An Analysis of Local Community’s Attitude toward Effects of Tourism (Case study: Naqsh-e Jahan Neighborhood, Isfahan city)

Understanding the attitude of the local community in relation to tourism development is an important step in the development of sustainable tourism. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the attitude of the local community on tourism development in order to plan properly for the future. The present study aims to investigate and analyze the residents’ attitudes of the Naqsh-e Jahan neighborhood in Isfahan towards tourism.

Descriptive-analytical method was used and information was collected with questionnaire and interview technique. Data analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, also qualitative research method.

The results indicated that local residents welcome the tourism development. Because the tourism development leads to the improvement of economic, social and physical conditions in the neighborhood. But locals are skeptical of some aspects of tourism development, such as crime, and believe that tourism development could lead to some anomalies. Also, based on the analysis of the interview, 28 strategies in 7 categories to increase satisfaction by the local community were obtained, including job capacity development, capital attraction, participatory planning, strengthening the interaction of the host and guest community, culture building, strengthening urban security and strengthening neighborhood infrastructure.

The spread of tourism benefits to the whole neighborhood will not only create satisfaction in the local community for tourism, but also with hospitality and providing better services to the guest community will play an effective role in the ultimate satisfaction of tourists.