Assessing the livelihood resilience of tourism target villages in the face of drought (Case study: Qaleh Now village)

Providing livelihoods for villagers and, more importantly, stabilizing livelihood systems has been accepted as a fundamental principle in the dominant approach to rural development planning in the present era. The main way to achieve this principle is to improve the livelihood resilience of rural society so that they can survive in the face of environmental and human crises. The present research is applied in terms of purpose, and also is quantitative and qualitative (combined) in terms of research method and the method of data collection is documentary. This research examines the effect of drought consequences on the livelihood resilience and its future and present trends. The trend of occurring drought is investigated by using two indicators SPI and ZSI and to confirm them the Demartan index is used. The statistical population in this research includes the entire population of the village and the sample size according to Morgan's table is 291 villagers. Drought is considered as a limiting factor for sustainable development of tourism in Qaleh Now village and is repulsive factor for tourists. Therefore, today, assessing biological and climatic conditions, while identifying the climatic comfort conditions prevailing in Qaleh Now village, is considered as an efficient and important tool in the hands of national and regional planners. Identifying critical points, while guiding development plans to less risky and favorable areas, in various areas of the tourism industry ensures investments in the most appropriate way possible, and also, identifying the hidden needs of tourists and their motivation can help us to choose the right strategy for identifying and developing the target market. Recognition and awareness of the interaction effects of drought and tourism by policy makers and those are in charge of the tourism industry will lead to the adoption of appropriate policies and executive measures for the sustainable development of the tourism industry and increase the livelihood resilience.