Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas

Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas

Assessment of the Impact of Smart Rural Tourism Components on the Sustainability of Target Tourism Villages (Case Study: Villages in the Eastern Region of Kermanshah Province)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Aliakbar Anabestani 1
Sajjad Barani Aliakbari 2
1 Professor, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Earth Science, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
2 MSc. Student Geography and Rural Planning, Department of Human Geography, Faculty of Earth Science, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/gsma.2025.2037654.1015
Abstract
Introduction

Rural smart tourism is recognized as an innovative approach in the tourism industry, aiming to enhance the depth and quality of tourist experiences while respecting the social, cultural, and environmental realities of rural areas through the use of modern technologies. Given the increasing growth of the tourism industry and the need to maintain a balance between development and environmental protection, rural smart tourism emerges as a new strategy for sustainable rural development. Considering the structure of rural areas, these regions undoubtedly face numerous and diverse challenges compared to urban areas. Therefore, to create a suitable foundation for the smart transformation of rural areas and achieve sustainable rural development, an appropriate assessment and needs analysis of the state of rural smart tourism and its impact on sustainable rural development must first be conducted, taking various factors into account. Additionally, the existing barriers should be identified, and fundamental solutions should be proposed for overcoming them. This research will examine and analyze the extent of the influence of rural smart tourism components on the sustainability of target tourism villages in the eastern region of Kermanshah Province.

Methodology

The research method in this writing is applied based on its objective and descriptive-analytical based on its nature. Data collection was conducted through library sources, scientific journals, and field collection using questionnaires. The necessary information regarding smart rural tourism and sustainable rural development, along with their indicators, was gathered using previous studies and considering the regional conditions. The data encompasses all 7 tourist villages in eastern Kermanshah Province (Harsin, Sahneh, Sanandaj, and Kangavar), which, according to the 2016 census, have a total population of 3,888 people in 1,191 households, selected as the total rural population. To estimate the sample size among rural dwellers, the Cochran formula was used, resulting in a sample size of 215 individuals with a margin of error of 0.065. This was determined proportionately to the number of households in each village. In this stage, the allocation of the sample household size in the villages aimed at analyzing the targeted tourist settlements in the studied area considered a minimum of 10 questionnaires for each village, while the remaining questionnaires were allocated based on the number of households in those villages.

Results

Based on the research results, the level of smart rural tourism variables in the sampled villages is slightly above average, with an average score of 3.89. The smart governance component has an average score of 3.95, while the smart infrastructure component has the lowest score at 3.67 among the sampled villages. According to the CoCoSo method, the village of Garban ranks first in terms of smart rural tourism with a final score of 2.66, while the village of Varmaqan ranks last with a score of 1.58. According to the results from the PLS structural equation modeling test, among various smart rural tourism indicators, smart connectivity with a coefficient of 0.155, smart education with 0.263, smart economy with 0.381, smart governance with 0.321, smart infrastructure with 0.308, and smart citizens with 0.216 have indirect effects on the dependent variable, which is sustainable rural development. Additionally, the impact of smart rural tourism is directly indicated with a coefficient of 0.821. Overall, the different indicators of smart rural tourism predict approximately 86.3% of the variance in the variable of sustainable rural development, which is statistically significant, and given the values of the effect size index, this estimate is considered very high.

Discussion & Conclusion

The results indicate that the impact of smart rural tourism on sustainable rural development is positive. Given that smart tourism refers to the application of technology, this type of tourism can lead to improved resource productivity, job creation, environmental protection, and strengthening of the local economy. Overall, this research suggests that smart rural tourism can serve as an effective factor in promoting sustainable development and enhancing the quality of life in rural areas. 
In this study, compared to previous research mentioned in the background, smart rural tourism represents an innovative approach to enhancing the tourism industry in rural areas by emphasizing the use of smart technologies and sustainability. This approach aims to create engaging tourism experiences, increase efficiency, preserve natural and cultural resources, and promote sustainable economic development in rural regions. In future research on the impact of smart rural tourism on sustainable development in villages, the following areas could be focused on: 

The positive and negative effects of smart tourism on natural habitats, water resources, and environmental pollution reduction in rural areas.
Enhancing social and cultural capital in villages through smart tourism and increasing social awareness and cohesion.

Acknowledgments
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Keywords
Smart tourism
Sustainable development
Target villages
Spatial analysis
Structural equations
Kermanshah
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Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas
Volume 6, Issue 1 - Serial Number 21
Spring
Winter 2025
Pages 109-138