نشریه فضای گردشگری
پیاپی 52 (پاییز 1403)

The purpose of this research was to investigate the geotourism potential of Khalkhal in Ardabil Province. A case study was conducted on six areas: Haft Khaneh Cave, Nareh Gar Waterfall, Asalem-Khalkhal Road, Aznav Spring, Andbil, and Pirtaghi Suspension Bridge. The methods used in the research were the Feylot method and the Hadzik methods. The results of the Hadzik model showed that, based on the scientific value, surplus, and vulnerability as evaluated by experts and visitors to the geotourism sites, the areas were ranked as follows: Haft Khaneh Cave (36.093), Narehgar Waterfall (47.895), Asalem-Khalkhal Road (49.248), Aznav Spring (67.691), Andbil (28.965), and Pirtaghi Suspension Bridge (39.944). The highest score in this model was attributed to Aznav Spring. The results of the Feylot model indicated that, based on the sub-indices studied, the geotourism area of Asalem-Khalkhal Road received the highest score (25.11), with the other studied areas ranked accordingly. It is concluded that Aznav Spring, Asalem-Khalkhal Road, and Narehgar Waterfall have greater potential for the development of geotourism compared to the other areas.

Tourism potential is one of the unique assets of each country and region, and its identification, classification, and planning for tourism development are crucial. In recent decades, particularly since the 1990s, rural tourism development has gained increasing importance due to agricultural recession and the challenges faced by rural communities. This research aims to investigate the rural tourism potential of the Razaq district of Darab. Both documentary and field studies were used to collect information and data. Initially, data were gathered on various aspects of the region, including climatic parameters, geomorphology, geology, hydrogeology, and human-environment interactions. Necessary maps were created, including those for temperature, rainfall, hours of sunshine, erosion, slope, geology, faults, groundwater, surface waters, land use, communication lines, protected areas, and population centers. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used to analyze the data. Based on the gathered information, the study examines the attractions, facilities, services, and the current tourism status in the region. The TOPSIS model was then applied to rank and assess the tourism potential of the Razaq district. The results of the research indicated that the village of Layzangan, with a TOPSIS score of 612, was selected as the primary tourism site in the Razaq district.

Obstacles to the participation of women in tourism jobs, particularly in management positions, have been a persistent challenge for the industry worldwide, and especially in Iran. The aim of this study was to identify the challenges women face in career development within the tourism industry by examining the mediating role of organizational commitment. To conduct this research, the challenges hindering the advancement of women working in the tourism industry were investigated using a background study. These challenges were then transformed into a structured system using the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) technique. To validate the resulting structural system, structural equation modeling was applied using SmartPLS3 software. The statistical population of this research consisted of experts, managers, and women working in the tourism sector in Iran, with data collected from a total of 117 participants. The study found that individual, social, and occupational-organizational factors indirectly affect women's career progression through the mediation of organizational commitment. The results indicated that the challenge of establishing a balance between work and personal life has the greatest impact on women's career advancement and should be prioritized in policies and programs related to gender. This research also proposes directions for future studies to enhance the methodological aspects and empirical evidence in this field. Notably, no study has been conducted in Iran focusing on career advancement and job promotion for women in the tourism and hospitality industry.

This study aimed to investigate the key factors influencing the development of tourism in Al Muthanna Province based on sustainable development principles. The research is framed within the context of survey research. The statistical population included the experts, managers, and specialists in the urban tourism sector working in Al Muthanna Province, Iraq. A purposive sampling method was used to select 20 participants for the study. It is important to note that the content validity ratio (CVR) method was used to assess the validity of the ISM questionnaire. The results of the ISM model analysis revealed that factors such as improving the transportation system and communication infrastructure, developing amenities, enhancing the quality of services and infrastructure, and increasing social security are key dependent or influencing variables. These factors are themselves influenced by many other factors and have limited capacity to serve as the foundation for other variables. Variables such as investing in the development and modernization of information technology infrastructure, removing cultural and religious restrictions for foreign tourists, and creating leisure and entertainment centers are among the linked variables that possess high influence and power. The factors of international presence through advertising, attracting foreign investment for tourism development, and formulating short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans to increase public security are key independent variables with high influence but lower dependence.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of hotel social responsibility on customer loyalty, considering the mediating roles of hotel reputation, customer satisfaction, and trust, as well as the moderating role of hotel management ability. The research employed a descriptive-correlational survey method with an applied focus. A questionnaire was used as the research tool to measure the variables of social responsibility, customer loyalty, satisfaction, trust, reputation, and hotel management ability. The structural equation modeling technique (SEM) was applied to test the hypotheses. The results revealed that hotel social responsibility had a significant effect on hotel reputation, customer satisfaction, and trust among hotel guests. Additionally, customer satisfaction and trust were found to significantly influence customer loyalty. However, hotel management ability did not moderate the relationship between social responsibility and customer loyalty. Lastly, the study demonstrated that customer trust and satisfaction play mediating roles in the relationship between social responsibility and customer loyalty.

Smart tourism is a newly emerging concept that highlights the growing reliance of tourism destinations on advanced information and communication technologies. Given the importance of this topic, this study aims to identify the factors influencing the development of smart tourism in the Azad region. The research adopts a descriptive-exploratory approach, with the statistical population comprising experts familiar with the development of smart tourism and the Aras Free Zone. Using the snowball sampling method, 10 experts were selected as the research sample. Structural-Interpretive Modeling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis were employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that out of 33 initially identified factors, 22 were finalized as the key contributors to smart tourism development. Among these, six critical factors were identified: budget allocation, regional tourism potential, tourist needs assessment, e-government infrastructure, policymaking, and planning. These factors were deemed most influential in driving the development of smart tourism in the Aras Free Zone.

Tourism has become a vital component of development strategies in many countries, playing an active and effective role in improving the economic, social, and cultural structures, especially in developing nations. In this context, neighborhood-oriented housing provision has gained increasing importance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of neighborhood-based housing provision on tourism development with an environmental approach in the city of Arak. The research is applied in purpose and employs both field methods (questionnaires) and documentary methods (library studies) for data collection. The research sample included tourism officials and operators in the studied area (15 people), operators, employees, and activists in tourism (8 people), geography and tourism experts (5 people), civil engineering experts (3 people), water resources engineering experts (3 people), and professors and researchers with experience or knowledge in Arak tourism (6 people), resulting in 40 completed questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the Iranian matrix method (Leopold modified Makhdoom, 2017). The results showed that the effects of housing provision on tourism in Arak have minimal negative environmental effects. In fact, the findings highlight that neighborhood-based housing provision not only avoids significant environmental harm but can also contribute positively to tourism development. Therefore, it is essential to minimize negative effects while leveraging this potential for economic and social development.

Tourism is the third-largest industry in the world, and its interaction with the environment has exacerbated environmental issues in tourist villages, such as soil degradation, pollution, land use changes, and rising land prices. Given the close connection between villages and nature, the need to protect the environment is evident. Environmental challenges are among the social issues that are tangible and measurable. This research aims to examine the positive and negative environmental effects of tourism in the village of the historical city of Radkan. The study is descriptive, analytical, and applied in purpose, utilizing a survey-based approach through a researcher-made questionnaire designed on a Likert scale. The statistical population consisted of 300 individuals, selected as the sample size using Cochran’s formula. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS software, while GIS software was employed to prepare maps. Since the indicators lacked a normal distribution, the one-sample Wilcoxon test was used for analysis. The results indicated that factors such as environmental pollution and land use changes are among the negative impacts of tourism in Radkan villages, with responses significantly deviating from the neutral value of 3, highlighting the destructive effects of these factors. Conversely, factors such as the sanitary collection of garbage and waste and the protection of nature and the surrounding environment were rated positively, with medians higher than 3, reflecting their beneficial effects as perceived by respondents. Using the Friedman non-parametric test, the ranking of environmental factors showed that “natural landscapes,” “clean air,” and “agricultural and historical attractions” were recognized as the most important positive environmental factors of tourism. Based on these findings, practical recommendations are provided to mitigate negative effects and enhance positive outcomes.