Residents’ Attitude Toward Tourism Development in Bestansur Village

Neima, Hemin Abubakir; Abdullah, Suren A.; Hama-Salih, Chawan M.; Hasan, Kazhan J.

doi:10.21608/jaess.2020.100782

Residents’ Attitude Toward Tourism Development in Bestansur Village

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Agribusiness and Rural Development ARD Department, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan region, Iraq

² Department of Sociology, College of Humanities, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

³ Agribusiness and Rural Development ARD Department, College of Agricultural Sciences Engineering, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

10.21608/jaess.2020.100782

Abstract

Tourism is perceived as an important development opportunity for the rural communities by Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Kurdistan region of Iraq. This study was conducted aiming to determine the resident’s attitude and perception toward increasing holiday-makers’ visit and tourism development opportunities in Bestansur village, Kurdistan region of Iraq. In this study structured designed questionnaires were filled in face to face with 70 residents of Bestansur village. The results of this study have shown that the residents of Bestansur perceive the impact of tourism less negatively and more highly support sustainable development in their village. Furthermore, tourism was seen as a source of income generator and opportunity of improving well-being of the local community by the residents of Bestansur village. These prospects will create a big support of the local community in building future sustainable tourism strategies and development in the region.

Keywords