Comparative study of the current and ideal status of smart village components and formulation of executive policies for targeted development (Case study: Tourism target villages in Lorestan province)

Articles in Press

Document Type : scientific-research article

Authors

amin mehrzade ¹

fereshte hafezi ²

hamide mahmoodi ³

mohammad Karimi Firouzjaei ³

¹ Department of Tourism Policy and Development, Faculty of Tourism, University of Tehran

² Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University

³ Faculty of Tourism, University of Tehran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jgrd.2025.93637.1565

Abstract

The concept of smart villages has gained attention as a new approach to sustainable development and enhancing the quality of life in tourism-targeted rural areas. In Lorestan Province, given its rich natural and cultural potentials, such villages can play a significant role as hubs of rural development. This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the current and ideal conditions of smart village components and to formulate practical policies for their targeted development.



Methodologically, this research is descriptive-analytical and applied in nature. The study population includes residents of tourism-targeted villages in Lorestan Province, selected randomly based on population size and Morgan’s sampling table. The study area encompasses villages officially designated as tourism destinations within the province. The research instrument was a questionnaire consisting of 75 pairs of questions aligned with 10 components, designed using a Likert scale. The target group comprised local residents serving as host communities in these villages.



Data analysis was performed using SPSS software through statistical methods including ANOVA and paired sample t-tests, along with the MABAC multi-criteria decision-making model and spatial analysis in a GIS environment. The analytical results of the paired sample t-test indicated a statistically significant gap (p < 0.05) between the current and ideal conditions in all ten components of smart villages—particularly in the areas of sustainable energy (mean difference = -0.429) and smart governance (-0.323). According to the MABAC model, Afrineh village had the highest smart development score (0.180), whereas Chenargirit and Shabandor had the lowest. In the final stage, spatial analysis using the Jenks natural breaks classification method grouped the villages into five categories of smart development, revealing that more populous villages such as Afrineh ranked higher, while less populated ones like Sang Tarashan fell into lower categories

Keywords

Tourism

Gap Analysis

Smart Villages

Lorestan Province

Subjects

• Planning in urban and rural areas

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