Providing a Model of Agritourism In Rural Development Case study: Masal county, Guilan Province, Iran

Purpose : The main purpose of this study is to present a model of agritourism for rural development. Based on the quantitative approach and principles of sustainable tourism theory, it tries to present the optimal model of agritourism for rural areas of Masal county. An attempt is also made to identify the elements of agritourism and discovere their internal relations in order to evaluate its development.

Research Method : This is a descriptive-analytical study with a mixed research method, i.e. a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The research tools in this study include several types of questionnaires and interview cards. For the purpose of data analysis, a variety of statistical tests are used in quantitative and qualitative sections.

Findings : The results show that the optimal model of agritourism for rural development in Masal county will be possible in each of the three elevated areas in the presence of five factors, namely tourists, farmers, rural environments, facilitators and common agricultural activities in the region. However, in this study the role of the two factors, including facilitators and rural environments in Masal area is far more than the other three factors. It is also found that, depending on the prevailing conditions in the studied rural areas, the foothills, plain and mountain areas are suitable for agritourism activities, respectively.

Originality/ Value : For the first time in Iran, this research has addressed the issue of agritourism model. Also, all the elements of agritourism have been studied together for the first time.