Evaluation of Knowledge-based Urban Developmental Potentials in Tourism (Case Study of the Township of Maragheh city )

Nowadays, a tourism approach to implement the knowledge-based cities model can play a key role in contributing to the socio-economic growth. Therefore, the current study attempts to evaluate the capabilities and functions of Maragheh’s tourism and develop these functions by linking the idea of knowledge-based city with the tourism approach to the city. This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature. A questionnaire was used to collect information. the indicators that were evaluated were as follows: Information technology networks, Knowledge sharing culture, urban infrastructure. The statistical population of this research consisted of 30 experts in the related field. One-sample T-test, Kolmogrov-smirnov and regression fits were used for data analysis. Maragheh is not in a good position in terms of information technology networks, information sharing culture, urban knowledge infrastructure. Also, according to the results of the regression fitting model among the research components and with respect to the obtained significance, all the components have a direct relationship with knowledge-based tourism. Components of information technology networks with beta coefficient of 0.783, urban infrastructure with beta coefficient of 0.90, information sharing culture with beta coefficient of 0.207 have the most impact on you promoting urban development of knowledge-based tourism in Maragheh; hence, the development of the knowledge-based tourism requires understanding the necessity of public will and authority of officials and citizens, infrastructural requirements especially in the field of transport and communications, to maintain community-wide trust and the knowledge mobility among the community.Keywords: Urban development, knowledge-based city, tourism, Maragheh.