Community –Based Tourism (CBT) Planning and Possibilities: the Case of Shahmirzad, Iran
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Community –Based Tourism (CBT) Planning and Possibilities: The Case of Shahmirzad, Iran Esmaeil Khaksar Shahmirzadi Submitted to the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science In Tourism and Hospitality Management Eastern Mediterranean University January 2012 Gazimağusa, North Cyprus Approval of the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Prof. Dr. Elvan Yılmaz Director I certify that this thesis satisfies the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Altinay Chair, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management We certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate in scope and quality as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Habib Alipour Supervisor Examining Committee 1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Habib Alipour 2. Asst. prof. Dr. Guven M.Ardahan 3. Asst. Prof. Dr. Hasan Kilic ABSTRACT One of the critical issues regarding mass tourism is that communities have not been necessarily part of the decision making process in its development; therefore, have not been necessarily a beneficiary of its social and economic benefits. Most of the tourism development projects have designed without those communities’ consent and mostly disregarded the community’s involvement and not benefited from community’s immense knowledge and cooperation. However, there has been a shift in the general attitude of governments, development agencies and NGOs and they are giving considerable emphasis to the Community–based tourism (CBT) as a primary development strategy to support poverty reduction, rural development, and strengthening the social capital of the remote communities. development model and direct the tourism planning towards communities and their interests, Community–based tourism (CBT) has been planned and implemented in similar small towns and rural areas where economic activities based on primary resources have been dwindling and consequently economic hardship has been experienced. In addition, environmental concerns, subsidized agriculture, recreational needs, and sustainable development have become challenging issues in rural areas to make the transition and diversify the economy. EU’s rural tourism policy is very well based on this process (Burton, 1995; Gannon, 1994). Community– based tourism (CBT) centers on the involvement of the host community in planning and maintenance of tourism development in order to develop a sustainable economic base (Hall, 1996). This study will focuses on Shahmirzad’s passage from a primary agrarian-based economy to possible CBT with respect to its resources, public iii sector’s agenda, and foremost the community’s involvement and prospects towards establishment of CBT. While Shahmirzad’s tourism boom is a spontaneous process, the question remains to be answered is to what extend tourism development is in line with the principles of CBT and whether a proactive strategy is in place to achieve this? To examine the processes and characteristics of tourism development in Shahmirzad, and to explore whether its direction is in line with CBT pertinent to the construction of public infrastructure and the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, providing cultural pride, greater awareness of the natural environment, and a sense of ownership in the communities, as well as, an active participation in the process of tourism planning. To achieve the aim of the research, quantitative method based on survey questionnaires have been utilized and the data collected which analyzed through application of SPSS. In the meantime, a semi-structured interview with the public sector officials was conducted to assess the public sectors’ attitude and awareness of this process. Findings revealed that tourism development in Shahmirzad has been reactive and not proactive; secondly, the location and climate along with unique heritage sites plays an important role in attracting tourists. Furthermore, government’s attitude has remained passive and community’s involvement in tourism has not been based on a deliberate strategy with respect to product development, sustainability, and community consent. Keywords: Community–based tourism (CBT); Community participation; Sustainable tourism; Tourism planning; Remote destinations; Shahmirzad, Iran. iv ÖZ Toplu turizmi ilgilendiren en kritik konu, turizimin gelişmesinde toplumların karar aşamasında yer almadığı ve bu yüzden sosyal ve ekonomik yaralara faydalı olamadığıdır. Birçok turizimi geliştirme projeleri söz konusu toplumların onayını almadan tasarlanmış ve toplumların projelere herhangi bir entegresyonu olması istenmemiş ve bilgilerinden ve işbirliklerinden faydalanılmamıştır. Ancak, hükümetler tutumlarını ana gelişme stratejisi üzerine yani yoksulluğu önleme, kırsal gelişim ve toplumların sosyal kapitallerini güçlendirmeye vermiş bunun içinde gelişen şirketlere ve NGOlara birde Topluma-Bağlı-Turizme vurgu yapmışlardır. Gelişme modeli turizm planlamasını toplumlar ve onların ilgilerine yöneltmiştir. Topluma-Bağlı-Turizm benzer şekilde ekonomik şartların zor olduğu küçük kasabalarda ve kırsal bölgelerde de uygulanmıştır. Buna bağlı olarak, çevresel sorunlar, desteklenen tarım, rekreasyon ihtiyaçları ve stabil bir gelişim kırsal bölgelerin sorunu haline gelmiş ve ekonomideki geçiş ve gelişimi de etkilemiştir. Avrupa Birliği’nin presipleri de bu sürece bağlıdır (Burton, 1995; Gannon, 1994). Topluma-Bağlı-Turizm, evsahibi toplumun stabil bir ekonomi için turizmdeki gelişimi ve planlamayı merkez alır (Hall, 1996). Bu çalışma Shahmirzad’ın tarıma-bağlı ekonomi ve Topluma-Bağlı-Turizm’in kaynaklarına, kamu sektörünün gündeminin ve toplumun entegrasyonunun kurulşundaki etkinliği üzerinde duracaktır. Shahmirzad’ın turizmdeki başarısı spontane olsada, esas sorun Topluma- Bağlı-Turizm ve turizmdeki gelişimin ne kadar paralel olduğudur ve bunu başarabilmek için olumlu bir strateji varmıdır? Bu çalışma Shahmirzad’daki turzimdeki gelişim sürecini ve TBT ile kamusal yapı, doğanın ve kültürün korunması, kültürel gurur, çevre v farkındalığı, toplumu sahiplenme duygusu vede turizm planlanmasının sürecindeki aktif entegrasyonu kapsayacak. Araştırmanın amacıan ulaşmak için, ölçülebilen metod ile anketler yapılmış ve SPSS kullanılarak veriler incelenmiştir. Aynı zamanda kamu sektörüne mülakat yapılarak, kamu sektöründeki kişileirn tutum ve farkındalığına bakılmıştır. Buluçlar göstermiştir ki Shahmirzad’daki turizm gelişimi proaktif değil reaktiftir. Aynı zamanda, lokasyon ve iklim de turizmin gelişiminde büyük rol oynar. Ayrıca, toplumların ürün geliştirmedeki stratejileri ve turizme olan entegrasyonu hükümet tarafından pasif bir şekilde karşılanmıştır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Topluma-Bağlı-Turizme (TBT); Katılımcılık; Sürdürülebilir turizm; Turizm planlama; Uzaktan güzergah; Shahmirzad, Iran. vi DEDICATION To My Family vii ACKNOWLEDGMENT I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Prof. Dr. Habib Alipour for his great support, shared knowledge, understanding, contribution and above all his friendship, which helped me in the completion of this thesis. I would also like to thank my dear mother and mother in law for their loving support throughout all these years. Although they were far away, I could feel their love which gave me strength to overcome all the difficulties I encountered. Special thanks to my dear wife and my lovely daughter for their love and support. I would also like to thank all my friends, professors, and lecturers who were there for me whenever I needed them; they were and would always remain my second family. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... iii ÖZ ...................................................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGMENT ................................................................................................. viii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... xv LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ xvi 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ......................................................................................... 6 1.3 Significance of the Study ......................................................................................... 6 1.5 Purpose and Objectives of the Study ....................................................................... 7 1.6 Methodology ............................................................................................................ 8 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................. 10 2.1 Community Development: the Concept................................................................. 11 2.1.1 Key Definitions ............................................................................................... 12 2.2 Historical Background of the Concept ................................................................... 13 2.2.1 A Northern Perspective