نشریه فضای گردشگری
پیاپی 47 (تابستان 1402)

The tourism economy serves as the most effective stimulus for countries grappling with an inefficient economy, often caused by overreliance on a single product or limited income sources. Tourism development stands out as a key strategy for fostering economic and social transformation in regions worldwide, consistently attracting the attention of researchers and planners. Iran’s free and special economic zones offer a wide array of tourism opportunities. One such example is the Aras Free Zone in East Azarbaijan province, which, owing to its temperate climate and diverse tourist attractions, attracts a substantial number of tourists and travelers each year. The statistical population for this research comprised 75 residents of the surrounding areas, as well as city officials and experts. The research data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test and Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The results revealed that the following factors (in descending order) have the highest ranks: road and communication infrastructure, access to water, access to residences and guest houses, gas infrastructure, access to sports facilities, access to food and nutrition services, access to suitable communication facilities, setting up exhibitions, access to suitable facilities for leisure, transportation suitable for land and intra-city transportation, and appropriate information and advertising.

Ecotourism destinations and traditional residences within the historical context of Iranian cities represent new opportunities for transferring the heritage of food culture through tourism. These locales play a pivotal role in transmitting local cultural experiences, and the provision of tourism services in these places demands specific terms and conditions to achieve this objective. Food service stands out as one of the most vital services that have not been adequately designed by relevant institutions with specific criteria and features in mind. This research aims to investigate the impact of ecotourism residences on food tourism in Masuleh city. To accomplish this, a set of data collection methods aimed at description and analysis were employed. A researcher-designed questionnaire, consisting of two parts, was used. The first part included demographic questions, such as age, gender, and education, among others. The second and principal part of the questionnaire contained questions based on key indicators, assessed using a five-point Likert scale. Dimitl’s technique was applied to examine the research’s conceptual model. The correlation analysis of indicators revealed a negative relationship between the quantity of ecotourism accommodations and their quality. A positive relationship with a coefficient of 0.005 was found between the quantity of ecotourism accommodations and the development of food tourism, and a positive relationship with a coefficient of 0.000 was observed between the quality of ecotourism accommodations and tourism development.

This research is applied in terms of its purpose and employs a mixed research approach. The data collection methods used are of the descriptive survey type, and the nature of the data is both qualitative and quantitative. Initially, the research involved conducting library studies and interviews with experts in the fields of sports marketing management, sports tourism, and tourism marketing management. The objective was to identify effective elements within the sustainable marketing mix specific to the Iranian sports tourism industry. Subsequently, based on the identified elements, the primary components of the sustainable marketing mix in Iran’s sports tourism industry were categorized. This categorization was accomplished through a survey of experts within a Delphi group, who assisted in identifying items that explain each of the main components of the sustainable marketing mix in the sports tourism industry of Iran. Following this, a research questionnaire was created and distributed among the statistical population. In the qualitative part of the research, coding, summarizing, filtering, and Delphi techniques were employed to extract raw data. In the quantitative part, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess the degree of alignment between the theoretical and experimental structures, utilizing Smart PLS software. The findings revealed a total of 104 items involved in the sustainable marketing mix within Iran’s sports tourism industry, categorized into 10 sustainable marketing mixes, including product, price, promotion, distribution and location, positioning and physical evidence, human resources and individuals, planning and management, principles, promise, and partnership.

This research adopts a mixed-methods approach to develop and validate a tool for measuring the antecedents of customer engagement, focusing on a dual-value perspective. To achieve this, the researchers initially conducted a Meta-Synthesis analysis of studies conducted on this topic from 2000 to 2020, extracting the antecedents of customer engagement. Based on these findings, a questionnaire was formulated, and its validity and reliability were confirmed. The questionnaire was subsequently administered to customers of 5-star hotels in Mashhad and Tabriz. To validate the indicators, the researchers employed the structural equation method (SEM) and utilized PLS software. The research findings revealed the identification of two key components, namely customer resources and company resources, along with 26 specific indicators, comprising the foundational elements of the tool for measuring the antecedents of customer engagement in the hotel industry.

The methodology employed in this research is descriptive-analytical with an applied goal. To gather information, both documentary (library) and survey methods have been utilized. The statistical population consists of 400 tourists who visited geotourism attractions in Golestan province, with a particular focus on locations such as Naftliche geysers, Qaniariq Tepe, Inche Barun, and Gamishan city in Golestan province during the year 1401. The sample size for this research was determined to be 197 individuals based on the calculation using Cochran’s formula. Cluster random sampling was the method used for selecting the participants. Data collection was done through the use of a questionnaire. To analyze the data, inferential tests related to the research objectives, such as binomial T-test and multivariate regression analysis, were employed. The research findings demonstrate that geotourism has a significant impact on various dimensions of sustainable tourism indicators (including economic, social, cultural, political, technological, and ecological aspects), as well as its ability to attract tourists to rural areas within Golestan province.

Creative tourism, a form of cultural tourism, has the potential to foster economic, social, and cultural development in tourist destinations. The objective of this research is to elucidate the status of creative tourism and its impact on the economic development of Paveh city. The necessary data were collected through a questionnaire, and the analysis was done using one-sample t-test, Friedman test, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis. The results of the one-sample t-test revealed that the significance level for all five indicators is lower than the 5% error threshold, indicating that the average score for all five creative tourism indicators in Paveh city exceeds 3. Additionally, Friedman’s test for ranking the indicators demonstrated a significant difference among creative tourism indicators, signifying varying degrees of importance among them. Pearson’s correlation coefficients indicated a significant and positive relationship between creative tourism and economic development indicators. Furthermore, the investigation into the impact of creative tourism on the economic development of Paveh city, using the regression coefficient, revealed a strong correlation (R=0.622) between the extent of creative tourism and economic development. With a t-value of 9.862 and a significance level of 0.000, it can be concluded that creative tourism, with a beta coefficient of 0.622, has a notable impact on the economic development of Paveh city.

The current article is done with the aim of investigating the effects of tourism on social capital. Today, tourism has become widespread and has become a science, and its widespread causes deep effects and problems. On the other hand, social capital is necessary for the development of any country. Every country and society needs planning in the field of social capital in order to be able to follow the ways of cultural and economic development and evolution. Social capital is also affected by factors, one of which is tourism. In this research, a semi-guided interview method has been used. Our statistical population is the people of Shahr Kashan and our sample size is people aged 15-60 living or working in Fin and Vanyaser areas. The obtained results show that social capital and tourism have a significant relationship and social capital has been affected by tourism in some components. The current article

Given that a significant portion of Iran comprises desert landscapes, desertification presents an opportunity for local businesses and economic activities to thrive. Consequently, this research aims to investigate the individual and social factors influencing the adoption of desert sports tourism among students at Mazandaran University. The research employed the Alam Talab questionnaire (2014) as its primary tool, the validity of which was established through the input of sports tourism experts, and its reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.88. Statistical analysis was conducted using the SPSS version 26 and PLS version 4. The results indicated that the model, with a coefficient of determination (R-squared) value of 0.114, fits as a weak model, suggesting that individual and social factors do not significantly influence the adoption of desert sports tourism among Mazandaran University students. To enhance the appeal of desert sports tourism, it is recommended to engage in effective media advertising, improve safety and security measures, offer tours with suitable and affordable amenities, and enhance the overall attractiveness of desert sports tourism to potential participants.