effectiveness. Also, according to studies, the most appropriate indices of good rural governance in Iran are: participation, responsibility, accountability, legality, transparency, collective agreement, effectiveness of performance, and justice orienteers. It should be noted that each of these indicators include several variables and totally encompasses all aspects of good governance in rural areas of Iran.
3. METHODOLOGY
The purpose of this study is to use applied research method and descriptive-analytic research method. The population of the study consisted of all the headships of rural households in Shaho district and using Cochran's formula, 285 family caregivers were estimated as the statistical sample. The main instrument of the research is a researcher-made questionnaire and its validity was confirmed by experts and academic professors after necessary corrections were made in several stages. In order to assess the reliability of the tool, a guideline study was conducted in one of the villages outside the study area and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.901) indicated that the tool was durable. The high cost of completing questionnaires and the lack of cooperation of relevant organizations with researchers has been one of the most important limitations of this research.
4. DISCUSSION
The findings of this research showed that satisfaction rate of villagers in Shaho district with a 2.8 mean, was less than average regarding rural managers' performance with an emphasis on good rural governance indexes, and the highest satisfaction of villagers from rural modern managers to collective agreement indicators with an average of 3.61 and a standard deviation of 1.03 and the lowest level of satisfaction belongs to liability index, with a mean of 3.04 and a standard deviation of 1. 52.
5. CONCLUSION
The new rural managers in the studied area are not functioning well according to the good governance indicators and for the first time in the country, by villagers in the Shaho district, the villagers have offered operational solutions to overcome good governance problems. The findings of the study showed that three strategies of "rural villagers' opinion polls in different stages of implementation (before, during and after implementation of programs)"; "more and more sympathetic cooperation and activities of rural managers in rural environment" and " transparency of village plans and activities with villagers ", respectively, with 154, 132 and 126 repetitions, are the most important ways to improve the status of good governance indicators in the study area.Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001Identifying and Prioritizing Factors Affecting the Process of Formation of Rural Second Homes Tourism (Case Study: Rural Complex of Javaherdeh in Ramsar)شناسایی و اولویتبندی عوامل مؤثر بر شکلگیری گردشگری خانههای دوم روستایی (مطالعة موردی: مجموعۀ روستای جواهرده رامسر)1251402988110.22067/jrrp.v6i2.57684ENMostafa MohammadiMazandaran UniversitySeyyed Mohammad Mirtaghian RudsariMazandaran UniversityJournal Article20160722Extended Abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Tourism acts within the framework of certain spatial patterns; one of these patterns is rural tourism that is considered as the most popular form of tourism. The most important and the most common form of tourism in rural areas is second homes tourism. Generally, second home tourism is consistent with the tourism motivation and patterns and is related to the need for recreation and travel to different locations. Mostly, second homes tourists seek to meet several needs at the same time; because they have different motivations. Although it is possible in circumstance, one of these factors affects as the main factor, but usually in second homes, several or all of these factors are important affecting items.
2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
During the past three decades, second home tourism has become a topic for study by researchers in disciplines such as geography, tourism planning, economics and sociology. This research has focused on relation between second home tourists and residents of rural environment. One of the ways to identify second home tourism motivations, is understanding the factors related to tourism, namely driving pull and push factors.
The study of second home tourists' motivations, is important because of the impacts on rural areas. Therefore, the aim of the research is to identify and prioritize the factors affecting second home tourists' motivations in Javaherdeh Ramsar as a mountain village which this phenomenon (second home tourism) has taken shape there for many years.
3. METHODOLOGY
This study is a functional, descriptive and exploratory research. Geographic scope of this study encompasses the Rural Complex of Javaherdeh in Ramsar and the time domain has been in the spring, summer and autumn 1394 (2015). The population consisted of second homes tourists in the village as well as tourism professionals and geographical experts. Sampling was judgmental and the number of 334 people was selected. For experts in form of Delphi, the number of 30 individuals was determined. Data were collected through questionnaires. The validity was checked through the content validity and reliability by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α=0.9) and it was approved. Analysis of the data was performed by the coefficient of variation to prioritize and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to dimension reduction by SPSS23 software.
4. DISCUSSION
prioritizing of the push factor of second homes tourism from the rural tourists perspective of Javaherdeh Ramsar indicated that the highest priority respectively is related to increase leisure time, increase income and financial strength, to escape the monotony and routines, dignity and social status, attachment to the place, acquisition of vehicles, provision of retirement days, willingness to invest, to avoid pollution of urban, environmentalism attitude, following fashion behavior, change in cultural attitudes, migration and modernity (recognition and search for new experiences).
Also, prioritizing of the pull factor from the perspective of second homes tourists of Javaherdeh Ramsar showed that the highest priority respectively is related to pleasant climate, positive image of the destination, the distance between primary residences and second homes, attractions, natural landscapes, access to the attractions and landscapes, tranquility of environment, ease in ownership of housing, ease of access, openness culture of residents, social capital of destination, convenient transportation system, proximity to urban centers, prices, development of infrastructure and superstructure, similarity and closeness of residents’ culture.
In next section of results, by using exploratory factor analysis, after the second home tourism motivational factors decreased to seven dimensions (with 67.55%), Which includes dimensions of tourists’ economic status, mental and practical attitude to leisure, psychological-social factors (related to push factor) and the nature and climate of the destination, features of destination, distance and access, and social development of destination (related to pull factor).
5. CONCLUSION
In leisure and tourism studies, always, motivation has been of particular importance. Mostly, second homes tourists seek to meet several needs at the same time; because their tourisms’ acts do not originate from unique motivations. Although it is possible in a circumstance, one of these factors affect as the main factor, but usually in the second homes, several or all of these factors affect in collection of interlocked.
Prioritizing of pull factor of second homes tourism from perspective of tourist showed that the component of the "to increase leisure time" is the highest priority and "modernity (recognition and search for new experiences)" is the lowest priority. Also, prioritizing of pull factor of second homes tourism from perspective of tourist indicated that the component of the "pleasant climate" is the highest priority and "similarity and closeness of resident’s culture" is the lowest priority.
In order to evaluate the motivational factors (pull and push factors) second home tourism, the percentage share of each factors of eigenvalues of the variance have been determined in the pull and push factors. From the values would appear that from total factors, 59.3% are related to push factor and 40.7% are related to pull factor. From this model can be received that values of second homes tourists' motivations in the village of Javaherdeh in push factors has been more than pull factors.Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001Investigating Orchard Men's Behavioral Intentions of Dashtestan County toward Water Conservation Using Stern Value-Belief-Norm Theoryبررسی تمایلات رفتاری باغداران شهرستان دشتستان نسبت به حفاظت از آب با استفاده از تئوری ارزش- باور- هنجار استرن1411562991610.22067/jrrp.v6i2.58183ENSeyyede Zohreh MohammadiRamin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of KhuzestanSaeed MohammadzadehRamin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of KhuzestanMasoud YazdanpanahRamin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of KhuzestanJournal Article20160814Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
One of the most pressing issues facing the world today is the conservation and preservation of natural resources. According to a comprehensive study done by business, government, and academic experts in the United States, Japan, and western and central Europe, no other issue rated higher in priority than the environment. Similarly, in a study commissioned by the Environment Protection Authority in third world countries, the environment was predicted to become the most important issue for governments within the next decade. Just recently, the United Nations set up the Commission on Sustainable Development to monitor the progress of nation states relative to key environmental issues, including concerns over greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, soil degradation, and dramatic shifts in climatic conditions. Each of these conditions has put additional pressure on existing natural resources, especially on the world’s water supply. Population increases, problems from water pollution, endangered aquatic ecosystems, and irrigated agriculture all have contributed to a greater imbalance between supply and demand of quality water sources, particularly in the arid and semi-arid areas.
Iran with an arid and semi-arid geographic specification is located in southwest Asia. The normal annual average of precipitation is 250 mm. The geographic and climatic variation of the country is very extensive. The sum of annual water resources is estimated 135×109 m3, the consumption rate in the three main sectors are as follows: 1- Domestic urban consume sector: five percent (5%) 2- Industrial sector: twenty percent (20%) 3-Agricultural sector: ninety-three percent (93%).Three decades ago, before 1970, because of low population, agricultural nature and low rate of urban population, water supply was not considered as a critical problem of the country. Since 1980, a rapid population growth as well as rapid economic change has led to significant agricultural and industrial development and consequently increasing urban population. Consequently, dramatic changes have been encountered in water demand, as water demand has been increased very rapidly in different sectors in agriculture, industry and urban services.
Given the realities of Iran's climate, and the fact that demand for water is increasing at a rate that is outstripping traditional supply sources, water conservation strategies which should decrease the demand for water have to be considered as priority measures, particularly in the aagricultural water consumption sector. In this regard, there are various methods for conservation and sustainable behavior. For example, we can refer to the use of tools' price and voluntary behavior. However, many specialists believe that the voluntary approaches are very more sustainable and more effective than tools' price, especially in the sector of agricultural water use.
Regarding usage of water, the agricultural sector is the main consumer of freshwater (around 90 to 93 percent) and the most important actors involved in the implementation of environmental and nature conservation measures are farmers. But at the same time farmers are characterized as primarily utilitarian, causing misuse of the Natural resources such as water. So, the basic question is “how” farmers can be encouraged to accept water conservation as important and implement it effectively through voluntary action?
2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Stern’s value - belief - norm - theory is an attempt to link assumptions of the NAT to findings about the relation between general values, environmental beliefs and behavior. It assumes that intentions and environmental behavior are determined directly by personal norms, which is based on the NAT. Stern additionally assumes that these personal norms have to be activated by ascription of responsibility and awareness of consequences. However, he ranks them into a causal chain where awareness of consequences is a necessary prerequisite of ascription of responsibility. Awareness of consequences according to the VBN is related to a general eco logical worldview, which is measured by the New Environmental Paradigm. Although the new environmental paradigm is often used as a measure for general environmental attitudes, its function in the VBN theory is not that of an attitude, but rather that of a link between value orientations and personal norms.
3. METHODOLOGY
In this research, data have been collected with questionnaire and through survey research, and its validity was proved by comments recived from professors and specialists. Its reliability was confirmed through the study guide to. The population consisted of gardeners in Dashtestan city in Boushehr province. The study site is a semi-arid and drought-prone area in the south of Iran, on the shores of the Persian Gulf. Using multistage random sampling technique, 300 individual gardeners were selected in Dashtestan.
4. DISCUSSION
This study investigated the relationship between research variables using Pearson correlation coefficient. Results show that behavioral intentions variable has a positive and significant relationship with the altruistic value orientation (r= 0.13), the biospheric value orientation (r= 0.20), the ecological worldview (r= 0.20), the knowledge of the consequences (r= 0.49), the attribution of responsibility (r= 0.48) and the moral norm (r= 0.68). Also, the results of regression analysis showed that biospheric value orientation is about 05.0 percent of the ecological worldview, ecological worldview is about 12.0 percent of the knowledge of the consequences, knowledge of the consequences is about 14.0 percent of attribution of responsibility, attribution of responsibility is about 25.0 percent of the moral norms, and moral norms are about 46.0 percent of the variance of behavioral intention towards water conservation in a significant level.
5. CONCLUSION
The results showed that a continuous ranging from the biospheric value orientation, the environmental beliefs (ecological worldview, knowledge of the consequences, attribution of responsibility) and moral norms, gardener's behavioral intentions explains than water conservation. This means that the biospheric value orientation directly and significantly has impact on gardeners' environmental beliefs. Environmental beliefs and moral norms are directly affected. And moral norms directly and significantly affect behavioral intention of gardeners (R2 = 46.0).Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001The Efficacy of Community-Based Management Approach toward Strengthening Bridging Social Capital and Reducing Social Exclusion (Case Study: Rigan County, Kerman Province)اثربخشی رویکرد مدیریت اجتماعمحور در راستای تقویت سرمایۀ اجتماعی برونگروهی و کاهش مطرودیت اجتماعی (مطالعة موردی: شهرستان ریگان، استان کرمان)1571692995510.22067/jrrp.v6i2.58795ENMehdi GhorbaniUniversity of TehranKhadijeh BouzarjomehriFerdowsi University of MashhadLeyla EvazpourUniversity of TehranZahra MansouriUniversity of TehranJournal Article20160911Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Regarding the significance of social capital in reducing social exclusion, the present study investigates the impact of community-based approach for strengthening bridging social capital and reducing social exclusion through applying social network analysis pre and post RFLDL community-based project implementation. Accordingly, heads of micro development committees of four villages including Ziaratshah, Dehreza, Rostam Abad-e- Ali Charak, and Aliabad Hashtsad Metri were scrutinized.
2. METHODOLOGY
Applying survey method and through direct observation and interview with target groups, the nodes of the network including the micro-development committee heads (as the main decision makers in each sub-group) were specified in each region. These individuals (33 persons) were elected by villagers in four villages, i.e., Ziaratshah, Dehreza, Rostam Abad-e- Ali Charak, and Aliabad Hashtsad Metri. Trust and participation ties of heads were examined for evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of this project aimed at investigating the bridging ties and measuring out-group social capital. The network analysis method used in this study was whole network method which scrutinizes all network members. Eventually, the gathered data were analyzed using UCINET software version 6.507. Indicators including density, reciprocity, transitivity of ties, and average geodesic distance were studied.
3. DISCUSSION
It was found out that the level of density of trust and participation ties of heads of the four villages increased following project implementation. Enhancement of density leads to higher trust, participation, and social capital which in turn increases reciprocity of trust and participation ties following project implementation. Enhancement of this indicator makes the network of heads more optimally sustainable. The average geodesic distance of trust and participation ties in the four villages was 2.05 and 2.09, respectively. These reached to 1.61 and 1.67 following project implementation. As the average geodesic distance value was near to 1, it is inferred that the speed of information and resource transfer among members was high and it is also indicative of high unity. Once the project was accomplished, the level of this value was evaluated moderate. E-I indicator of out-group trust doubled in the four pilot villages and regarding participation indicator, it increased 1.5 times as much as pre-project implementation. This in turn contributes significantly to enhancement of bridging social capital and consequently reduction of social exclusion.
It is argued that RFLDL project implementation in this village could have successfully led to trust building and provided favorable ground for participation and collaboration among heads of the rural development committees so that as more ties formed among members, bridging social capital also increased. Social capital can provide suitable condition for access to other human and financial resources and reduction of social exclusion. The level of institutionalization of traditions and local customs in one hand and sustainability and balance of network on the other hand was assessed moderately based on trust and participation ties. Strengthening of mutual relations for sustainability of network and improving social capital is therefore required. Fortunately, once project was through, it was revealed that this occurred at an optimum level. Regarding the significance of the speed of coordination in co-management process, reinforcement of trust and especially participation tie for boosting the speed of transfer, less average geodesic distance among individuals besides less time required for coordinating and uniting local beneficiaries are fundamentally important. Based on E-I indicator, it can be asserted that implementing local community's empowerment project (RFLDL) in four regions of Rigan District resulted in higher bridging social capital which in its turn reduced social exclusion.
4. CONCLUSION
Through sociological perspective, enhancement of social participation as an integration-oriented policy will lead to less social exclusion. Since higher bridging social capital is followed by less social exclusion, it is argued that RFLDL project which increased out-group relations, lessened social exclusion in pilot areas. Considering the significance of bridging social capital for reducing exclusion, reinforcement of bridging ties within a network is critically essential and is the main communication channel of micro development committee heads in the four regions. Comparing the pre and post project implementation conditions, it can be asserted that this project fell effective in strengthening the relations between villages. Improved social capital led to better participation and communication of individuals with one another and exclusion reduced, accordingly.Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001An Analysis of the Impact of the Management Reformation Strategies of Border Markets in Improving the Socio-Economic Development of Surrounding Rural Areas (Case Study: Khaw & Mirabad District in Marivan County)تحلیلی بر تأثیر راهکارهای اصلاحی مدیریت بازارچۀ مرزی در بهبود سطح توسعۀ اقتصادی-اجتماعی نواحی روستایی پیرامون (مطالعۀ موردی: بخش خاو و میرآباد شهرستان مریوان)1711902999610.22067/jrrp.v6i2.59032ENFarzad VeysiPayam-e-Nour UniversityAbdolmajid AhmadiBozorgmehr University of QaenatJournal Article20160922Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Kurdistan province is one of the frontier border provinces of the country with an abundant rural population. Natural and geographical conditions of villages, long distance from the center, and the lack of economic diversification have caused harsh living conditions for border villages of the province. The study area is rural areas in Khawmirabad region in the western part of Marivan city which is one of the 10 cities of Kurdistan province onborder with Iraq. This neighboring with Iraq, geographical situation, cultural and social likeness with Iraqi people in the other side of the border and an enormous capacity of Iraq for cross-border trade, has created a favorable situation for establishing border market. Considering these facts, the border market was established in 2009, primarily to improve the economic situation in the villages around the region of Marivan. Field work observations, interviews with local people as well as research findings of Dastvar and Veysi (2016), and Manoochehri and Tayyebniya (2016) related to the favorable impact of socio-economic performance of the border market showed that this market has not had optimum performance and effectiveness, and that the local people are not satisfiedwith it. Reflecting this situation led the management of the border market which is administered by border office of Mariwan city to do some reformations to improve the performance and socio-economic impact of border market. Thus, the main objective of this study is to analyze the socio-economic impact and efficiency of border market due to management reforms which has been done for effective managing and running this market.
2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
border market is an enclosed area located at the zero border and adjacent to the customs authorities authorized to discharge the goods or places determined in accordance with memorandums concluded between the Islamic Republic of Iran and neighboring countries. Border markets are centers formakingmobility in rural areas for more serious presence in national and regional development and also a strategy for exiting from economic and geographical isolation through national and international cooperation. Achieving developmental positive impacts in relation with border markets is possible when the managers are efficient. Management role in the success of an organization and institution is ofgreat importance when we consider the progress and success as the result of a fusion of some elements like capital, labor, natural resources, market, etc. The task of management is planning and coordinating these elements.
3. METHODOLOGY
This study is practical in objectives and is descriptive-analytical in method. Data in theoretical part were collected through using library resources and in the field part through interviews and questionnaires. The population of this research was the head of households in Khawmirabad region that are allowed to operate in the market place. Based on the census in 2010, this region has a population of 11408 people and 2736 households among which 260 households were selectedas the sample using Cochran formula. Then for analyzing the obtained data, inferential statistical tests like t-single sample, andpath analysis and AHP technique were used in addition to descriptive statistics.
4. DISCUSSION
Doing reforms in the administration of border market management has directly led to employment for many households. Although rural women have not directly been employed, theiremployment in agriculture and animal husbandryhas indirectly increased. This increase in villagers’ income and reduction of rural poverty have caused great willingness forvillagers to stay in villages and even has led to the formation of reverse migration to villages.
5. CONCLUSION
Increasing the efficiency and performance of border markets through doing reforms and improving its management, has enhanced the level of socio-economic development of the villagers. Among the executive strategies in the management of border market, the increase in exchange level and villagers’ income are strategies with the greatest effect in socio-economic development of the villagers.Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001Modeling the Consequences of Second Home Tourism Expansion in Rural Areas and its Influence on Local Community’s Satisfaction (Case Study: Ghamsar District of Kashan County)مدلسازی پیامدهای گسترش گردشگری خانههای دوم بر مناطق روستایی و اثر آن بر رضایت جامعۀ محلی (مطالعة موردی: بخش قمصر شهرستان کاشان)1912093003810.22067/jrrp.v6i2.59574ENSedigheh Kiyani SalmiUniversity of KashanMohsen ShaterianUniversity of KashanJournal Article20161016Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Throughout the world, and particularly in advanced countries, second homes are very popular. Similarly, in Iran, in line with the global boost, the number of second homes has increased significantly. Ghamsar district, adjacent to such big cities as Tehran and Kashan, is one of the prominent natural attractions in Iran which accommodates many second home tourists, owing to its clement weather in summer. The characteristics of second home tourism, such as long stays in the region, indicates that some effects manifest themselves more obviously. Therefore, the present research tries to investigate the effects of expansion of second home tourism on the economic, social, environmental and physical structure of the region.
2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Second home tourism is a type of tourism which affects rural and urban societies in various ways, through increasing the number of summer or vacation home owners. It can be said that second home tourism is a continuous, permanent process which can at least help protect the existing jobs in local communities, due to an influx of tourists and the concomitant increased demand. A crucial prerequisite for second home tourism in the local economy is that second homes and places of permanent residence should be distant enough. Varied approaches to tourism, such as mass tourism, economic, geospatial, and society based tourism have been considered. Expansion of tourism with a concurrent attention to environmental, economic and social aspects was proposed so that along with a regard for the environment, economic development and expansion of social justice are also taken into consideration, as none of the previously mentioned approaches is comprehensive and each emphasizes a particular aspect of tourism.
3. METHODOLOGY
The present study is an applied - developmental one and uses a descriptive-analytical methodology through survey. Therefore, in addition to library method, field research has also been utilized. The population of the research consists of 9225 residents of Ghamsar. The sample size was determined to be 198, using Cochrane’s formula. The data for the present study was gathered using questionnaires. The validity of the questionnaire was established through face validity. Cronbach’s alpha was used to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. The study presents a model of the consequences of the expansion of second home tourism and its influence on local community’s satisfaction in Ghamsar district, using a survey approach and structural equation modelling.
4. DISCUSSION
In the present study, the effects of second home tourism expansion in Ghamsar district was investigated and the degree of its influence on local community’s satisfaction was analyzed. The results of the independent sample t-test reveal that the influence of economic, environmental and physical indicators are statistically significant and that the expansion of second home tourism has affected all the mentioned indicators. In order to assess the statistical significance of the observed difference among economic, environmental, social and physical indicators, one-way ANOVA was used. The findings indicate an inequality in the average influence of second home expansion in Ghamsar. Scheffe’s post hoc test reveals that the average influence of physical, social and economic indicators is the same, and, hence, are subsumed within a single category. However, the average influence of environmental effects is placed in a different category.
5. CONCLUSION
The findings of the second order model indicate that the economic, environmental, social and physical factors are capable of capturing the effects. A more detailed presentation of the findings of the research is as follows: the economic indicator takes the lion’s share in explaining the effects of second home tourism expansion. The factor loading for social effect of second home tourism expansion was determined to be 0.92. The physical influence of the presence of second homes in the region was analyzed using four factors. This indicator explains 0.62 of variation of second home tourism expansion effects. Environmental effects of the expansion of second home tourism were analyzed using indicators of increased pollution of water and soil resources, increase in garbage production, and encroachment upon nature (rivers, pastures, mountains, etc.). The resultant negative factor loading denotes the negative environmental effect of the expansion of tourism in the region. Finally, the findings of the structural equation modeling show that expansion of tourism has played a significant role in the satisfaction of local residents, with a factor loading a 0.47 and a significance level of 0.000. Therefore, with a confidence level of 99 percent, it can be said that expansion of tourism has influenced the satisfaction of the local residents.Ferdowsi University of MashhadJournal of Research and Rural Planning2783-27916220171001The Key Parameters in Making and Managing Brands in Rural Geotourism Destinations of Isfahan Province (Case Study: Mesr and Garme Villages)پارامترهای کلیدی در ساخت و مدیریت برند در روستاهای ژئوتوریسمی استان اصفهان (مطالعۀ موردی: روستاهای مصر و گرمه)2112283007610.22067/jrrp.v6i2.60083ENZahed ShafieiArt University of IsfahanNeda Torabi FarsaniArt University of Isfahan0000-0003-1964-2268Maryam AbdollahpourArt University of IsfahanJournal Article20161103Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Increase in global competition, higher awareness of consumers and many other issues have made branding destinations an important and influential strategy in the field of tourism marketing. Due to the development of tourism in rural areas, attention to brand making and brand management with respect to the potentials of these destinations can influence the attraction of more tourists and provide better services and better customer trust.
2. THEORITICAL FRAMWORK
According to Lane (1994) rural tourism is the tourism which occurs in the country side. Some rural areas encompass geo-heritage and have high potential for promoting geo-tourism. Rural geo-tourism is nature tourism and takes place in the countryside which includes unique geological and geomorphological landscapes. In these villages, making and managing a geo-brand not only introduces geo-heritage of the territory as tourist attraction but also promotes local economy. Nowadays, brand is an important factor in influencing tourists in choosing a destination and the role of branding in marketing purposes is very important.
3. METHODOLOGY
This study was conducted in Isfahan Province (Mesr and Garme villages). This study has three major purposes: 1) to identify the important parameters in making and managing of a rural tourism brand in geotourism destinations; 2) to identify the challenges and problems of the failure of a rural tourism brand; and 3) to propose a rural geo-tourism brand for villages of Isfahan province which are known as desert tourism destinations. In order to achieve these goals, Delphi method was used to identify the key components in making and managing a rural tourism brand in geo-tourism destinations. Data were gathered through an interview and two questionnaires. Fifteen experts filled in the forms and data were collected through snowball sampling method. Then, the qualitative data were analyzed through coding method and the quantitative data were analyzed through SPSS software.
4. DISCUSSION
As previously mentioned, identifying the challenges and problems of the failure of a rural tourism brand is one of the objectives of the present research. In this regard, the researchers designed an interview form whose first question inquired the challenges and problems. The data were analyzed through qualitative method (using open coding procedure) and 21 codes were identified. The second question investigated the idea of experts about designing a geo-brand and seven codes were determined. Lastly, the third question explored key parameters for making and managing a rural tourism brand for a geo-tourism destination and 11 codes for making and 15 codes for managing a brand were identified. In the next step, the first questionnaire was designed and the responses were made on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5 and the data was analyzed by using SPSS tools (Binomial test). Further analysis of the data from the second questionnaire and telephone questionnaire illustrated that experts reached a consensus on 9 key parameters in making and 10 key parameters in rural tourism brand management.
4. CONCLUSION
The results identified nine key parameters in making and ten key components in managing a tourism brand in rural areas with potential in geo-tourism. Furthermore, lack of marketing, mismanagement, lack of support from the local community and the public sector, lack of educational program for local people, the lack of using specific symbols of the region, lack of attention to cultural factors, lack of brand fits with the niche tourism of the region, lack of implementation of the brand and its applications correctly, lack of creativity in branding, lack of attention to the local community, misidentification of resources, lack of planning for identification of investment opportunities, tourism destination branding complexity, lack of attention to the economic benefits of a brand for the region, creating new experience for tourists, lack of tourism experts, lack of standardization of services and infrastructure, non-competitive destination, weakness of private sector investment in tourism development planning, the attention of tourism on intangible products and interdisciplinary have been the challenges faced in branding. Finally, it can be said that geo-tourism can be a tool for making brand in Mesr and Garme villages. In the nest step according to idea of experts a geo-brand was proposed for the villages.