Strategic planning of rural tourism with the participatory approach of the host community (Case of study: The rural s District Maydan of khanaqain in the northeast of Iraq)

The aim of the current research is the strategic planning of rural tourism with the participatory approach of the host community in the rural District Maydan of KHANAQIN in northeastern Iraq.

This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical regarding the Implementation method. The statistical population of the present study includes households in the target villages of District Maydan .
Therefore, according to the size of the villages and the time limit, cost, etc., Cochran's formula was used to determine the sample size of the residents of the tourist villages of District Maydan , and 153 people were concluded, and the sampling method was Simple non-random.

The findings obtained from the final evaluation of SWOT factors in the framework of the AHP model show that in the group of strengths, easy access to the Iranian market (PARVIZKHAN market and...) (Final weight, 0.315), the existence of historical and ancient monuments such as Sheikh JEBRAEEL (final weight, 0.274) and easy and suitable access for tourists (final weight, 0.163) were the most important strengths and lack of advertising, respectively, Information through ESHRAGH TV radio and television (final weight, 0.284), Lack of familiarity of local people in dealing with tourists (final weight, 0.195) and the unwillingness of local people to invest in the tourism sector (final weight, 0.158) were most important weaknesses, respectively.

Tourism is one of the economic and social activities of the current human societies. This activity is a response to humans' inner needs to relax, learn about cultures and benefit from natural and pristine beauty. One of the sub-branches of the tourism industry is rural tourism, which can play an important role in integrated and sustainable rural development due to the natural and cultural capacities in the villages. At the same time, the existence of tourist villages in the neighborhood of square villages and their complementary role (final weight, 0.184), lemon and orange orchards in the region (final weight, 0.155), and the great desire of Iranians to visit Iraq and KHANAQIN, and Kurdish areas (final weight, 0.123), respectively, among the most important opportunities in the studied area, as well as the increase in the cost of services and products compared to before (final weight, 0.349), the increase in garbage and waste by tourists (weight final weight, 0.216) and the high density of tourists and crowded District Maydan compared to other areas (final weight, 0.198) are among the most important threats of the studied area.