Explaining the Impact of Political Economy of Religious Tourism on the Unbalanced Distribution of Mashhad Tourism Services

Excessive attention to the potentials of religious tourism in Mashhad has led to the unbalanced distribution of tourism services. The goal of the present research is to investigate the effects of the political economy of Mashhad religious tourism on the unbalanced distribution of tourism services. In order to achieve this goal, the unbalanced distribution of tourism services in Mashhad is firstly explained based on the Mashhad urban database. Then, by interviewing people familiar with the political economy of Mashhad, the effects of religious tourism's political economy on the uneven distribution of tourism services are explained. The findings of the study indicate the role of religious tourism actors and the political economy conditions prevailing in religious tourism in intensifying the focus of tourism services around the holy shrine of Razavi. Of the most important research strategies, the establishment of integrated tourism management, the preparation of a comprehensive urban tourism plan in Mashhad and the promotion of the level of participation of private sector investors and civil society in the context of Mashhad's political economy can be noted.