Stu ding the Position and Fields of Activity of Tourism Cooperatives in the World and Iran

"Tourism" is one of the new subject of human science studies and has received attention in its various aspects throughout the world. Tourism has gained such a recognition on account of this economic importance and social impacts. The inadequacy of the present organization and companies to meet the current and future needs of those members of the lower and middle class of society who wish to travel, has created a potentially suitable situation for the presence of cooperatives in tourism industry. On the other hand, A significant part of " rural and urban council" consider tourism as a culturally and economically influential activity, but they cannot organize it well and empower it. In such circumstances, cooperatives can play an important role, as well. This paper is to identify the position of Iran's, tourism cooperatives among similar cooperatives in other, countries, and to analyze the existing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and trace the root of them. Understanding the nature of cooperatives, tourism and tourism cooperatives, placing Iran's tourism cooperatives among other cooperatives and benefiting from the experiences of tourism cooperatives of eight selected countries are the main topics of this paper. Finally, the findings of this research lead to policies to improve and develop the situation of Iran's tourism cooperatives.