Nutrition geography a modern approach in eastern Guilan tourism

Subject Areas : Urban and Regional Planning Studies

Akbar  motamedimehr ¹ (استادیار دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد رشت، گروه جغرافیا، رشت، ایران)
hossein  mesdaghi ² (کارشناسی ارشد جغرافیا و برنامه‌ریزی توریسم، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد رشت، رشت، ایران)

Received: 2010-09-04 Accepted : 2011-09-16 Published : 2011-08-23

Keywords: tourism development, Nutritional geography, modern approach, east of Guilan,

Abstract :

Introduction   Tourism is among phenomena being transformed considerably with time as with many other sciences. Eastern Guilan geographic area receipts many tourists during different season of the year. In addition to natural attractions, various aspects of cultural attractions in the area could be mentioned such as: traditional customs, local markets and specifically its nutritional culture. On one hand, nutritional habits in a society meet physiological requirements of the body; on the other hand, it's a cultural behavior. It may be logical if saying that foods recipe and processing methods is a way to transform regional nature to the culture of same place. Nutritional culture in eastern Guilan is in such a way that many play an influential role to attract more and more tourists, thus to development of the area. Research Methodology   In present study, qualitative research technique was used. So that , questionnaires items were prepared initially by interviewing to clear-sighted figures and cultural honors, as well through field observations. Then using margin technique, sample population volume was defined up to 384. Next, questionnaires were completed randomly in tourism sites of Astane-Ashrafieh, Siahkal, Lahidjan, Langeroud, Amlash and Roudsar related figures were extracted using excel software, finally to test the hypothesis,  since statistic population had qualitative variables, questions were ranking depending on qualities and amount and spearman scoring correlation coefficient from following equation was calculated for them:   Ps =1- Where, d2 : deviations square in the scores, N: the number of question in static population nutritional geography in present study was considered as independent variable and tourism expansion and restoring the traditions and culture was considered as dependent variable in this study. Results   Tourism will familiarize the person to geographic areas of other persons and cultures. It can be stated that culture is as a major attraction in tourism. Cultural differences between visitors and destination territory will double nutritional services attraction. Specifically if the food is served in a circumstance consistent to destination culture (decoration, light, music, etc). Nutritional geography in eastern Guilan has 5 unique characteristics: 1. Presence and wide variety of foods with vegetable origin. 2. Providing variants foods which in lowest time will be cooked and ready to meal. 3. Pharmaceutical properly in some of foods used in the area, 4. Eating food with opposing natures to prevent disease, 5. Geographic area elements such as local markets, regional nature, seasonal changes. Etc are important to select and cooking the foods in eastern Guilan.  Local foods in eastern Guilan can be classified to three major groups: vegetative foods, meat foods and sea foods. Conclusion   High percentage of tourists replied to the questions on local foods and its relationship to repeated journey, their motivation to trap, having pleasuring memory from eating local food in a suitable and reminiscent space along with specific hospitality of Guilan people with high percentage, it may be noted that local foods, due to being unique and providing from regional specific materials, show off and to survive versus non-local food patterns. It is considered as most prominent characteristic among tourists, nutritional geography is considered as independent variable and tourism development, tradition and culture restoring are considered as dependent variables in present study. Spearman scoring correlation coefficient was calculated equal to 0.917857 using excel according to question scoring, which represents direct and almost complete correlation between independent variable (nutritional geography)And dependent variables (tourism development) and traditions and nutritional culture restoration).