Desert tourism, as one of the emerging capacities for regional development, while possessing significant economic and social potential, faces environmental constraints and weaknesses in national governance and management. Accordingly, this study aims to examine the role of local actors, tourism governance, and tourism products and services in promoting sustainable tourism in rural settlements of southern Fars Province, Iran. The statistical population consisted of local stakeholders, experts, and tourism practitioners. The research method is descriptive–survey and applied in terms of purpose. Data were collected through a questionnaire based on four main constructs and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS software.The results indicated that active participation of local actors has a positive and significant effect on tourism governance, tourism products and services, and sustainable tourism. Furthermore, tourism governance improves the quality and diversity of tourism products and services, though it does not have a direct effect on sustainability. In contrast, tourism products and services have a positive and significant impact on the development of sustainable tourism. Overall, strengthening multi-level governance and enhancing the effective participation of local actors can pave the way toward achieving sustainable tourism in desert areas.
In contrast, tourism products and services have a positive and significant impact on the development of sustainable tourism. Overall, strengthening multi-level governance and enhancing the effective participation of local actors can pave the way toward achieving sustainable tourism in desert areas.
Keywords: Sustainable tourism, Local actors, Tourism governance, Tourism products and services, Desert settlements
In contrast, tourism products and services have a positive and significant impact on the development of sustainable tourism. Overall, strengthening multi-level governance and enhancing the effective participation of local actors can pave the way toward achieving sustainable tourism in desert areas.
Keywords: Sustainable tourism, Local actors, Tourism governance, Tourism products and services, Desert settlements