Investigation on Main Factors in Agricultural Land Use Changes in Touristic Destinations: Noushahr and Chalous Counties as Case Study, Iran

The relationship between tourism and agriculture has been a challenging affair in tourism development literature. Nature of relation between these two important sectors varies in two different sides, in which it is conflicting on one side and is exchanging on the other side. Whereas, most of destinations have been faced to rapid growth in the world, hence, adjusting the relationship between these two mentioned sectors from a conflicting situation into a compatible one is counted as a challenge in spatial management and planning. As this is a serious problem in destination areas in the north of Iran, this paper aimed to investigate the nature of relationship between tourism and agriculture and to clarify the effective factors in. A survey analysis is used on statistical population which is consisted of farmers, officers, real estate agents, lawyers in two different areas: plain and mountainous areas of Chaloos and Noushahr counties. Using Path Analysis, the results show, relationship between the two mentioned sectors is winner-loser, conflicting and destructive which has happened because of weaknesses in land use management system, deep weaknesses in agricultural sector and spontaneous growth of real estate agencies activities in the region as well as farmer attitude towards welfare which is not expected to be met by agricultural activity.