Qualitative Analysis of The Host Community Attitudes Towards Tourism Impacts (Case Study: Bane, Iran)

Sustainabletourismwith the aimof preserving andpromotingthe advantages of the host society along withenjoyingthe benefitsderived fromthis industry hasalways been a priority for theindustry planners. The study of how people understand the impacts of tourism¡ however¡ has been neglected by tourism authorities. Residents'' attitudes towardtourism do notsolelyreflecttheir perceptionof theimpact oftourism on their society¡ but it is the outcomeof interaction betweenthe resident perception andtheir experience of tourism activities in their region. Thispaperpresents the findings of a qualitative study of the consequencesof tourism development on Bane¡ Iran focusing on residents reports.The datawere collected throughin-depthinterviewswith21 menandwomen older than 40with at least 30years livingin the city whom were selected through purposive-theoretical method ofsampling.The results indicate that the host community sees thedifferent cultural¡social¡ economic¡ political and environmental effects of tourism asthe result ofoveremphasis on the commercialfunction of tourism inthe region. The conflict between the residents early perception of tourism and attitude toward the consequences of tourism development can be an indicative of unfair distribution of the industry benefits.