Geography and Human Relationships

Geography and Human Relationships

An Analysis of the Effects of Agritourism on Income Diversification in Rural Areas (Case Study: Dorud and Selin Villages – Sarvabad County)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Eskandar MORADI 1
Saadi Mohammadi 2
Seyyedeh Mojdeh Hosseini 3
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Geography, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Rural Planning, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
3 PhD in Urban Geography and Planning, Adjunct Lecturer at Universities in Kurdistan Province.
10.22034/gahr.2025.527377.2498
Abstract
Abstract



In recent years, agritourism has emerged as one of the most innovative forms of tourism and has received increasing global attention. This form of tourism is based on the utilization of natural resources and agricultural activities in rural areas, offering opportunities for income diversification and job creation. The present study aims to investigate the impact of agritourism on income diversification in the villages of Selin and Dorud in Sarvabad County. This is an applied research with a descriptive-analytical nature, and data were collected using a combination of documentary and survey methods. The statistical population included 270 households engaged in agriculture or related to product-based tourism, from which a sample of 350 households was selected using Cochran's formula and simple random sampling. The data collection instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire with three main sections, whose validity was confirmed by experts and reliability by a Cronbachs alpha of 0.86. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and Excel software, employing various statistical tests.

The findings indicate that agemployment generation, income diversification, quality of life improvement, and the empowerment of social groups, especially women and youth. Moreover, there is a significant difference between the two studied villages in terms of the benefits gained from agritourism; Selin, due to its favorable geographic location and better infrastructure, has demonstrated more successful outcomes compared to Dorud. The results emphasize that agritourism, through livelihood diversification and increased direct sales of products, can serve as an effective strategy for sustainable rural development. Nevertheless, challenges such as weak infrastructure, perishability of products, and insufficient tourism services have also been identified, which require targeted policymaking and capacity-building at the local level. Ultimately, the study underscores the need for holistic planning, training, and the empowerment of local commun
Keywords
Agritourism
Rural Development
Household Income
Sarvabad

Subjects

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Geography and Human Relationships
Volume 7, Issue 4 - Serial Number 28
Winter 2025
Pages 667-704

  • Receive Date 30 March 2025
  • Revise Date 12 June 2025
  • Accept Date 12 June 2025