The role of local communities participation in sustainable tourism industry (Case study: Sarein)

Tourism is a powerful force of change in the economy in both the developed and in the least developed countries. Due to the formation of the concept of sustainable development, Tourism industry as well as like other industries has been seeking ways to further alignment with the concept. Sustainable tourism as a form of alternative tourism, is seeking to improve the quality of life for local residents, promoting tourism experiences and Environmental preservation of destination. Its therefore is linked inextricably with the people and community and participation of local communities is essential to maintain and develop the basic planning for the development and management of tourism. Necessity of attention to the concept of community participation as one of the most important components of a sustainable tourism industry requires that to know the tourism industry is using the community as a resource, selling its as a product, and ultimately affects the life of each population. The pattern seems to be optimal in this relationship and in nature is also related to the sustainable development of tourism, the pattern is a community-based tourism. This pattern requires the presence of a community significant participation in sustainable tourism. Meaning that if only the local elites or foreign individual owners and or manager of land or major industries or land industries form the major players of the industry, will defeat inevitabley any participatory towards achieving sustainable development through community based tourism. However, the pattern of community participation in tourism, particularly in developing countries such as Iran has been inactive participation. So that the exception of the formal hosts or people involved in tourism activities, Local communities should be considered as a key resource for achieving sustainable tourism, not have any formal responsibility as the host of tourism activities and are always away from the axis of vision. The purpose of this study was to determine the status of community participation of Sarein, as one of the poles of the tourism industry in Iran, in sustainable tourism and from this perspective, the introduction of participatory approaches as a strategy for sustainable development of tourism in the study area.
This research in terms of target is applied research and based on a nature is survey descriptive – analytical research. In order to collect data is used the combined approach, means the combination of library and field methods such as questionnaires.The statistical population based on the research questions , including all residents of Sarein who is responsible for tourism activities are not formally and directly. The sample size (353 patients) was determined according to the formula of cochran and multi-stage cluster sampling was used as the sampling method. Two types of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. In section of descriptive statistics, for describe the research variables were utilized descriptive statistics such as frequency distributions. In section of inferential statistics, bivariate relationships Has been analyzed and interpreted using pearson correlation and multivariate relationships using multiple regression and path analysis.
Two types of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to analyze variables. The findings descriptive statistics of the study showed that the tourism industry in Sarein has not favorable conditions in different aspects of and in particular economic, social - cultural and environmental that can be cited lack of participatory mechanisms as a major factor in explaining this situation. Despite the high tendency of Sarein local residents to participate in tourism activities, The same people actual participation rates are low in tourism activities.The findings are based on inferential statistical analysis also showed that there is a positive and stronger correlation between the level of participation of local residents and sustainable tourism industry in terms of socio- cultural compared with economic and environmental dimensions. Correlation between the level of participation and sustainability of the tourism industry from the perspective of economic and environmental being next in rank order of priority. In addition to confirming of this issue, the test of path analysis determined the exact amount effects of three variables of social-cultural, economic participation and environmental participation in sustainable tourism industry. The test showed that recent variables moreover obtainning the rank of second and third according to direct impact on the sustainable development of tourism, Also has indirect effects on its. Means through creating appropriate and correct provisions in the direction of promoting social- cultural participations of tourism, can be hoped to economic and environmental favorable conditions in terms of participation and hence achieving sustainable development of tourism.
This study aims to assess the status of Sarein local community participation in activities related to sustainable tourism Based on the survey and using field data. Therefore were studied each of the participation and sustainable tourism industry variables and the relationships between each of them in particular three aspects of economic, social - cultural and environmental. Assessments made in this regard indicated that there is willing to participate in tourism activities by the local population of Sarein and the amount is also a relatively good level but not in the direction of sustainability. Because the mechanism of the tourism industry in Sarein is such that the majority of local residents do not have a role in therein and do not participate in tourism activities objectively. However, the potential of participation to achieving sustainable development of tourism in Sarein is attainable priority order through tourism social- cultural, economic and ecological considerations. So by creating appropriate and correct provisions in the direction of promoting social- cultural participations of tourism, can be hoped to economic and environmental favorable conditions in terms of participation and hence achieving sustainable development of tourism in Sarein.