The Role of Urban Tourism in Social Welfare of Informal Settlements in Islamshahr (From the Perspective of Local Residents and Municipal Officials)

The concept of development sustainability with creating infrastructures for improving welfare of citizens would be possible that plays improving infrastructure and urban housing, fair and equitable distribution of facilities. The following research was conducted in order to analyze the impact of urban tourism on economic and social issues of slums and suburbs using views of local people and municipal authorities in Islamshahr county of Tehran province.
This research is practical in purpose and is based on descriptive-analytical research method. In this research, the statistical population is local people and municipal authorities of Islamshahr county. With the help of Cochran formula the sample size of local people and municipal authorities has been calculated to be 315 and 30 people respectively. Questionnaires and direct interviews were used as data gathering tools in this research.
Findings: Results of this research show us that perspectives of local people and municipal authorities show a meaningful difference between the impact of urban tourism in poverty reduction of slums in 3 subjects: increasing tourism-related jobs, developing infrastructures and tourism organizations and increasing the commercial spaces. Also, the results of Mann-Whitney test showed that both groups were studied (local people and municipal authorities) see a meaningful difference in perspective about the impact of urban tourism on social, cultural and environmental issues of slums in two subjects.
Solving the problem of informal settlements depends on learning different aspects of their issues and their involvement in finding economic and social solutions. Strategies for sustainable tourism development is one of the most important suggestions and improving social and cultural conditions in these area.