International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development (IJAMAD) Available online on: www.ijamad.iaurasht.ac.ir ISSN: 2159-5852 (Print) ISSN:2159-5860 (Online) Expected Economic Impacts of Agro-Tourism Development in Rural Areas of Tehran Province (Case Study of Pakdasht County) Farideh Azimi 1* and Samvel Avetisyan 2 Received: 29 October 2015, his study determined the situation of rural tourism and Accepted: 13 December 2015 agro-tourism in Tehran Province as well as the expected economicT impacts of agro-tourism development on it. In this research, we used documental research method and field research based on questionnaires and face-to-face interview. It was found out that despite different tourist attractions in rural areas of Tehran Province, tourist arrival to the rural areas was only due to natural attractions. Almost all counties have agri- cultural tourist attractions, but no comprehensive and coherent programs have been implemented for the development of agro- tourism in the region. It was revealed that one job can be created in exchange for the arrival of nearly 133 Agro-tourists, that tourists in their rural trips are more willing to buy Abstract agricultural products and homemade processed foods as compared to handicrafts and other goods, that in rural trips, agro-tourists will spend more money for their purchases than other rural tourists, and that agro-tourists earn much more benefit on their purchasing as compared to rural tourists. Based on the results, the most important expected economic impacts of agro-tourism development in Tehran Province include the Keywords: increase in agro-tourist arrivals to the rural regions, the increase Agro-tourism, Economic impacts, Rural develop- in job creation, the improvement of rural economy and much ment, Rural economy, more agro-tourism revenue in rural areas as compared to other Rural tourism fields of rural tourism. 1 Jahad-e-Agriculture Organization of Tehran Province, Iran 2016. Agricultural Management and Development, 6(3): 377-385, September, International Journal of 2 Armenian State University, Head of Economics Research Center, Armenia * Corresponding author’s email: [email protected] 377 Expected Economic Impacts of Agro-Tourism Development / Azimi and Avetisyan INTRODUCTION Some counties in Tehran Province have low Nowadays, all those involved in rural develop - tourist arrivals. They do not have strong natural, ment accept the positive economic impacts of historical, cultural or other tourism attractions. rural tourism on rural regions. Taking into account Nonetheless, almost all counties of the province the different types of rural tourism and given the have good potential for agricultural attractions. touristic potential of each area, we can improve Agro-tourism can be developed in this or create the suitable type in each district. province through recognizing the potentials of Although Iran is ranked the tenth in the world agriculture in each county and planning, agri - concerning natural resources and tourism attrac - cultural tourism in accordance with the poten - tions, the statistics released over the past years tials of each area. The present study focused on by the World Tourism Organization show that the Pakdasht County as a good choice for agro- there has been a very slow trend regarding the tourism and forecasted its economic impacts on number of tourists traveling to Iran. the county based on research findings. There - Tehran Province has an urban population of fore, the present study addresses the develop - about 12,500,000 and 1051 villages. Most of the ment of agro tourism in Tehran province due to villages are located in mountainous areas with rural development. a very pleasant weather and many potential tourist attractions. Tehran Province is regarded Literature review as one of the provinces that enjoy a suitable po - Pear Largos believes that tourism is referred sition to plan and create rural tourism. However, to traveling in order to enjoy and entertain, and . it still lacks a compiled and sustainable plan. tourist is a person who travels in his/her delight 6 1 0 2 Over recent years, only a few villages of and pleasure. Arthur Buman defines tourism as , r e Tehran Province were selected as pilot tourism a collection of trips, which are arranged for re - b m e t villages based on their available potentialities laxation, recreation, business or job activities p e S rather than their actual and hidden potentialities (Rezvani, 1993) . , 5 8 in order to implement future tourism plans. Rural tourism is a complex, multifaceted activ - 3 - 7 7 However, we still lack a compiled and sustain - ity. It is not just farm-based tourism. It includes 3 : ) able plan in this field; only some well-weathered 3 farm-based holidays but also comprises special ( 6 , t rural regions adjacent to Tehran are sponta - interest nature holidays and ecotourism, walking, n e neously arranged to be as the tourist sites. climbing and riding holidays, adventure, sport m p o l Nonetheless, such actions have seriously dam - and health tourism, hunting and angling, educa - e v e aged the local environment because of the lack tional travel, arts and heritage tourism, and, in D d n of planning and insufficient monitoring. some areas, ethnic tourism (OECD,1994) . a t n Agro-tourism is one of the rural tourism types Rural tourism can cover agricultural tourism, e m e that can be created in the most of the rural areas. green tourism and indigenous or homegrown g a n a It will be attractive for urban families, young tourism (Armaghan, 2008) . Also, “Rural M l people, and children and even the elderly people tourism is a mild form of sustainable tourism de - a r u t l who live in megacities like Tehran. velopment and multi-activity in the rural region” u c i r Agro-tourism includes travelling and resting to a broad one such as “a range of activities, g A f in rural areas. This method of relaxation for vis - services and amenities provided by farmers and o l a itors, tourists and, especially, citizens provide rural people to attract tourists to their areas in n r u o the opportunity to obtain information about agri - order to generate extra income for their busi - J l a culture management, become familiar with pro - nesses” (Gannon,1994) . n o i t a ducing agricultural productions, eat and The role of tourism in developing rural regions n r e t purchase fresh and healthy agricultural products can be summarized as follows: n I and natural foods, and enjoy entertainment in Reviving and reorganizing local economic ac - 378 unusual circumstances. tivities and improving life quality, providing Expected Economic Impacts of Agro-Tourism Development / Azimi and Avetisyan extra income along with agricultural, industrial, farm businesses, and service sectors, creating a possibility of • Increasing awareness of local agricultural making new social interactions, producing op- products, and portunities for re-evaluation of the heritage and • Creating new on-farm revenue streams to its symbols, natural resources, and rural places family members who might otherwise have to identity, assisting social, environmental and eco- work off the farm. nomic sustainability, raising the economic value From a rural community and region perspec- of nutritional products quality, unused buildings, tive, agro-tourism is viewed as an opportunity for and unique landscapes and cultures. Buttler and • Generating additional direct revenue for Clark believe that rural tourism is not necessar- local businesses, ily a magic solution in rural regions, but at least • Stimulating the upgrade of local facilities it can cause the income generation and distribu- and services, and tion in a weak economic situation in rural re- • Helping diversify and stabilize the local gions (Hall and Page, 2002). economy Agro-tourism refers to resting in rural areas, liv- Agro-tourism makes the possibility to diver- ing a rural lifestyle for some days, becoming fa- sify the economy and business of the rural pop- miliar with the culture and traditions, and engaging ulation and increases their income by tourist in agricultural activities (United Nations, 2008). attraction. The concept of agro-tourism is a direct expan- sion of ecotourism, which encourages visitors MATERIALS AND METHODS to experience agricultural life; agro-tourism is This research was conducted based on docu- gathering strong support from small communi- mentary research method and field research ties as rural people have realized the benefits of based on questionnaire as well as a face-to-face sustainable development brought about by sim- interview. The statistical methods of the survey ilar forms of nature travel. Visitors have the op- are based on two groups of the tourists. After portunity to work in the fields with real farmers collecting the data, the number of frequencies (Ecotour, 2007). and statistical averaging were used. The popu- According to Schilling et al. (2007), agro- lation included 246 tourists who had a short trip tourism allows farmers to generate additional in- to rural areas of Shemiran, Damavand and come from farm assets (e.g. land and Firoozkooh counties and 45 tourists who had a equipment) that may be underutilized or idle for short trip to rural areas of Pakdasht County. The long periods. It enables farmers to diversify status of Tehran Province in tourist attractions product lines and markets and affords farmers and rural tourist arrivals. We explored Tehran the opportunity to receive feedback from con- Province in terms of tourist attractions. Un- sumers regarding preferences for farm products doubtedly, three items consisting of natural, his- and services. In addition, it provides a venue torical, cultural and agro-tourist attractions are for educating children (and adults) about the the most important items for rural tourism de- state’s agrarian heritage, food production, and velopment in the reign. Therefore, we studied resource stewardship. It strengthens public sup- the status of these three items in all counties.