A sustainable tourism development strategy in the city of Neyriz using strategic SOAR analysis

Nowadays, as experience has shown, wherever tourism is developed incidentally or without any specific planning and strategy, it creates many environmental and social problems. In such a case, in the long run, tourism problems would be more than its benefits. Reduction of the negative or destructive effects of tourism in host societies has been a concern to pave the way for sustainable tourism in recent decades. The present study was conducted to aim at the feasibility of sustainable tourism development in the city of Neyriz. The research methodology was based on a descriptive-analytic approach accompanied by field research through questionnaires. The data were collected using library-documentary studies as well as field studies. The sampling method was a simple random sampling one, and 382 questionnaires were distributed. Finally, the data were analyzed using SOAR analysis and statistical tests. The results of the research show that the city of Neyriz has many strengths and opportunities for sustainable tourism development. It was also found that the development of this industry can lead to reduction of unemployment, increase of services and catering centers, reduction of tourists’ cost of stay, and increase of per capita recreation space.