Barriers and Limitations to Rural Tourism Development (Case Study: Shirabad Waterfall in Golestan Province in Iran)

Rural tourism has a high potential to stimulate local economic growth and social change because of its complementarity with other economic activities, its contribution to GDP and job creation, and its capacity to promote the dispersal of demand in time (fight seasonality) and along a wider territory.The purpose of this study was to gain information from tourists about brriers to rural tourism development in Shirabad waterfall in Golstan province in Iran. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to investigate relationships between variables criterion. ۱۹۶ native visitors to Shirabad waterfall in Golestan province were surveyed using simple sampling method. Research datas were collected using a questionnaire ۱۹ items and analyzed by Lisrel and Spss softwares. The results showed that the region has a high potential in the field of rural tourism development in various dimensions for sustainable development. The results of factor analysis of barriers to rural tourism development in the region showed that these barriers are important, including poor management and planning, lack of welfare and health facilities, cultural and educational barriers and insufficient investment, respectively. Managers must develop and implement a comprehensive rural tourism plan for this region.

Keywords:

Rural Tourism , Lack of welfare and health facilities , Poor management and planning , Insufficient investment , Cultural and educational barriers