ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF YARDANGS TOURISM IN THE PROSPERITY APPROACH (CASE STUDY: SHAHDAD DISTRICT)

Abstract

In 2013, the UN-Habitat classified the world’s countries in terms of prosperity indicators. This assessment was based on the situation of the countries in terms of the quality of life, infrastructures, productivity, environmental sustainability, equity, and social inclusion. The importance of tourism, as the driver of development, has led to the changes in social, cultural, environmental, and economic aspects of the host community. The current research aims to assess the effects of yardangs tourism and their impact on the rural prosperity of Shahdad district. The research hypothesis was as follows based on the research purpose and subject: it seems that yardangs tourism leads to the prosperity of the Shahdad district of Kerman. The current research was descriptive-analytical and was conducted based on the survey method. The statistical population of the region under study was 11125, and the sample size was calculated at 320 households using Morgan’s table. The sampling method was a simple random sampling method. The research tool was a questionnaire consisted of 15 questions. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were calculated using experts and Cronbach’s alpha test, which was considered acceptable at 0.827. The analysis level of the study area was Shahdad district (city and its suburb) and the analysis unit of household. The research results indicate that since the t value of the considered indicators was higher than 1.96 thus, they are significant at the significance level of 0.01. In other words, the tourism of yardangs increased the quality of life, productivity, infrastructures, and prosperity of Shahdad District, (except for the equity and social inclusion and environmental sustainability that were not significant).