Second Home Tourism and Its Effects on Rural Areas: a Case Study of Mehmandust Rural District in Nir County

In recent decades, Along with the structural transformation in the field of tourism in the country, especially tourism in rural areas, construction of second homes aimed at leisure in the villages of summer has begun. Now a days, second home tourism in the Nir County due to the mountainous location, being close to the provincial capital, enjoying beautiful landscape and pleasant climate has been growing very significantly. The purpose of present study is to investigate second homes and their developmental impacts and repercussions on rural environments. This research study followed documentary, field and analytical methodologies. The findings suggest that second home tourism in this area has led to various social, economic, environmental and physical outcomes and changes which in some cases, it has resulted in the skyrocketing land prices and housing, use of standard architectural style and improvement of the rural streets in terms of health. Threats associated with tourism in this area has been led to undesirable consequences such as the destruction of natural landscapes, destruction of farmlands and orchards, agricultural land use change and deterioration of agricultural activities. Therefore, effective planning and management of tourism activities is essential for achieving sustainable rural tourism.