Journal of Geography and Regional Development

Identifying and Analyzing Social Discourses on the Development of Natural Tourism using Q Methodology (Case Study: Oak Forests, Ilam Province)

Document Type : Research

Authors

Zeinab Shahbazi Kuchkale 1
Abbas Amini 2
Ahmad Taghdisi 2

1 PhD Candidate, Department of Geography and Rural Planning, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Rural Planning, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jgrd.2023.79396.1218
Abstract
This study aimed to identify the supportive discourses of developing tourism activities in forest regions of Ilam province and answer the question whether these discourses are aligned with the goals of sustainable development in long run. The statistical population of the descriptive-exploratory study included some locals, entrepreneurs, public and private officials, practitioners of the tourism sector, academicians, and environmental NGO members. Purposive sampling was employed. Q analysis of data identified three distinctive discourses, each of which has assessed the tourism development in a different point of view, whereas they acknowledge the importance of oak forests. The first one is “sustainable rural tourism entrepreneurship” that allows and enables an effective form of tourism policy making and implementation process that is simultaneously considering the lives of local residents, sustainability of natural environment, and the balance of both development and conservation. “Strictly conservative” discourse rejects any touristic utilization of the forests and the third prosaic perspective does the complete opposite with a positive attitude towards tourism in large scale with national concerns. “Mass tourism development” perspective necessitates both infrastructure and diplomacy for its development. Recognizing the constructive elements of diverse viewpoints, integrating their commonalities, and making necessary adjustments on their contradictions is a long-term collaborative process toward a comprehensively development of communit-based tourism and environmental sustainability ending to strike a balance between multiple and sometimes inconsistent objectives.

Keywords

Tourism
Discourse Analysis
Q Methodology
Oak Forests
Ilam Province
Subjects
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