Geographical planning of space quarterly journal

Geographical planning of space quarterly journal

An Analysis of the Differential Impact of Benefit-Oriented Tourism and the Activity Chain on Rural Poverty Reduction: A case study of Villages Surrounding the Zribar Wetland

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
saadi mohammadi
sayed taher barkhoda
Department of Geography and Rural planning, Faculty of Law and Social Scince, University of Payam_e Noor, Tehran, Iran
10.30488/gps.2025.501511.3828
Abstract
Pro-poor tourism development, recognized as an effective strategy for alleviating rural poverty, requires contextual analysis due to the multidimensionality of poverty and the structural complexities inherent in tourism management. This study seeks to examine the differential impacts of benefit-driven pro-poor tourism and evaluate the tourism activity chain in the villages surrounding Lake Zrivar in Marivan County, Iran. This research is applied in purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature, utilizing a mixed-method approach for data collection, combining both documentary and field-based methods. The study’s statistical population comprises 1,954 households across eight villages surrounding the lake. A sample of 350 households was selected based on Cochran’s formula, using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. ANOVA results indicate significant differences, at a significance level of less than 0/05, in the impact of tourism on improving the quality of life for the rural poor across the villages. These differences are particularly pronounced in the economic and social dimensions, while no significant disparities were observed in the environmental and physical dimensions. Linear regression analysis revealed that household size, age, and income diversity significantly influence the quality of life of the rural poor, whereas the total village population exhibited no significant relationship. Qualitative findings further suggest that tourism development in the region predominantly follows a growth-oriented, capital-intensive model, rather than adhering to a sustainable development framework. This model has marginalized the poor, concentrated benefits within large-scale projects and among investors, and has consequently failed to uplift the poor, while also causing significant environmental harm to the area
Keywords
Pro-Poor Tourism
Rural Poverty Reduction
Sustainable Rural Tourism
Tourism Activity Chain؛ Rural Areas Surrounding Zribar

Subjects

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Geographical planning of space quarterly journal
Volume 15, Issue 3
Autumn 2026
Pages 59-78