Effects of Tourism on Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (Case Study: Saravan, Rasht County, Iran)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Reyhaneh Parvaneh Safa
• Majid Yasouri
• Mehdi Hesam

University of Guilan

10.22067/JRRP.V10I3.85201

Abstract

Purpose- Over the past decades, the improvement of sustainable rural livelihoods has received much attention and has been one of the main goals of sustainable rural development. One of the main approaches to improve rural livelihoods is the development of rural tourism. This has been considered by policymakers as a strategy to reduce rural poverty, especially in developing countries. Therefore, the present study is to investigate the impact of tourism on sustainable livelihoods.
Research limitations/implications- This is a descriptive-analytical study in which the documentary study method and field survey (questionnaire-observation-interview) were used in the case study of Saravan. The statistical population is 4233 Saravan rural households. In this framework, 360 household questionnaires have been completed based on the Cochran formula as a research sample.
Finding- The results have indicated that tourism in Saravan has not been able to play an effective role in the sustainable livelihoods of the local people (in institutional, economic, and human developments) and covers only some households. It can be concluded that tourism has had a greater impact on other aspects such as social and environmental issues. At the same time, with proper planning, people's livelihoods and abilities can be improved by promoting tourism and sustainable livelihoods.

Keywords

• Sustainable tourism
• Sustainable livelihood
• Rural tourism
• Saravan

---

References

1. Abdollahzadeh, G., Salehi, K., Sharifzadeh, M., & Khajehshahkohi, A. (2016). Investigating the impact of tourism on sustainable rural livelihoods in Golestan Province. Journal of Tourism Planning and Development, 4(15), 148-169. [In Persian] http://tourismpd.journals.umz.ac.ir/article_1191.html?lang=fa.
2. Azami, M., & Hashemi Amin, N. (2017). The effects of tourism on sustainable rural livelihood (Case study: Inspired villages of Dareh and Tarkhinabad, Hamadan). Tourism Space Quarterly, 6(23), 99-114. [In Persian] http://gjts.malayeriau.ac.ir/article_533026.html?lang=fa.
3. Azami, M., & Shanazi, K. (2020). Tourism wetlands and rural sustainable livelihood: The case from Iran. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 30, 100284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2020.100284
4. Azkia, M., & Imani, A. (2008). Sustainable rural development, Tehran, Information Publications.
5. Baghiani, H. (2014). Designing a Rural Tourism Model Based on Sustainable Livelihood. Unpublished phd’s thesis, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. [In Persian]
6. Bameri, Z., Paydar, A., & Toulabinejad, M. (2019). Restoring sustainable livelihoods of traditional villages through tourism development (Case Study: Nahook district, Saravan Township). Geography and Territorial Spatial Arrangement, 9(32), 59-78. [In Persian] doi: 22111/gaij.2019.4961
7. Beshkar, E., Bazrafshan, J., & Toulabinejad, M. (2019). Review the position of supporting local communities in tourism development and its impact on sustainable livelihoods villages in the border Township Chabahar. Geography and Planning, 23(69), 41-64. [In Persian] https://geoplanning.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_9756.html?lang=fa.
8. Chambers, R., & Conway, G. R. (1992). sustainable rural livelihoods: practical concepts for the 21 st century. IDS Discussion paper No. 296.: IDS, Brighton.
9. Clancy, M. J. (1999). Tourism and development: Evidence from Mexico. Annals of Tourism Research, 26(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-7383(98)00046-2
10. Ellis, F. (2000). Rural livelihoods and diversity in developing countries. Oxford, New York, Ny: oxford university press.
11. Gao, J., & Wu, B. (2017). Revitalizing traditional villages through rural tourism: A case study of Yuanjia Village, Shaanxi Province, China. Tourism management, 63, 223-233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.04.003
12. Gavrilă-Paven, I. (2015). Tourism opportunities for valorizing the authentic traditional rural space–study case: Ampoi and Mures Valleys Microregion, Alba County, Romania. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 188, 111-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.03.345
13. Ghadiri Masoum M, Rezvani M, Jomepour M, Baghiani H. (2015). Ranking of livelihood capitals in mountain tourism villages case: Bala- Taloqan Rural District in Taloqan County. Journal of Space Economy & Rural Development, 4(12), 1-18. [In Persian] URL: http://serd.khu.ac.ir/article-1-2432-fa.html
14. Ghaffaari, S. (2007). Tourism and Sustainable Urban Development. Scientific- Research Quarterly of Geographical Data (SEPEHR), 16(63), 29-34. [In Persian] http://www.sepehr.org/article_27682.html?lang=en.
15. Ghasemi, I. (2009). Physical Planning of Rural Tourism. Tehran: Islamic Revolution Housing Foundation. [In Persian]
16. Ghasemi, M. (2011). Diversification of non-agricultural economic activities and sustainability of rural settlements (Case Study: Mashhad City). First International Conference on Rural Development, Experiences and Foresight in Local Development, Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan University. [In Persian] https://civilica.com/papers/l-6122/.
17. Goodarzi, M., & Jomehpour. M. (2015). Tourism supporting the poor, a strategy for balanced and sustainable development of rural communities (Case study: Vali-e-Asr village near Persepolis). Quarterly Journal of Rural Research and Planning, 4(2), 35-44. [In Persian] https://jrrp.um.ac.ir/article_25956_6c5c6b12c22fc0d8f2714c70c230da43.pdf.\
18. Hiedari Sarban, V., & Maleki, A. (2014). Assessment of rural tourism in the social empowerment of the Ziarat village’s residents from Bavanat city in the province of Farce. Community Development (Rural and Urban Communities), 6(2), 279-298. [In Persian] doi: 22059/jrd.2014.54324 
19. Jafari, J. (1990). Research and scholarship: The basis of tourism education. Journal of Tourism Studies, 1(1), 33-41. https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/19901880625.
20. Jomehpour, M. (2011). Effect of tourism on sustainable rural livelihoods (Case Study: Baraghan Village - Savojbolagh County). Journal of Rural Research, 2(5), 33-62. [In Persian] https://jrur.ut.ac.ir/article_22749.html?lang=fa
21. Jomepour, M., Kiyumars, N. (2012). Investigation of tourism impact on the livelihood activities and assets of rural households, (case study: Zeeyarat village in Gorgan County). Tourism Management Studies, 7(17), 73-92. [In Persian] https://tms.atu.ac.ir/article_5111.html?lang=fa.
22. Karimi, J., & Mahboubfar, M. (2012). Rural Tourism of Iran (Attractions, Amazing Villages, Planning). Isfahan: Ardakan Danesh Publications. [In Persian]
23. Lan, X., Zhang, Q., Xue, H., Liang, H., Wang, B., & Wang, W. (2021). Linking sustainable livelihoods with sustainable grassland use and conservation: A case study from rural households in a semi-arid grassland area, China. Land Use Policy, 101, 105186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105186
24. Mohammadi, S., Moradi, E., & Rashidi, Z. (2017). The effects of tourism on the sustainable livelihood of rural households from the perspective of the host community, a case study: Oraman section of Sarvabad city. Geography Quarterly (Iranian Geographical Association), 15(52), 121-136. [In Persian] http://mag.iga.ir/Article/8939.
25. Pasanchay, K., & Schott, C. (2021). Community-based tourism homestays' capacity to advance the Sustainable Development Goals: A holistic sustainable livelihood perspective. Tourism Management Perspectives, 37, 100784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2020.100784
26. Rezvani, M R. (2008). Rural Tourism Development with Sustainable Tourism Approach. Tehran: Tehran University Press. [In Persian]
27. Rokn al-Din Eftekhari, A., & Badri, S. A. (2012). Foundations of the Theoretical Development Model of Numoneh Village. Rasht: Guilan Governorate. [In Persian]
28. Roknaddin Eftekhari A., & Ghaderi E. (2002). The Rule of Rural Tourism in Rural Development (Theoretical Analysis). Journal of Space Planning and Planning (MJSP), 6 (2), 23-41
    URL: http://hsmsp.modares.ac.ir/article-21-4582-fa.html
29. Shen, F., Hughey, K. F., & Simmons, D. G. (2008). Connecting the sustainable livelihoods approach and tourism: A review of the literature. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 15(1), 19-31. https://doi.org/10.1375/jhtm.15.1.19
30. Sojasi Gheidari, H., Rokn al-Din Eftekhari, A.R., & Mahdavi, D. (2016). Sustainable Development of Tourism Entrepreneurship with Emphasis on Rural Areas. Tehran: Samat Publications. [In Persian]
31. Sojasi Gheydari, H., Sadeghloo, T., & Plouch, M. (2016). Development of Sustainable Rural Livelihood (Strategies and Strategies). Tehran: Agricultural Education Research Publications. [In Persian]
32. Su, M. M., Wall, G., Wang, Y., & Jin, M. (2019). Livelihood sustainability in a rural tourism destination-Hetu Town, Anhui Province, China. Tourism Management, 71, 272-281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.10.019  
33. Welch, R. V. (1984). The meaning of development: Traditional view and more recent ideas. New Zealand Journal of Geography, (76), 2-4. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0028-8292.1984.tb00153.x
34. Wu, M. Y., & Pearce, P. L. (2014). Host tourism aspirations as a point of departure for the sustainable livelihoods approach. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 22(3), 440-460. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 09669582. 2013.839689