Investigating and Analyzing the Causes of Citizens' and Tourist's Participation in Environmental Protection (Case Study: Mahmoudabad City)

In recent decades, the issue of participation of people and tourists in environmental protection has attracted the attention of city managers to increase efficiency, cohesion and citizen satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the reasons for the participation of citizens and tourists in environmental protection. In terms of developmental-applied purpose and qualitative method, the statistical population of the research included experts and specialists in the field of tourism and environment. Data collection tools in the qualitative part of semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 29 people continued until the stage of theoretical saturation. Six factors (education, management, planning, information, sense of ownership, social) of citizen and tourist participation in environmental protection were identified based on the results. Given the status and importance of providing and facilitating processes for greater citizen and tourist participation in environmental protection, the following recommendations could be useful: increase environmental awareness through education for all stakeholders, interested parties, planners and policymakers, citizens and tourists; explain the environmental conditions and the process of change and the root causes, results and consequences on society and the economy, and ecosystems of Mahmoud Abad region; support and improve the quality of decisions, policies and plans/planning of environmental activities and citizens and tourists who want to participate in environmental protection; and provide extensive information at all levels of society on imminent environmental and ecosystem issues of Mahmoud Abad city.