درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose- Medicinal plants have a special value and significance in providing hygiene, health and food resources. Although the human attitude towards the products of medicinal plants has a long history, the issue of increasing the production of these products at the level of fields and gardens has taken on a new scientific form since the second half of the 20th century. The purpose of this research is to assess and measure economic, social, environmental sustainability of expanding the activities of medicinal plants in the rural development in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province.Design/methodology/approach- It is an applied descriptive research based on field data collection (questionnaire). The statistical population of this research included 13 villages in cold region of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province. According to a report by Natural Resources of the Province in 2022, 383 medicinal plant producers were determined and among all of whom the questionnaires were distributed. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation and variance) and inferential (one-sample t-test and VIKOR model) were used for data analysis.Findings- The findings showed that the mean score of the social and environmental indicators is over the theoretical average value (3), while the mean score was 2.80 in terms of economic indicators. The results of VIKOR model revealed that Sepidar village with a VIKOR index of (0.157) has the highest rank and Sadat Mahmoudi village with a VIKOR index of (0.993) has the lowest rank in terms of the sustainability of the activities of medicinal plants among the villages in the study area.Original/value- This study is promising the activities of rural areas in the production of medicinal plants, which is considered as a strategy for diversification in rural settlements. Therefore, the results of this research can be given special consideration in recognizing the effects of medicinal plants in different geographical areas and have an effective role in the development of rural areas.

Purpose-This study follows three major purposes including recognizing the input variables in the development of tea tourism in rural areas of Gilan (Guilan) Province, Iran, and identifying the less strategic and dependent variables for promoting tea tourism in the case study of rural areas of Gilan Province.Design/methodology/approach- Structural analysis in a foresight study was used in this paper. Firstly, the researchers recognized the key variables for promoting tea tourism in destinations with the help of the systematic literature review method and the extraction variables were categorized in two codes as tourism facilities and services with tea theme, and policy-making for promoting tea tourism.Finding- The results of structural analysis through Micmac software identified the following variables as influence variables for tea tourism facilities and services: being familiar with tea processing, establishing tea tasting centres, holding tea ceremonies and tea cultural events, and being familiar with tea cuisine. Furthermore, visiting tea gardens and sightseeing, presenting tea culture performances, developing tea museums, creating an innovative tea package, establishing a tea shop/tea auction centre, participating in picking tea leaves, and establishing tea restaurants, hotels and accommodations are known as dependent variables. Moreover, according to the direct influence graph adding tea tourism to tour packages and visiting tea factories were recognized as less strategic variables for development of tea tourism facilities and services. In addition, organizing top to bottom level training and a comprehensive policy framework for tea tourism have the most impact on the system and were identified as input variables for policy-making for promoting tea tourism.Practical implications- Analysing data through Micmac software illustrated that local participation, preserving the environment ecosystem, developing network activities and training tour guides for tea tourism are dependent variables for policy-making for promoting tea tourism. Lastly, accessibility and marketing are excluded as independent variables for policy-making for promoting tea tourism.

Purpose - Although second home ownership is a growing phenomenon and a common lifestyle in most parts of the world, especially in rural areas, there is still no specific conceptual classification to define this phenomenon in the theoretical literature. Due to the complexity and variety of second homes; many definitions, terms and conceptual features have been mentioned regarding this fuzzy concept, increasing the conceptual disturbances in this field even more. To fill this gap, this research aims to provide a flexible conceptual framework to define “second home” through a systematic review of various sources.Design/methodology/approach - In this research, by conducting a systematic review process, 75 international articles were identified for study. Then, the conceptual framework of second homes was formulated in the form of categories, subcategories and conceptual codes using the content analysis method.Findings - The results show that, in total, six categories, including physical characteristics, the pattern of expansion and tenure, spatial characteristics, sensory-emotional characteristics, socioeconomic characteristics and usage characteristics form the “second home” conceptual framework. In this framework, the conceptual categories are stable and repeatable in all contexts, while the conceptual codes are fluid and adaptable in geographical and temporal situations.Originality/value - So far, no systematic review has been done to reduce the conceptual dispersion in the second home literature. The proposed framework highlights two characteristics of fluidity and stability, which help to disambiguate the “second home” concept and it is a suitable alternative for numerous definitions and different conceptual features of the second home. The results of this research can aid scholars in clarifying the second home concept and applying it in different contexts.