Explanation of protection strategies for the historical bazaar of Tabriz based on value pathology recognition with emphasis on heritage tourism development

The historical bazaar is a critical and effective element in the formation of Iranian cities and represents a wide array of interconnected values. These values play a significant role in both the preservation of the bazaar and the development and promotion of tourism. However, insufficient protection of this heritage has led to the deterioration of some of its values, which, in turn, has resulted in a decline in tourism. Therefore, this study aims to explain protection strategies by recognizing and addressing the pathology of the essential values of the historical Tabriz Bazaar, with a focus on developing heritage tourism.

This research uses a mixed-methodology approach, with data collection conducted in both theoretical and practical dimensions, based on bibliographic and field studies. The theoretical aspect involved gathering data on key concepts such as architectural heritage, heritage values, and heritage tourism through a review of scientific literature, analysis of documents and international conventions, and examining the intellectual frameworks of scholars in the field of value protection of historical-cultural heritage. This was aimed at developing a conceptual model for understanding the subject. In the practical aspect, a questionnaire and interviews were used to measure and evaluate factors and variables derived from the theoretical framework. The statistical sample for the questionnaire comprised 384 tourists and citizens visiting the Tabriz Bazaar over a one-year period, selected using simple random sampling. Additionally, interviews were conducted with 30 business owners and 15 knowledgeable experts, chosen based on theoretical data saturation.

Quantitative data from the questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS statistical software, inferential t-tests, and exploratory data analysis. Interviews were analyzed using content analysis, coding, and categorization. The results showed that, under the “urban value” variable, all indicators except for the urban role factor were found to be in unfavorable conditions, with a significance level of less than 0.05. For the “architectural value” variable, only the “compatibility” index had a significance value above 0.05 and a negative t-value, indicating unfavorable conditions. Indicators of “aesthetic value” showed better conditions, with a significance level below 0.05 and a positive t-value. Overall, the findings suggest that aesthetic values have experienced the least damage compared to other values, while urban values have suffered the most, with many urban development capabilities of the bazaar severely damaged or lost due to contemporary developments. Architectural values have also been impacted, though the damage was less severe compared to urban values. From the interviews, 160 codes related to tangible heritage values and 50 codes related to damages were identified. After categorization and removing duplicates, the codes were reduced to 118 and 22, respectively.

The interview results also confirmed the statistical findings, revealing that most of the remaining values of the bazaar are aesthetic, while many of the original urban and architectural values have suffered significant damage and continue to decline. If these issues are not addressed, these values will gradually deteriorate. The conclusion outlines practical solutions and recommendations for protecting and restoring the damaged urban, architectural, and aesthetic values of the Tabriz Bazaar by verifying the type of damage caused by the tangible valuesof the Tabriz Bazaar. It is expected that those working in architectural heritage protection will give greater consideration to the preservation and continuity of these historical-cultural identities, in light of the achievements and findings from studies in this field, to ensure that key heritage tourism sites in the region are not destroyed.