Challenges Facing the Development of Rural Tourism, A Case of Villages in the Central Part of Meshginshahr

Today, policymakers and planners refer to rural tourism as a lever for regional development and a way to save villages from social and economic problems. The main goal of this research is to identify the obstacles or challenges facing the development of rural tourism in the villages of the central part of Meshginshahr. The current research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature. The statistical population includes 42 villages with more than 20 households. The sample size was estimated to be 379 people based on Cochran's formula. To analyze the issue, 47 indicators were used in five indicators, namely social, economic, environmental, physical, and managerial. The results showed that the weak participation of local people in tourism affairs, risky investment, lack of shopping centers, lack of suitable space for car parking, lack of advertising and information, lack of educational centers and activities, and short stay of tourists were recognized as the most important problems of tourism in this region.