Determining model of the factors influencing the sustainable development of traditional sports tourism (Case study: Kabadi festival of Sorkhankalateh, Horse-riding of Torkman and Guroush and Alish traditional wrestling)

The main purpose of this study was determining the model of the factors influencing the sustainable development of traditional sports tourism. The research was applied-developed type that design as Sequential-Exploratory form. Population size were 45subject in qualitative phase (Delphi method) and in quantitative phase, consist of 500 of managers and experts of corresponding organization in sport tourism industry. The research instrument, was a 50 item research-made questionnaire that regulated based on qualitative (theoretical saturation) and quantitative phases. After confirmation of contextual and visual validity of the questioner, the internal reliability was confirmed in experimental study by Cronbach's alphah method (α=0.81). To data analysis, Lisrel software and exploratory factor analysis used. Based confirmatory factor analysis, the results indicated significant effect of all items of 8 scales on domestic eco-sport tourism development (β>0.4, p≤0.05). Domestic sport – environmental attractions scale (β=0.78), infrastructure (β= 0.77) and Policy and management of environmental (β= 0.72) had the highest load factor. Therefor base of results, researcher suggest that coordination should be built among tourism organizations in the governmental sectors, active local institutions in tourist areas should be founded and strategic union of domestic sports tourism among the Golestan provinces should be founded to introduce this high-potential geographical area as the premium brand in sports tourism and the focal point in domestic sports ecotourism nationally and internationally.