درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

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.

The relationship between Identity and stability occupies the core of consensus democracy philosophy, as this governance model is designed to ultimately realise stability by addressing societal fragmentation in divided societies. In Iraq, this relationship shapes a complicated trajectory, mainly because the society moved fast from identity politics (transition) to issues politics (post-transition), which turned the consensus democracy itself that succeeded in realising stability in the transition by functioning well in addressing identity-related crises paradoxically into a driver for instability in the post-transition, for its dysfunctionality beyond the identity sphere. This article argues that this dysfunctionality is primarily linked to flaws of Arend Lijphart’s theory of consensus democracy more than problems stemming from the Iraqi context. It reviews and analyses the existing literature on the nexus of identity and stability under consensus democracy, taking Iraq as a case study. As a review article, this research uses the qualitative method; its data are collected from secondary sources. It found that the philosophy of consensus democracy is designed to primarily meet transition demands, which makes rapid societal transformation beyond transition raise bottom-up pressures expressed in new demands that this democracy cannot accommodate, creating a growing gap between the post-transitional social dynamics and the transitional politics, which generates chronic instability. Further research is needed on stabilisation mechanisms in post-transition, as most studies of consensus democracy focus on stability in transition.