Developments’ model of traditional sports ecotourism in Khazar beach district

The regions in which sport and athletic activities is a part of their culture can surely take various economic, social and cultural advantage of domestic and international tourists. The purpose of this research is developments’ model of traditional sports ecotourism in Khazar beach district.

Sample size consist of sport tourists, sport experts of sport committees and tourism-cultural heritage managers of Northern provinces (n=263). To collect data, research regulated sport ecotourism questionnaire and shonk (2006) sport satisfaction and future intention questionnaire based upon the Likert’s 5-item scale used. To data analysis, SPSS and AMOS test to designing of structural equation model was used.

Results of structural equation model showed that, natural attractions of sea and beach sport activities (β=0.83) and natural sport attraction of Jungle and environment (β=0.78) had most effect on tourist’s satisfaction. Also beach football and beach volleyball, jacking and climbing, traditional wrestling, ski and snowboard, motor racing rally were more important effective elements of natural sport ecotourism’s sub-scales. The findings of research show that based on sports experts, cultural- heritage managers and tourist’s perspective, there were high potential in Northern Province to sport-ecotourism development.

Based on present study, with proper combination of local-rural and traditional sport festivals with unique geographical conditions in northern beach district, provide a powerful potential and logical field to sport tourism development.