The Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran The Journal of Community Development (Rural-Urban) 2783-0748 17 1 2025 05 22 The Role of Community-Based Rural Tourism in Explaining the Concept of Self-Reliance in Tourist-Friendly Villages Case study: Sarein County The Role of Community-Based Rural Tourism in Explaining the Concept of Self-Reliance in Tourist-Friendly Villages Case study: Sarein County 45 61 102386 10.22059/jrd.2025.395753.668922 FA Bahram Imani Department of Geography and Rural Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran Journal Article 2025 05 29 In recent decades, community-based rural tourism has garnered significant attention as one of the most significant forms of tourism. Additionally, the concept of self-reliance in tourist villages is a critical and influential concept in the field of sustainable development and local self-sufficiency that is adhered to by numerous communities. The present study is of a hybrid nature and is applied in terms of purpose. The research method used in it is a mixed one that uses a sequential-exploratory approach. The primary dimensions and components of the concept of self-reliance of community-based rural tourism in tourist villages are identified and extracted in the first phase using the qualitative focus group method. In the second phase, the quantitative survey method is employed to provide comments on their confirmation and reliability. The initial phase employed library studies and semi-structured interviews to gather data and information from 17 pertinent experts. In the subsequent phase, a questionnaire was employed to gather information. The research findings indicate that 231 raw codes were collected and categorized using an inductive approach into 83 main themes, 24 integrative themes, and 4 overarching themes. Additionally, all extracted components and indicators were authorized during the second phase. The research results indicate that community-based rural tourism is a strategic pillar in the concept of self-reliance of tourist villages in Sarein County. Additionally, the utilization of community-based rural tourism can be an effective strategy for revitalizing rural communities from a sustainable development perspective. In recent decades, community-based rural tourism has garnered significant attention as one of the most significant forms of tourism. Additionally, the concept of self-reliance in tourist villages is a critical and influential concept in the field of sustainable development and local self-sufficiency that is adhered to by numerous communities. The present study is of a hybrid nature and is applied in terms of purpose. The research method used in it is a mixed one that uses a sequential-exploratory approach. The primary dimensions and components of the concept of self-reliance of community-based rural tourism in tourist villages are identified and extracted in the first phase using the qualitative focus group method. In the second phase, the quantitative survey method is employed to provide comments on their confirmation and reliability. The initial phase employed library studies and semi-structured interviews to gather data and information from 17 pertinent experts. In the subsequent phase, a questionnaire was employed to gather information. The research findings indicate that 231 raw codes were collected and categorized using an inductive approach into 83 main themes, 24 integrative themes, and 4 overarching themes. Additionally, all extracted components and indicators were authorized during the second phase. The research results indicate that community-based rural tourism is a strategic pillar in the concept of self-reliance of tourist villages in Sarein County. Additionally, the utilization of community-based rural tourism can be an effective strategy for revitalizing rural communities from a sustainable development perspective.

https://jrd.ut.ac.ir/article_102386_c97319e91458d884d90c0e073cade4c3.pdf