چكيده لاتين
Minority tourism is a specialized form of tourism focused on promoting the cultural heritage and experiences of minority groups. This involves tourists visiting destinations where minority communities reside or hold historical significance, and interacting with their traditions, customs, and lifestyles. The Great Fereydan (comprising the counties of Fereydan, Fereydunshahr, and Buin va Miyandasht) is a region in Isfahan province with a rich history and culture. Its unique geographical location, ethnic and religious diversity, and natural beauty make it a region of particular significance. The Great Fereydan exemplifies the peaceful coexistence of various ethnicities and cultures, including Lurs, Turks, Armenians, and Georgians, each contributing to the regionʹs cultural richness. This research aimed to investigate the potential and feasibility of developing minority tourism in the minority villages of western Isfahan province and to assess the positive and negative impacts of such development on local communities. A sample of 30 local informants from Armenian and Georgian minorities in 10 minority villages in western Isfahan was selected using a purposive and heterogeneous sampling method. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the current situation. Multiple regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to examine relationships and differences in the data. The results indicated that over half of the villages (57%) had more than 500 visitors last year, demonstrating the high tourism potential of these areas. Approximately 43% of villages had fewer visitors (less than 500), necessitating a focus on infrastructure, marketing, and better promotion of attractions. The villages of Singerd and Sibak scored high on both attractiveness and tourist attraction indices, indicating their high potential for tourism development. The villages of Agche and Hadan scored lower on these indices and require planning to improve cultural attractions and tourism infrastructure. Indicators such as communication services and mobile phone coverage, healthcare services, and the quality and quantity of public infrastructure were highly important and achieved acceptable scores in most villages. In some villages, indicators such as accommodation facilities and transportation services scored lower, indicating a need to improve these infrastructures. A positive attitude towards tourists (score 4.67) and the importance of preserving traditions (score 4.58) indicate the high potential for tourism development in these areas. The level of familiarity with minority tourism (score 3.3) was the lowest among the indicators, suggesting a need for more education and awareness-raising in this area. In some villages such as "Cheqiourt" and "Hadan," both familiarity with tourism and a positive attitude were slightly below average. Villages such as "Namagard," "Ghorghan," and "Zarneh" performed exceptionally well in many indicators and have high potential for tourism development. Religious elements, historical buildings, and historical stories were identified as the most important attractions. Zarneh and Hadan have high potential for investment and development of narrative tourism. Hadan, Savaran, Ghorghan, and Namagard are at the forefront of positive socio-economic impacts. These villages can serve as models for the development of minority tourism. Agche and Cheqiourt had the weakest performance, indicating that these areas have difficulty in attracting and benefiting from tourism.
