Mohammad Mehdi Sadeghian - Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Landscape DesignIsfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

Local communities can be involved in tourism activities. The purpose of this paper is to review the role oflocal communities in tourism development. The study has been accompanied on the basis of literature surveywith journals paper, internet, various seminar papers, and reports of research organization. This paperconclude reviews about communities as key sponsors in tourism development and the role of localcommunities in tourism development. Local communities have full control over the decision making processas well as over the completing and benefits. Findings show that local communities to accomplish sustainabletourism development local communities need to participate in decision- making process. Local communitiescan take part in identifying and promoting tourist resources and attractions that form the basis of communitytourism development. There are different performers involved in tourism development, including privatedivision, government, donor agencies, civil societies and local people themselves

Local Communities, Tourism Development, Decision- making