Modeling the Consequences of Second Home Tourism Expansion in Rural Areas and its Influence on Local Community’s Satisfaction(Case Study: Ghamsar District of Kashan County)

Throughout the world, and particularly in advanced countries, second homes are very popular. Similarly, in Iran, in line with the global boost, the number of second homes has increased significantly. Ghamsar district, adjacent to such big cities as Tehran and Kashan, is one of the prominent natural attractions in Iran which accommodates many second home tourists, owing to its clement weather in summer. The characteristics of second home tourism, such as long stays in the region, indicates that some effects manifest themselves more obviously. Therefore, the present research tries to investigate the effects of expansion of second home tourism on the economic, social, environmental and physical structure of the region.