درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose- Rural tourism has various effects on the economic and social aspects of rural households. Considering the significant impact of tourism on the economic and social development of local communities, this research aims to investigate the economic and social effects of rural tourism in Baft County.Design/methodology/approach- The statistical population consists of 2512 households in the rural of Baft Township, out of which 333 households were selected through simple random sampling based on Cochran's; formula. The primary tool for data collection was a questionnaire, the validity of which was examined through content and structural validity, and its reliability was assessed using composite reliability and Cronbach's; alpha (α = 0.90). Data analysis was performed using SPSS and LISREL software. To examine the fit of the measurement model of economic and social effects on rural tourism; the collected data were analyzed using LISREL software and second-order confirmatory factor analysis.Findings- The research findings indicate that the most significant impact is on the economic dimension, including employment and income, investment, and satisfaction. Moreover, the most prominent effects in the social dimension include social participation, protection of intangible heritage, sense of place, heritage and tradition preservation, tourist satisfaction, education and awareness, and ultimately, cultural elevation. The research findings also revealed that the absolute fit indices (AGFI = 0.91, GFI = 0.94), comparative fit indices (NNFI = 0.92, CFI = 0.95), and parsimonious fit indices (RMSEA = 0.054, X2/df = 2.63) confirm the excellent fit of the measurement model of economic and social effects on rural tourism with the observed data. Furthermore, the structural equation modelling results indicate that the most signicant impacts are in the economic dimension of employment and income and the social dimension of social participation.

Purpose- Fish farming is an important source of Livelihood and nutrition for several people involved in fishing activities in Nigeria. This study aims to assess the Livelihood characteristics of the fish farmers in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.Design/methodology/approach- The study was carried-out in Ilorin Kwara State, Nigeria. Ilorin is the Capital of Kwara State. The Research involved a 3-stage sampling procedure. The first stage involved a purposive selection of two (Ilorin East and Ilorin West) Local Government Areas in Ilorin due to the prevalence of fishing activities in the area. The second stage involved a purposive selection of five fishing settlements along the river bank in each of the two local Government Areas and the third stage involved the random selection of ten fish farmers within the fishing settlements. A total of 150 fish farmers were randomly selected for this research work. Descriptive statistics such as frequency count, percentage, and mean were employed to analyze the data. The questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection.Findings Findings: The findings showed that involvement in other income-generating activities (mean=3.81) was the highest-ranked financial asset. Owned/leased fish ponds (mean=3.51) was the highest-ranked physical asset. The ability to network with the extension agents/experts for fish production (mean=3.61) was the highest-ranked social asset. Physically fit to carry out the fish production activities (mean=3.73) was the highest-ranked human asset. Access to water for fish production (mean=3.70) was the highest-ranked natural asset. The overall Livelihood status of the fish farmers was High (mean=3.38).Originality/value: This study is important as it would provide up-to-date information on the livelihoods of fish farmers which would drive the governments’ policy and interventions towards the fish farmers in Nigeria.  Also, the Agricultural extension programme aimed to improve fish farmers’ livelihood outcomes in fish production in Kwara State, Nigeria should improve their skills and information on areas of need which include pond water treatment, construction, and maintenance were the leading information needed by fish farmers, and to help the fish farmers overcome the factors limiting their production. 

Purpose- The purpose of this research is to identify and analyze the obstacles of developing tourism entrepreneurship among rural women in Oraman District of Sarvabad County, considered as one of the important poles of rural tourism in the country.Design/Method/Approach- This study is applied in terms of purpose; descriptive-analytical in terms of method, and mixed in terms of data gathering as a combination of two methods namely documentary (library) and survey based on observation, interview and questionnaire. The statistical population of this research includes rural women of Oraman District, and key informative and experts in rural development. The sample size was 97 samples among rural women occupying in the field of rural tourism in Oraman District and 50 ones of key informative and experts in rural development selected by snowball sampling method.Findings- The data analysis employing inferential statistics (chi-square, one-sample t-test and correlation) showed that, legal obstacles and weakness in policy making and planning with a mean score of 4.96, weakness in tourism infrastructure, services and facilities with a mean score of 4.53 and social and cultural obstacles with a mean score of 4.48 have higher priority, respectively whereas financial obstacles have the lowest calculated mean score (3.78) among the studied indicators. Also, the results of the correlation test revealed that rural women with a better and more favorable situation in terms of personality and background, i.e. with a higher education level and occupying in the field of rural tourism and more purposeful in life, have more tendency to enter the field of rural tourism and entrepreneurship. In addition, there is a negative relationship between the desirability of personality and background variables with the effect of identified obstacles on women entrepreneurship, which means that the better the personality and background variables are, the less the effect of the identified obstacles on women's entry into the field of tourism and entrepreneurship and innovation.Practical implications- The government as well as government institutions responsible for development in the area should first improve the tourism development environment in the studied rural areas and provide the conditions for the development of rural tourism in the area and prevent the region from moving towards stagnation in tourism, and then in the next stage entering more women into the field of tourism, make an attempt to direct them towards entrepreneurial activities.Original/value- There are many obstacles in front of rural women in the direction of turning to entrepreneurial activities in the field of rural tourism. Obviating these obstacles, firstly, requires identifying them and then applicable planning pertinent to each obstacle.