Village and Space Sustainable Development

Village and Space Sustainable Development

Assessment and Evaluation of Sustainable Tourism Development Indicators in Arid Regions (Case Study: Southwestern Villages of Khorasan Razavi Province)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
elyas Chehrazi 1
Asghar Norouzi 2
Seyyed Amir Mohammad Alavizadeh 3
Riehaneh Soltani Moqadas 2
1 PhD Student in Geography and Rural Planning, law & Social Sciences Faculty, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Rural Planning, law & Social Sciences Faculty, Payame Noor University, Tehran. Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Rural Planning, law & Social Sciences Faculty, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22077/vssd.2026.10551.1347
Abstract
1. Introduction
Arid and semi-arid rural areas constantly grapple with severe structural constraints, including economic vulnerability, inadequate infrastructure, climate-induced water scarcity, and escalating out-migration. In fragile ecosystems where conventional agriculture is increasingly compromised, sustainable tourism emerges as a strategic alternative to diversify local livelihoods and stimulate regional resilience. However, realizing this potential requires a balanced assessment of multidimensional sustainability indicators aligned with local bio-ecological capacities. This study investigates and evaluates sustainable tourism indicators across designated target villages in Southwestern Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran, establishing an empirical foundation for resilient rural planning.

2. Methodology
This applied study adopted a quantitative, descriptive-analytical design. The empirical scope focused on 15 tourism-targeted rural settlements in Kashmar County during 2023–2025. Data were gathered through a comprehensive structured questionnaire distributed to a panel of 28 key regional experts selected via purposive snowball sampling until thematic saturation was achieved. Content validity was confirmed by an academic expert panel, and instrument reliability was demonstrated by a robust Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α=0.947). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-sample ttt-tests against a theoretical neutral test value (μ=3.0) across four core dimensions: Natural, Socio-Cultural, Economic, and Managerial–Infrastructural.

3. Findings
The results indicated that the Natural dimension, with a mean of 3.94 and a t-statistic of 10.56, showed the highest agreement regarding the presence of pristine natural attractions, ecological tours, and environmental capacities, with a significance level less than 0.001, confirming a very high potential for tourism development. The Socio-Cultural dimension, with a mean of 3.93 and t = 10.55, also emphasized the preservation of cultural identity, local participation, and social interactions, indicating homogeneity of perceptions among respondents. In the Economic dimension, a mean of 4.09 and t = 71.11 revealed the strongest economic potential in terms of job creation, income generation, and ecotourism investments. Finally, the Managerial–Infrastructural dimension, with a mean of 3.91 and t = 5.65, suggested a moderate but significant desirability concerning policy-making, infrastructure, and institutional coordination. In aggregate, the test results rejected the null hypothesis at a significance level less than 0.001 across all four dimensions, confirming the high desirability of rural tourism development indicators in arid regions. These findings emphasize that natural ecological capacities, social capital, economic opportunities, and improved management mechanisms can be integrated to form appropriate indicators for the four-dimensional sustainability of rural tourism in Southwestern Khorasan Razavi, serving as a foundation for conservation, support, and sustainable investment policies.

4. Discussion and Conclusion
The findings confirm that rural settlements in arid regions possess substantial untapped potential for sustainable ecotourism and geotourism, capable of offsetting climatic and agricultural vulnerabilities. Achieving long-term resilience, however, hinges on reconciling economic valorization with strict ecological carrying capacities and institutional efficiency. Rather than relying on top-down infrastructure delivery, regional policymakers and planners should capitalize on existing socio-ecological assets while strengthening multi-institutional governance and local capacity-building. This integrated, four-dimensional framework provides actionable insights for designing sustainable development and investment strategies in climate-sensitive dryland environments.
Keywords
Sustainable Tourism Development
Sustainability
Arid Regions
Southwestern Villages of Khorasan Razavi Province
Subjects
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Village and Space Sustainable Development
Volume 7, Issue 2 - Serial Number 26
Summer 2026
Pages 193-214

  • Receive Date 22 November 2025
  • Revise Date 04 February 2026
  • Accept Date 19 April 2026