Exploring the Role of Ecolodges on the Culture Domain

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Ph.D. in Candidate Tourism Management, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The growing desire of tourists to gain authentic cultural experiences has created unique opportunities for the tourism industry and in particular ecotourism. The growth of ecotourism has brought challenges to the local communities and destination management organizations. Thus, securing the interests of stakeholders and managing cultural impacts has become an inevitable necessity for the preservation and development of cultural assets and manifestations. This study aims to investigate the role and effects of ecolodges in regenerating culture, using the thematic analysis method. Purposeful snowball sampling procedure was used to find out and explore the experts’ opinions. Data were collected through interviews and continued until saturation and coding reliability. Finally, the pattern of the effect of ecolodges is recognized from the cultural aspect. Findings showed that the effectiveness of ecolodges begins with the promotion and preserving of the culture of host communities and through certain steps, leads to the destination sustainability. Ecolodges have positive cultural impacts on the host community and guests due to adopting a cultural approach in planning and management of tourism activities, and negative impacts of ecotourism. Therefore, the management of this socio-economic institution needs a deep understanding of indigenous culture and a master plan. Also, the ecolodges have a significant difference with other tourist accommodation facilities, because they manage impacts on the indigenous communities and destinations. Therefore, their quantitative development require the observance of the principles of ecotourism, strict and comprehensive supervision by the government, associations, and ecolodge founders.

Keywords

References

Ajza Shokuhi, M., Bouzajomehri, K., Istgaldi, M. & Movdodi, M. (2013). Examine the Effects of Tourism on the Host Community’s Quality of Life Case Study: City Bandar Turkmen, Journal of Geographical Space, 14(47), 101-125.
Amini, A. & Zeydi, Z. (2015). Residents’ Attitude towards the Cultural Impacts of Tourism Development in Rural Areas (Case study: Abyaneh Village). Geographical Research, 30(2), 13-32.
Beheshti, S. M. (2020). The extremity of “tourism with cultural approach” in Iran. Tourism of Culture, 1(1), 9-16
Bowe, S. A. & Marcouiller, D. W. (2007). Alternative tourism–timber dependencies and the development of forested rural regions. Forest Policy and Economics, 9(6), 653-670.
Faraji Rad, A. & Ehsani, A. (2011). Study of Indigenous Cluster Experiences to Make a Model for Expanding Local Network in Gramer and Shibderaz Villages. territory 8(2), 63-78.
Fennell, D. A. (2014). Ecotourism. New York: Routledge.‏
Kamari, F., Hossini, S. M. R., Veiseh, S. & Mostaghimi, M. R. (2020). Designing the model of entrepreneurial Opportunity window In Iran’s cultural tourism. Journal of Tourism Planning and Development, 8(31), 181-195.‏
Kazemi, A. (2007). The crisis of modernity and political culture in contemporary Iran. Tehran: Qomes Publications
• MCTH, The Rules and Regulations of ‘ECOLODGE’ concerning the Utilization, Evaluation and Ratings (2019), Zavabet-e bahredari, arzyabi va darajebandi-ye eghamatgah-ha-ye bomgardi [Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts]. Retrieved from http: https://chtn.ir/news/139806291
Navid Adham, M., Hajiani, E., Bonyanian, H., Bay, Y., Nowrouzi, I., … & Delbari, M. (2018). Tahlil-e farhangi [Cultural Analysis], Tehran: cvn-ir
Papoli Yazdi, M. H. & Saqai, M. (2013). Tourism (Nature & Concepts). Tehran: SAMT
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods. (3nd ed.). London. SAGE.
Qasemi, R. & Nazeri, Z. (2013). Iranian Culture in the Globalization Era (Case Study: Nowruz Culture. Studies in Communication Culture, 13(19), 91-112.
Rezvani, A. A. (2007). Jhoghrafiya va sanat-e terorisim [Geography and Tourism Industry], Tehran: Payam Noor Publications.
Rocher, G. (1992). Introduction à la sociologie générale (H. Zanjanizadeh, Trans.). Ville LaSalle: Éditions Hurtubise HMH.
Saghaii, M. & khooshebast F. (2012). Barresiy-e naghsh-e gardeshgari-ye farhangi dar paydari va esheey-e farhang-e Irani [Investigating the role of cultural tourism in the sustainability and dissemination of Iranian culture], First National Conference on Tourism and Ecotourism of Iran, Hamedan.
Shojaee, A. & Farajzadeh, S. (2016). Tasir-e gardeshgari-ye farhangi bar taamol-e farhangi beyn-e gardeshgaran va jameeye mizban [The impact of cultural tourism on cultural interaction between tourists and the host community]. Ardebil: University of Ardebil
Williams, S. (1998). Tourism geography. London: Routledge.
Wood, M. (2002). Ecotourism: Principles, practices and policies for sustainability. Burlington, VT: UNEP and the International Ecotourism Society.‏
Yasouri, M. & Safa, S. (2013). Miras va gardeshgari-ye paydar [heritage and sustainable tourism]. Rasht: University of Guilan.
Yousefi, J. & Sharifi Tehrani, M. (2014). An Analysis on the Social and Cultural Impacts of Tourism Development (Birjand City Study). Development Strategy, (84), 137-155.
Zahedi, S. (2014). Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism: Environmental Perspective. Tehran: University of Allameh Tabatabaei.
Zeppel, H. (1998). Tourism and aboriginal Australia. Tourism Management, 19(5), 485-488.‏
Tourism of Culture
Volume 1, Issue 3
February 2021
Pages 51-62

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 29 October 2020
  • Revise Date: 25 December 2020
  • Accept Date: 26 December 2020

Share

How to cite

Statistics