Identifying and analyzing key factors affecting the lack of development of pro-poor event-based tourism in rural areas (Case study: villages around Zrivar Wetland)

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Associate professor of Geography and rural planning, Payame Noor university, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/gp.2025.64786.3341

Abstract

Tourism events, by promoting rural destinations and aligning with the demands of the profitable tourism market, represent a significant opportunity to alleviate rural poverty, given the proven impact of tourism development. This applied research, conducted using a descriptive-analytical method and data collected through both documentary and survey approaches, aims to identify the barriers hindering the effective participation of the rural poor in the development of event-based tourism in the Zarivar Wetland area. The study adopts a mixed-methods, inductive approach. In the quantitative phase, findings from the qualitative phase—focused on obstacles to the participation of the poor in the region’s tourism market—were validated and generalized. The research population includes a broad spectrum of tourism stakeholders: local tourism actors, private investors, development officials, scholars, and residents. Interviews were conducted purposively in the qualitative phase, while in the quantitative phase, data from local residents were gathered using Cochran’s formula, and purposive sampling was used for other groups. Qualitative data were analyzed through open coding, and quantitative data using Friedman’s path analysis and ranking test. The findings identified 65 influential variables, categorized into four main dimensions: weak planning and policymaking in economic and tourism development; an unfavorable business environment; specialized challenges in event tourism along the Zrivar Wetland axis; and issues related to regional rural poverty. Among these, inadequate planning and policymaking in economic and tourism development emerged as the most significant factor limiting the poor’s participation in event-oriented tourism.

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Full Text

رویدادهای گردشگری به واسطه برجسته‏سازی مقاصد روستایی و منطبق بودن بر نیاز بازار پرمنفعت گردشگری، فرصتی مهم در زمینه حل فقر روستایی با توجه به اثرگذاری غیرقابل انکاری توسعه گردشگری و فقرزدایی روستایی هستند. بر این اساس پژوهش حاضر با هدف شناسایی وضعیت فعالیت فقرا و موانع موثر بر توسعه گردشگری رویداد محور حامی فقرا در محور گردشگری تالاب زریوار انجام پذیرفت.در این ارتباط نیز، پژوهش کاربردی حاضر که با روشی توصیفی- تحلیلی و با گردآوری داده‏ها از دو بخش اسنادی و پیمایشی، صورت گرفته؛ سعی دارد تا موانع و ضعف‏های پیش‏روی حضور موثر فقرای روستایی در منطقه هدف توسعه گردشگری رویداد محور روستایی تالاب زریوار را شناسایی نماید. ماهیت پژوهش، کمی- کیفی و دارای رویکردی استقرایی است. در بخش کمی، داده‏های گردآوری شده از بخش کیفی که مبتنی بر ضعف‏های پیش‏روی حضور موثر فقرا در بازار گردشگری رویداد منطقه می‏باشند؛ مورد تایید و تعمیم قرار گرفت. جامعه آماری پژوهش، تمامی فعالان صحنه گسترده گردشگری منطقه مبتنی بر فعالان عرصه گردشگری، سرمایه‏گذاران بخش خصوصی، مسئولین توسعه‏ای، متخصصان علمی و مردم و آگاهان محلی است که به روش هدفمند در بخش کیفی، مورد مصاحبه قرار گرفته و در بخش کمی نیز با بهره‏گیری از فرمول کوکران برای مردم محلی و توزیع هدفمند در میان سایر گروه‏های نامبرده شده، داده‏ها گردآوری گردیدند. تجزیه و تحلیل داده‏ها در بخش کیفی با تکنیک کدگذاری باز و در بخش کمی با آزمون تحلیل مسیر و رتبه‏ای فریدمن، انجام گرفته‏است. یافته ها نشان دادند 61 متغیر یا مانع اثرگذار، در قالب 4 بعد اصلی ضعف برنامه‏ریزی و سیاستگذاری در توسعه اقتصادی و گردشگری؛ نامناسب بودن فضای کسب و کار؛ مشکلات تخصصی حوزه گردشگری رویداد در محور تالاب زریوار و نارسایی‎های مرتبط با فقر روستایی منطقه، به عنوان موانع کلیدی موثر بر عدم تحقق توسعه گردشگری رویداد محور حامی فقرا شناخته شدند. همچنین، ضعف برنامه‏ریزی و سیاستگذاری در توسعه اقتصادی و گردشگری به عنوان موثرترین عامل در رقم خوردن وضعیت نامناسب حضور فقرا در بازار گردشگری رویداد محور منطقه شناخته شد.

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