Holy Defense Tourism and a Review of Tourist Tendencies Coming into War Zones (A Case study of Some Iranian Provinces: Khuzestan, Ilam,Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, and Kermanshah)

“War Tourism” is one of tourist attractions that many tourists and planners take into consideration in recent decades. Iraqi Ba’th regime imposed war against Iran is one of wars that registered heroism, braveries, and epic in history. Since that war has its own attractions for tourists, the present research deals with following issues: Evaluation of tourist interests (selecting type of tourism), interest level for returning of tourists, and comparison of studied regions from aspect of war memorials. Research method is of descriptive-analytical. Data collection is of researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed by applying univariate and regression tests. Results indicate a significant and positive relationship between tourists’ satisfaction and their return to the area. Moreover tourist arrival to the region is purely spiritual linked with war tourism factors and difference in war tourism influences in other provinces. Finally, some strategies have been offered, to expand war tourism and increase tourist arrivals to the area of study.