Persian Gulf’s Potentials for Coastal Tourism for the Realization of Economic Dynamism (Case Study: Bushehr)

Tourism potentials are among the economic resources of every region and, thus, any attempt at identification, classification, and planning in this regard is of great importance for the development of tourism. Given the economic problems of Iran during the recent years and the increasing instability in oil prices, it is necessary to part with a single-product system of economy dependent on oil. Possessing various tourism potentials in relation to coastal tourism, historical monuments and sites, and economic features, Bushehr Province is considered to be one of the tourism centers of Iran. In this study, through benefitting from library resources and following the content analysis method, the researchers investigate the potentials for the development of coastal tourism in this province and its role in the economic dynamism of the country. The findings suggest that the coastal province of Bushehr hosts a huge number of tourists every year, which can result in an increase in employment and income levels, establishment and consolidation of services and infrastructures, improvement of its resident’s welfare, and regional development. However, one of the problems of tourism in Bushehr is its seasonal nature so that the number of tourists drastically decreases in summer and autumn there, which results in a recess in the professions connected to tourism. Therefore, the related organizations need to prioritize the development of an appropriate and principled plan in order to solve the problem of seasonal tourism in this province.