Exploring Consequences of Internal Migration in the Province of Yazd, Iran: A Qualitative SWOT Approach

Moving from one place to another place involves not only challenges and opportunities for immigrants, but also various consequences for the destination country. This study aimed to identify the SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity and threat) of presence of internal immigrants in the province of Yazd. The data collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 informants underwent thematic analysis. Based on the analyzed data set, there are strengths such as the bio-culture for immigrants, the growth of health tourism, and the introduction of Yazd as a safe city and a desirable attracting platform for blue-collar workers. There are also weaknesses such as the representation of an ugly urban environment, the difficulties of living in the neighborhood of an extended family, social indifference toward the cause of recurring damages, lack of sufficient economic capital and stigma for low-level jobs. The results also show that the migration of people from other regions to the province of Yazd has created different opportunities and threats in the province. The opportunities that have caused economic prosperity include themes such as familiarity with the cultural characteristics of migrants, migrants as cultural capital, humble blue-collar workers, migrant technocrats. The threats include themes such as intensified environmental crises, increasing social harms, integration of migrants into the historical texture, strangers causing incredulity, and difficulty of finding jobs for local workforce. It is also suggested, the inter-provincial labor force should be accepted through employment offices and special attention should be paid to the historical zones.