Analysis Of The Role Of Tourism And Its Impact On Rural Development (Case Study Of The Central Part Of Marivan )

Rural tourism is considered as a part of tourism industry that with fundamental and appropriate plan can be effective in the development of rural areas and so undertook the national development and diversification of the national economy. This study aimed at investigating the role of rural tourism in the sustainable development of rural communities in Marivan city in Kurdistan province. This study is a combination of quantitative-qualitative research in nature, non-experimental from variables control level point of view and applied research regarding its goal. Three groups of local people, government employees and tourists comprise the population (n=254). Main research tool was a questionnaire designed by the researcher. The research tool content and outward validity was obtained through employing expert teachersʹ views and applying necessary modifications. Pilot testing was conducted to determine the reliability of the study and Cronbachʹs alpha method was used to determine the reliability of the research tool. The collected data was processed and analyzed using SPSS software. Results showed that the most important positive roles of tourism are to strengthen the region economy through local market boom, which increases life quality and reduces the unemployment rate. The most important negative consequences of rural tourism in the region are; destruction of vegetation, sharp increases in land and housing price, loss of traditional culture, social conflict between host and guest communities. Factor analysis for role of rural tourism in the region development showed that the first factor in sustainable development of Marivan region was productivity boom of local market. The next factors are employment development, entrepreneurship, cultural development of the region and increase in welfare utilities andnaturalresourceprotection.