Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas

Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas

Evaluating the role of good urban governance on sustainable tourism in Zagros cities with emphasis on Poldakhtar city

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Socio-Economic Research Department, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center Lorestan, Khorramabad, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction

Tourism is known as one of the most important economic sectors in major countries of the world. According to the report of the World Travel and Tourism Council (2020), in 2018, the travel and tourism sector grew by 3.9 percent, outpacing the global economy (3.2 percent) for the eighth consecutive year. Over the past 5 years, one in five jobs have been created by the sector, making travel and tourism the best partner for governments to create jobs. Therefore, tourism, as one of the largest economic sectors in the world, supports one out of every 10 jobs (319 million) worldwide and accounts for 10.4% of the global GDP. Tourism policy is a product of a very complex process and is related to various aspects. The complexity of tourism is caused by significant changes at the local, national and international levels. In the context of this important change, the tourism policy environment has become a strategic medium for governments to market their tourism potential.
 

Methodology

This research is applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of the nature and method of carrying out the work, which was carried out by two methods of library study and field survey. In the descriptive study section, the library method has the main application because the theoretical foundations of research and research on the subject of research can only be done by reviewing existing and documented studies and researches. It is also possible to know and be aware of the current situation of the studied area by describing what is there. After collecting enough information through the library study, the next step of the research was started with the questionnaire tool. In this section, after designing the questionnaire required for data collection, it was distributed among the local people and the required information was collected. This section includes the main foundation of the research. Everything obtained in the first step was used to analyze the data obtained from the questionnaire. The statistical population of the research consists of the citizens of Poldakhtar city, which according to the census of 2015, the population of these three villages was 26352 people. To select the sample size, Cochran's formula was used, by which 379 people were selected as the sample size in a simple random manner. In order to collect information and research data, a researcher-made questionnaire was used. The face validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by the professors and experts after numerous checks and fixing its defects, and its reliability was calculated by Cronbach's alpha of 0.84. In order to measure good urban governance, indicators of participation, effectiveness and efficiency, transparency, accountability, consensus building, justice and legality have been used, and for sustainable urban tourism, economic, social and environmental indicators have been used. One-sample t-test and multivariate regression test were used to analyze the results.
 

Results

The obtained findings have been analyzed in two ways, descriptive and inferential. First, the descriptive findings were examined and then the inferential findings were examined. Based on the results obtained from the descriptive findings, 63% of the respondents were men and 37% were women. In terms of marital status, 56% of respondents are married and 44% are single. In terms of age, the highest frequency is assigned to the age group of 31 to 40 years with 37% of the frequency. In terms of employment, the highest percentage is assigned to the free job group with 34%. Also, in terms of the amount of income, the most frequency belongs to the income group of 4 to 6 million Tomans per month with 24%.4.
Discussion
Today's cities face many problems and dilemmas, which can only be solved through principled and specialized management in the form of good urban governance. The investigations carried out in this study showed that good urban governance in the city of Poldakhtar has been evaluated in a favorable and suitable condition and the citizens are relatively satisfied in this regard. Therefore, it can be expected that good governance will solve many problems in the city of Poldakhtar. One of the topics that has received a lot of attention in recent years in cities is urban tourism and tourism sustainability. By providing suitable facilities and services to tourists and appropriate advertisements, city managers seek to make maximum use of these capacities for the benefit of their cities by attracting domestic and foreign tourists, especially cities that have high tourism potential.
 

Conclusion

The results of the research in line with the investigation of the sustainable tourism situation in Poldakhtar city showed that tourism has led to a favorable assessment of the economic, social and environmental situation; In a way that the surveys conducted indicate that citizens believe that tourism has increased the income of citizens and has caused employment and reduced unemployment of people and has increased the income of citizens. Also, it has followed the social welfare of the citizens, which has caused the citizens to participate in more educational and cultural activities. It has also increased the security of the citizens and increased the citizens' sense of belonging to their city and improved the quality of life of the citizens. In terms of the environment, tourism has caused the increase and expansion of the urban green space and has led to the beauty of the city.
In examining the effects of good urban governance on sustainable tourism, the results of the research showed that all indicators of good urban governance had a positive and significant impact on sustainable tourism in Poldakhter city, and the participation index had the greatest impact, which shows that it is important that when governance It is good that urban management will be successful if it seeks the participation of citizens in plans and projects related to urban tourism; Because the citizens, with sufficient knowledge of their city, are more familiar with the existing flaws and shortcomings, and in this regard, they can make accurate and principled decisions and provide detailed advice to the officials. Also, legality index, justice index, accountability index, effectiveness and efficiency index, transparency index and consensus building index are also in the next ranks of the most influential indicators of good urban governance on sustainable tourism.
Keywords

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