Identifying and Analyzing the Barriers to Tourism Development in Rural Areas of Esfahan Province (Case Study: Abyaneh Village)

The main purpose of this descriptive-correlative study was to identify and analyze the barriers to tourism development in Abyaneh village. The statistical population of the study consisted of all the heads of rural households in the village (N= 160). According to the Morgan & Krejcie table، a sample size of 110 was selected using a simple randomized sampling technique (n= 110). A questionnaire was used to collect the data. A panel of experts confirmed validity of the questionnaire. A pilot study was conducted to establish reliability of the questionnaire. The Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient for the scale of importance of barriers to tourism development in Abyaneh village” was equal to 0. 87. Collected data were analyzed using SPSSWin18 6 English Abstracts software. The results of a factor analysis showed that five factors namely، infrastructural، supportive، motivational- cognitive، informative and social-cultural items explained 64. 61 percent of total variances of barriers to tourism development in Abyaneh village، respectively. Considering the barriers، it is certain that lack of proper planning and management in solving the barriers، results in reducing rural tourist attractions and diminishing capacity and potential of tourism of the village in the long term and consequently losing tourism markets and the deprivation of local people of numerous benefits of tourism and ultimately making delay in the process of rural development. According to the results، following suggestions have presented in order to reduce barriers to tourism in Abyaneh village، creating the accommodation، health and welfare facilities and equipment at the village، developing a detailed master plan for tourism development with the participation of rural people and related organizations، holding the educational courses for villagers about the importance and benefits of tourism، recruiting and employing the trained personnel to provide guidance and consultation services to tourists and soon.