Village and Space Sustainable Development

Village and Space Sustainable Development

A Data-Driven Model for Agritourism Development Based on Land Suitability Assessment (Case Study: Western Isfahan Province)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Amir Bahrami 1
Mohammad reza Rezvani 2
Alireza Darban astaneh 3
1 PhD student in tourism, Kish Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 Professor, Department of Human Geography and Planning, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Human Geography and Planning, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22077/vssd.2026.10421.1341
Abstract
1. Introduction
In recent decades, agritourism has emerged as an important strategy for promoting sustainable rural development by diversifying rural economies, strengthening farmer livelihoods, and enhancing the socio-cultural vitality of rural areas. Particularly in regions facing structural challenges such as agricultural income instability, land degradation, and rural outmigration, agritourism offers a multifunctional pathway that integrates agricultural production with tourism activities. However, despite its growing importance, agritourism development in many regions has been pursued in an unsystematic manner, often without sufficient consideration of land suitability, environmental capacities, and institutional coordination. This has resulted in fragmented initiatives, inefficient allocation of resources, and, in some cases, environmental and socio-cultural pressures on rural areas. In Iran, and especially in the western region of Isfahan Province, agritourism has gained increasing attention due to the region’s diverse agricultural landscapes, cultural heritage, and proximity to urban tourism markets. Nevertheless, agritourism initiatives in this area have largely been implemented in the absence of an integrated conceptual framework that connects land suitability assessment with broader economic, institutional, and policy-related factors. Existing studies in the Iranian context have predominantly focused either on physical land evaluation and zoning or on identifying isolated socio-economic factors influencing rural tourism development. Consequently, there remains a significant research gap regarding how land suitability assessment can function as a central, organizing element within a comprehensive agritourism development process. The present study aims to address this gap by explaining the process of agritourism development based on land suitability assessment in the western region of Isfahan Province and by proposing a paradigmatic model that systematically integrates environmental, institutional, infrastructural, and marketing dimensions. By adopting a grounded theory approach, this research seeks to generate a context-sensitive and theoretically grounded model that can inform both academic debates and practical policy-making in agritourism development.

2. Methodology
This study is applied in nature and adopts a qualitative research approach grounded in the principles of grounded theory, following the paradigmatic model proposed by Strauss and Corbin. The qualitative design was selected to capture the complexity of agritourism development as a multi-dimensional and process-oriented phenomenon shaped by diverse actors, contextual conditions, and structural constraints. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 16 experts drawn from the fields of agriculture, tourism planning, rural development, and environmental management. Participants were selected using purposive and theoretical sampling to ensure diversity in professional background and practical experience related to agritourism and land management in the study region. The interview protocol was designed to explore participants’ perceptions of land suitability, agritourism resources, institutional arrangements, policy frameworks, and development challenges in rural areas of western Isfahan Province. Data analysis was conducted iteratively through three stages of coding: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. During open coding, initial concepts were extracted directly from the interview data. In the axial coding stage, relationships among categories were identified and organized according to causal conditions, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, action/interaction strategies, and consequences. Finally, selective coding was used to integrate the categories into a coherent theoretical framework, with land suitability assessment identified as the core category around which the paradigmatic model was constructed. To enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of the findings, expert review, constant comparison, and analytical memo-writing were employed throughout the research process.

3. Findings
The analysis resulted in the identification of 10 major dimensions and 28 interrelated components that together constitute the proposed paradigmatic model of agritourism development. The findings indicate that land suitability assessment functions as the core category, shaping and being shaped by multiple interacting factors across different levels of analysis. Causal conditions influencing land suitability assessment include the availability and quality of agritourism resources, such as agricultural diversity, landscape attractiveness, traditional farming practices, and local knowledge systems. These conditions act as primary drivers that determine the initial potential for agritourism development. Contextual conditions encompass infrastructural and marketing factors, including accessibility, basic services, accommodation facilities, branding strategies, and market linkages, which frame the operational environment within which agritourism initiatives are implemented. Intervening conditions are primarily related to organizational and macro-level factors, such as institutional coordination, governance structures, regulatory frameworks, and broader economic and policy environments. These factors can either facilitate or constrain the effectiveness of land-based agritourism strategies. Action and interaction strategies identified in the model include policy-making measures, capacity-building initiatives, stakeholder empowerment, and the development of supportive institutional mechanisms aimed at aligning land suitability with development objectives. The consequences of these strategies, when implemented within the proposed framework, are reflected in sustainable development outcomes across economic, socio-cultural, and environmental dimensions. These include income diversification for rural households, job creation, preservation of agricultural heritage, strengthening of local identity, and improved environmental management of rural landscapes. The main theoretical contribution of this study lies in proposing an integrated model that conceptualizes land suitability assessment not merely as a technical or physical evaluation tool, but as a central and dynamic component embedded within a broader socio-institutional and policy-driven development process. Unlike previous studies that have focused on fragmented factors or static land zoning approaches, this research highlights the systemic interactions between land suitability, institutional arrangements, infrastructure, and market mechanisms in shaping agritourism development trajectories.

4. Discussion and Conclusion
The findings underscore the importance of adopting a systematic and evidence-based approach to agritourism development, particularly in environmentally sensitive and resource-constrained rural regions. By positioning land suitability assessment at the core of the development process, the proposed model provides a structured framework for aligning environmental capacities with economic and policy objectives. From a practical perspective, the model offers a comprehensive roadmap for policymakers, planners, and development practitioners. It can support spatial prioritization of suitable lands for agritourism, guide targeted investment in rural infrastructure, and inform the design of supportive policies that are grounded in the actual environmental and socio-economic capacities of rural areas. Moreover, the model can facilitate more effective coordination among stakeholders, including farmers, local communities, governmental agencies, and private sector actors. This study contributes to the agritourism and rural development literature by advancing a grounded, process-oriented model that integrates land suitability assessment into a comprehensive framework for sustainable agritourism development. By bridging the gap between physical land evaluation and broader institutional and policy considerations, the proposed paradigmatic model provides both theoretical insight and practical guidance for fostering sustainable agritourism in western Isfahan Province and other regions with similar characteristics.
Keywords
Agritourism
Land suitability assessment
Grounded theory
Sustainable development
Isfahan Province
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 10 November 2025
  • Revise Date 24 January 2026
  • Accept Date 31 May 2026