چكيده لاتين
Rural tourism is recognized as one of the key drivers of sustainable economic and cultural development in rural areas. Pirbakran District in Falavarjan County, due to its natural, cultural, and historical attractions, possesses significant potential for rural tourism, making it essential to identify its current status, opportunities, and challenges. The main objective of this study is to examine the state of rural tourism in Pirbakran District and to identify existing opportunities and challenges in order to propose appropriate strategies for sustainable tourism development in the region. The research follows a descriptive-analytical approach, and the study population comprised 27,815 residents across 15 villages in Pirbakran District. Using Cochran’s formula and a stratified random sampling method, a sample of 379 participants was determined. Data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was verified through the completion of 30 questionnaires, yielding a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient greater than 0.70.
The results indicated that tourism indicators, such as accommodation, recreational, healthcare, and educational services, as well as the number of tourists, were statistically weak (p < 0.05). Major opportunities include scenic landscapes, historical-cultural attractions, traditional village textures, and agritourism potential. Significant challenges identified were inadequate infrastructure, lack of effective promotion, limited private sector investment, and outmigration of young labor. Factor analysis revealed that five main factors—local tourism management and organization, marketing and investment facilitation, tourism infrastructure and facilities, training and empowerment, and cultural heritage protection—explained more than 61% of the variance in rural tourism development. Additionally, significant differences in opportunities and challenges among the villages highlighted the necessity of planning based on the specific capacities of each village. The findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen infrastructure, enhance tourism education, utilize natural and cultural potentials, and attract private sector participation for the sustainable development of rural tourism in Pirbakran District.
