Presenting an interpretive structural model of effective factors on improving the role of sports tourism areas in the development of peaceful relations

The present study was designed and implemented to a model of factors affecting the improvement of the role of sport tourism in the development of peaceful relations. The present study is a type of applied research that was conducted in the field. The method of this study was mixed in terms of data collection method which was applied qualitatively-quantitatively. The statistical population of the present study in the qualitative sector includes elites and experts in the field of sport tourism. The sampling method in the qualitative section was purposive. Also in the quantitative part of the statistical community, in addition to individuals, some managers and experts of sport tourism organizations and persons familiar with the field of sport tourism, including the Cultural Heritage, Crafts and Tourism Organization, the Ministry of Sport and Youth, as well as some academic professors there were tourism fields. The research tool consisted of semi-structured interviews and a researcher-made questionnaire. Interpretive structural modeling and structural equations were used to analyze the data of the present study. The whole process of data analysis was done in SPSS and PLS software. Qualitative research results showed that 28 identified factors were categorized into 6 factors including altruistic culture, adequate security and safety, management practices, human aspects, international contexts and collaborative activities. The results also showed that the results of the present study showed that sufficient safety and security as the underlying factor in the model of the research causes other factors.