Identification and Explanation of Factors Influencing the Development of Virtual Tourism with a Mixed-Method Approach (Case Study: Guilān Province)

The development of virtual tourism indicates the digitization of all processes and value sets in the tourism industry. The present study aimed to identify and explain the influential factors in the development of virtual tourism using a mixed-method approach. It was a qualitative strategy based on the utilization of data-driven theory and the paradigmatic model. In the testing phase, a descriptive-survey method was employed, wherein the derived qualitative model was tested using quantitative methods. In other words, the subject was elucidated through field studies and interviews. The data collection tools consisted of interviews and questionnaires, which were validated by university and non-university experts with prior consulting experience in tourism organizations within Guilan province. The reliability for each variable was higher than 0.7 The research population for the qualitative phase of the study consists of several experts in the tourism industry in Iran. The sample size was 12 individuals, and the sampling was conducted using two non-probability methods, namely purposive (judgmental) and snowball sampling. The research population for the quantitative phase included the experts in the tourism industry in Guilan province who have experience in tourism, technology, and related fields. These experts are considered part of the unlimited population. According to Cochran's formula, the required sample size for an unlimited population is 384. In the qualitative phase, the identification of factors influencing the development of virtual tourism was conducted. In this regard, by employing data-driven theory, 13 categories and 36 concepts were derived. The hypotheses of the study were analyzed in the quantitative stage using structural equation modeling analysis and the Lisrel software version 8.80. The results of the quantitative stage of the data have confirmed that the balanced evaluation of virtual tourism had an effect on value creation and balanced development in Gilan province. The management of virtual tourism structure on the development of virtual tourism performance, the design of customer-oriented strategy of virtual tourism on value creation, the design of customer-oriented strategy of virtual tourism on the development of virtual tourism performance, and the design of customer-oriented strategy of virtual tourism have been effective on the balanced development of virtual tourism in Guilan province.