Agricultural Heritage: A Strategy for Achieving Environmental Sustainability in Rural Tourism Areas (Case Study: Central Rural Areas of Baghmalek and Izeh, Khuzestan Province)

The main purpose of this study was analyzing the relationship between agricultural heritages and environmental sustainability of tourism. Statistical population of the study was rural households in Baghmalek and Izeh township located at Khuzestan province (N=484). Sample size determined via sample size table of Bartlett et al. (2001). (n=218). The proportional stratified sampling method was used for the study of samples. The research instrument was a questionnaire. Content validity of questionnaire revised and verified by a panel of experts. Also, values of discriminant validity (AVE), Cronbach’s Alpha and composite validity were desirable. Results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that agricultural heritage has a positive and significant effect (p value=0.01) on the environmental sustainability of tourism. So that agricultural heritage and its components (tangible and intangible heritages) explained 21.3% variation of environmental sustainability. Therefore it is necessary that authorities, planners, and all stakeholders always consider impacts of rural tourism development on cultural heritage and local communities in historical cities and surrounding areas of agricultural heritage sites.