مجید یاسوری

Purpose- This study aims to examine the delivery and quality of rural tourism services from the perspective of managers of eco-lodges in Guilan Province, Iran. It also seeks to identify the key reasons behind the lack of adoption of service quality standards by these managers. The significance of the topic lies in its contribution to sustainable tourism development, enhancement of rural residents’ quality of life, and improvement of tourist satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach- This applied research employed a descriptive-analytical approach. Data were collected through both library and field methods. The statistical population included all licensed eco-lodges in Guilan Province (126 units), which were studied using a census method. Data collection was carried out using the standard SERVQUAL questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 through descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, factor analysis, and the Friedman test. Findings- The results revealed a significant gap between the current quality of services and the desired standards in the eco-lodges of Guilan. Most managers perceived the official service quality standards as inefficient or impractical. The primary reasons cited included inadequate infrastructure, insufficient training, and weak supervisory systems. Research limitations/implications- The study is limited to a single province and reflects solely the managers’ viewpoints. Future research is recommended to include the perspectives of tourists and regulatory authorities. Additionally, developing and localizing service quality assessment models tailored to the characteristics of rural accommodations is suggested. Practical implications- To enhance service quality, the study recommends providing training programs for managers, improving tourism infrastructure, revising service quality indicators, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems. Showcasing successful models from other regions can also help increase the efficiency of eco-lodges. Originality/ value- By focusing on the perspectives of service providers as key stakeholders, this study offers a novel contribution and can serve as a reference for policymakers, tourism practitioners, and investors aiming to improve rural tourism service quality.

Purpose-Various factors influence changes in rural lifestyles, with one of the most important being rural-urban linkages. The aim of this paper is to examine the role of rural-urban linkages in changing the lifestyle of rural households across three dimensions: social, economic, and cultural. Design/methodology/approach- The research method is descriptive-analytical, and data collection was conducted through library research for theoretical studies and via questionnaires for the field study. The statistical population includes the villages of the Lasht Nesha district in Rasht County. A sample of 360 respondents was selected using Cochran's formula and a simple random sampling method. Data were analyzed using linear regression and multivariate regression tests. Finding- The research findings regarding the linear relationship between rural-urban linkages and changes in rural household lifestyles revealed a significant relationship between these two variables. Additionally, the results showed that the most significant impacts of rural-urban linkages were in the cultural, social, and economic dimensions, respectively. Specifically, in the cultural dimension, consumerism and cultural and linguistic changes were most prominent; in the social dimension, changes in clothing and behavior; and in the economic dimension, materialism, wealth accumulation, and income generation experienced the greatest changes.

Purpose- Empowering women is essential for the development of any country across economic, social, political, and other dimensions. When a woman is empowered, she gains the opportunity to better understand and advocate for her rights, thereby enhancing her economic and social standing. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to identify and examine the most significant factors influencing the empowerment of rural women and to classify these factors based on their relative importance using a qualitative meta-analysis approach. Design/methodology/approach- In this study, from a total of 73 published articles on the topic of rural women's empowerment, 48 relevant articles were selected based on their alignment with the research objectives and their use of fieldwork and literature-based methodologies. The timeframe for the domestic studies ranged from 2012 to and for international studies from 2011 to 2024. Initially, the research problem and objectives were defined, and then, among the available studies, those meeting the inclusion criteria were sampled. The data extracted from these studies were then collected, coded, and categorized based on the research aims. Ultimately, the findings were standardized to a common scale to allow for comparison. The geographical scope of the selected studies included Iran, as well as countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.  Findings- The results indicate that in the economic domain, income generation (17.1%), employment (13.8%), access to loans and banking facilities, and land ownership (9.2%) are among the most influential factors. In the socio-cultural domain, factors such as literacy and education (8.5%), cultural norms (7.6%), and knowledge and skills (6.7%) play a critical role. In the psychological domain, self-confidence (14.4%), the ability to make independent choices (9.8%), and self-esteem (8.5%) were key determinants. Politically, mobility freedom (26.1%), women's participation in managerial and governmental positions (19.1%), and restrictive governmental regulations (14.2%) were the most significant. Among these categories, political factors accounted for the largest share (12.4%), followed by economic (5.5%), psychological (3.5%), and socio-cultural (3.2%) factors in contributing to the overall empowerment of women. Originality / Value- The findings of this study can contribute to identifying the most critical factors affecting the empowerment of rural women and can inform the development of effective support policies. Such policies may include promoting gender awareness through mass media, forming rural self-help groups through governmental and non-governmental organizations to provide social and economic support and etc.