Investigating Stakeholder Perceptions on the Realization of Pro-Poor Tourism in Selected Villages in the Eastern Province of Semnan

The poor have been the focus of attention in tourism development programs in developing countries. This has become a primary concern in tourism development programs so that the net revenues of tourism have been the reason for any tourism development initiative. The present qualitative study used content analysis to identify and explain perceptions of tourism stakeholders to reduce the poverty in the selected villages, i.e. Qaleh Bala, Abr and Reza Abad, in the east of Semnan. Because of their geographical isolation and traditional lifestyles, people in these villages suffered from poverty. In recent years, the government made efforts to reduce poverty through tourism development in these areas. The interviews with the five stakeholders showed that with government support, tourism reduced poverty in three ways: direct, indirect, and dynamic. The support had thus increased opportunities and skills for a large part of the rural poor and had also promoted relative cohesion, participation, and environmentally responsible behavior.