bahram imani; alireza ghane
Abstract
Tourism is recognized as a significant source of income and a crucial factor in the development of nations. Ecotourism lodges play a pivotal role in tourism development and sustainable rural development. Therefore, understanding the inhibiting and facilitating factors in the development of these lodges ...
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Tourism is recognized as a significant source of income and a crucial factor in the development of nations. Ecotourism lodges play a pivotal role in tourism development and sustainable rural development. Therefore, understanding the inhibiting and facilitating factors in the development of these lodges is essential. This research aims to identify and explain the inhibiting and facilitating factors in the development of ecotourism lodges from the perspective of experts in the villages of Ardabil Township (specifically, Vakilabad and Sham Asbi villages). This study employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing a sequential exploratory design conducted in two phases, qualitative and quantitative. In the qualitative phase, the range of variables and key indicators were identified through a scoping review. Subsequently, in the quantitative phase, a survey method using questionnaires was administered to a sample of 100 professionals, experts in ecotourism lodges, and local managers from the selected villages. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were assessed using Cronbach's alpha, which yielded a value of 0.937, indicating an acceptable level of reliability. Structural equation modeling (SEM) in Smart PLS3 software was used for data analysis. The findings revealed that economic factors (effect coefficient 0.817) and socio-cultural factors (effect coefficient 0.802) were significant inhibiting factors, while socio-cultural factors (effect coefficient 0.904) and economic factors (effect coefficient 0.816) were significant facilitating factors for the development of ecotourism lodges in the studied areas.
Bahram Imani; Ali Toorani; Hamideh Khosravi Mehr
Abstract
According to many thinkers and development experts, the lack of social capital is one of the obstacles to development in different countries. Social capital is needed for development above all else. Due to the necessity of studying and examining this concept, especially in rural areas that are more deprived ...
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According to many thinkers and development experts, the lack of social capital is one of the obstacles to development in different countries. Social capital is needed for development above all else. Due to the necessity of studying and examining this concept, especially in rural areas that are more deprived of developmental benefits, the present study deals with the leveling of rural centers in Minoudasht county on this basis. In this research, a descriptive-analytical method based on documentary and field studies (questioning) has been applied. The statistical population of the study is the total number of heads of households in which 370 people were estimated using the Cochran's sampling formula. The data obtained from the questionnaire were analyzed in the form of Vikor model and thus the studied villages were ranked and leveled. The spatial distribution of social capital at the rural center level indicates that the northwestern region has less social capital than other areas, including the center, south, southwest, and southeast. Also, the results of Pearson test show that there is a significant relationship between the components of population size and ethnic and linguistic diversity and geographical location with social capital. The relationship between population and ethnic-linguistic diversity is inversely related to social capital, and the relationship between geographical location and social capital is direct. There was no statistically significant relationship between the two components of income and literacy and social capital. Finally, in order to improve the level of social capital in the studied villages, this research suggests the following: holding group panels by local managers to explain the importance of social capital components, further monitoring the performance of local managers in building trust for villagers, strengthening social networks, and continuous education of villagers in order to accept social capital as an important factor in the development of local communities.
