Community-Based Tourism: An Approach for Sustainable Rural Development (Case Study: Asara district, Chalous Road)

Considering the community-based approach in tourism development planning influence the success of clean and responsible tourism activities through empowering local tourism stakeholders and improving sustainable rural development. However, many countries such as Iran have failed to improve the indices of empowering local tourism stakeholders, due to the emphasis on the "state-led approach" in tourism development planning. Accordingly, different outcomes of improving the sustainable rural development indicator are obtained.

The present study was conducted by descriptive-analytical method to explain empowering local tourism stakeholders. The sample included 351 local stakeholders.

The results indicated that sectional-oriented in the tourism planning approach, with expert- driven and traditional approaches and economic growth, failed to consider the issue of empowering local tourism stakeholders to promote sustainable rural tourism making the indicators of the empowerment of stakeholders be lower than the average rate.

Therefore, the local government should change its attitude in the tourism development planning towards community-based approach through assigning tourism projects and activities to the private sector. Furthermore, the present study recommended the adoption of appropriate policies to strengthen social capital for empowering and participating tourism stakeholders in planning and implementing the sustainable rural development project.