TY - JOUR
T1 - Increasing community environmental awareness, participation in conservation, and livelihood enhancement through tourism
AU - Ghaderi, Zahed
AU - Shahabi, Elham
AU - Fennell, David
AU - Khoshkam, Mana
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - In line with social exchange theory, this case study explores how a previously indifferent and unsympathetic local community participates in the conservation of Touran National Park through community-based tourism. An in-depth analysis of local community members, local authorities, and NGOs revealed that due to changes in society's socio-cultural structure, the community’s awareness of conservation has significantly increased and resulted in active participation in natural and cultural heritage. The findings provide an alternative to social exchange theory, suggesting that benefits should generally outweigh human social interaction and behaviour calculus costs. Furthermore, rural youth and women have become much more prominent despite many public participation dilemmas and rigid government structures. Finally, theoretical and practical implications for future research are discussed.
AB - In line with social exchange theory, this case study explores how a previously indifferent and unsympathetic local community participates in the conservation of Touran National Park through community-based tourism. An in-depth analysis of local community members, local authorities, and NGOs revealed that due to changes in society's socio-cultural structure, the community’s awareness of conservation has significantly increased and resulted in active participation in natural and cultural heritage. The findings provide an alternative to social exchange theory, suggesting that benefits should generally outweigh human social interaction and behaviour calculus costs. Furthermore, rural youth and women have become much more prominent despite many public participation dilemmas and rigid government structures. Finally, theoretical and practical implications for future research are discussed.
KW - Community participation
KW - Qaleh Bala
KW - community livelihood
KW - conservation of national park
KW - social exchange theory
KW - tourism development
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85127176407&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85127176407&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13549839.2022.2048812
DO - 10.1080/13549839.2022.2048812
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85127176407
SN - 1354-9839
VL - 27
SP - 605
EP - 621
JO - Local Environment
JF - Local Environment
IS - 5
ER -