The analysis of sport tourism role in Nahavand tourism development emphasizing on sport complexes (case study: Alimoradian Sport Complex

Man-made attractions are created by mankind interference. They account for a wide range of geographical landscapes. Sport complexes are some good examples. Sport tourism is a new branch of ecotourism that is quite well-known among people worldwide. It includes active and inactive sports and games by making use of natural attractions such as Skiing, swimming, climbing, hiking and so on. Sport tourism is a critically important branch of tourism that has been of effect not only on making currency and job opportunities but also in developing health and culture in different regions in last few decades. So tourism development in general and sport tourism development in particular, has been of concern for planners and policy makers of regions enjoying environmental attractions, Alimoradian cultural and sport complex has a beautiful view, magnificent architecture, well equipped with sport facilities offering world-class standard services has paved the way for tourism absorption to Nahavand. This survey is to deal with introducing Damavand tourism potentials as well as Alimoradian cultural and sport complex and to provide with practical approaches developing sport tourism, creating job vacancies, improving economic level of the town.Study area,Nahavand is located in south west of Hamadan Province. Its geographical coordinates is between 34 degree and 8 minute to 34 degree and 12 minute of northern latitude, 48 degree and 20 minute to 48 degree and 24 minute of eastern longitude. The city is 1740 meter above the sea level. Chehel Nabalegan Mount is the highest point in the region with 3487 meters above the sea level. The mount overlooks Gamasiab River Headwater and the lowest point is the exit of Gamasiab River from the Province with 1420 meter high above the sea level. Alimoradian cultural and sport complex has been constructed on the city ring road in eastern part of the city. Its measure is 136000m2. It construction started in 1992 and the project completion was conducted in some phases including: 1) multipurpose indoor hall, 2) open grounds for exercising and match, 3) indoor swimming pool 4) multipurpose indoor hall.

It is a descriptive, analytic survey based on field visits and questionnaires completion. Its sample group includes 100 people selected from sport men and women, experts and sport tourists as the group number was not definite Morgan sampling size table was applied to choose the cases randomly. The variables were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using SPSS (Version 21) .to check the data equality of continuous, Kolmogorov–Smirnov test (K–S test or KS test) was used and to analyze the research hypothesis T-test was used . the results revealed that the sport potentials of the province have not been recognized properly and also the research showed that sport complexes establishment could be of great effect in sport tourism development. In case the sport tourism development is quite organized it can make job vacancies and improve the economic conditions of the area.

Taking T-test results analysis of Nahavand sport potentials as well as tourism sport capabilities into account revealed that its significant level is less than 5%. It show a significant difference to the considered mean. It signifies improper evaluation of the area sport tourism potentials so there is an urgent need to conduct a scientific research in order to develop the sport complexes and sport tourism facilities. The significant level less than 5% and its significant difference to the considered mean, clearly proves the impact of sport complexes development like Alimoradian cultural and sport complex on sport tourism development as well as making job vacancies and improving the economic conditions of the area.

Based on the survey findings, great many of developing countries use sport tourism as a magnet for tourist absorption and making use of its economic benefits. The obtained results shows a sort of cause and effect relations between tourism and economic development and there is a long term balance between these two. Nowadays sport tourism is a seriously concerned as a mean for sustainable economic development. Due to great number of fans and its economic benefits for improving welfare as well as job creation ability of sport tourism, it has been on agenda for development in a lot of regions of the world particularly where economic development has more constraints. Although, sport tourism can be short-term And seasonal but in some regions it accounts for more than half of annual local communities income. Hence great many of countries attempt to host sport events and absorb tourists to have a bigger share of its income. Up to now great many of studies have been conducted on the impacts of holding sport events and sport tourism advantages but most of them have been focused on the role and position of sport tourism on tourism development