Designing a Model for Nomadic Tourism Development Manegement using a Structural-Interpretive Modeling Approach

Nomadic regions of Iran with their unique cultural and natural attractions are considered as one of the most important options for the development of ecotourism in the country. However, the framework and factors of nomadic tourism development have been less considered in previous studies. Accordingly, the present study aims to provide a model for the development of nomadic tourism by using the structural modeling-interpretation approach. For this purpose, the required data were collected and analyzed from the Shahsavan nomadic areas in northwestern Iran with a qualitative-quantitative research approach. For this purpose, using snowball sampling and through semi-structured interviews with 19 tourism experts consisting of university professors, tourism experts and nomadic community, the dimensions and factors affecting the development of nomadic tourism were identified and categorized. In the next step, using interpretive structural modeling (ISM), the relationships between the dimensions were determined and analyzed in an integrated way, then using MICMAC analysis, independent, dependent, effective and two key aspects in the development of nomadic tourism were identified. The results showed that empowerment of nomadic community as the key two-way variable is one of the most important drivers of nomadic tourism development and its strengthening and development should be a priority in policy and planning for nomadic tourism development. On the other hand, social capital, government activism, structural-institutional factors were identified as strategic variables affecting the development of nomadic tourism.