tourism management
Ayoub Pazhouhan; SHahin Behvar; Hojat alah Maleki
Abstract
The current research was conducted to design and explain the development model of creative rural tourism in the target villages of Kermanshah province. The research is of a qualitative type and based on database theorizing. The studied community comprised villagers of tourism target villages, managers ...
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The current research was conducted to design and explain the development model of creative rural tourism in the target villages of Kermanshah province. The research is of a qualitative type and based on database theorizing. The studied community comprised villagers of tourism target villages, managers of ecotourism houses, village councils, local experts, university professors in the field of tourism, and key informants. Sampling has been done using targeted and snowball methods. Based on this, 23 interviews were conducted with the research participants, and theoretical saturation was achieved in 19 interviews. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's strategy. In order to measure the validity and respect the qualitative features of the research, accreditation, and data during the interviews, Lincoln and Goba's four criteria (credibility, transferability, reliability, and verifiability) were used. The reliability of the research was calculated using Holstein's reliability formula (82%). The results of the inductive content analysis identified 120 primary codes, 32 central codes, and six factors during three open, central, and selective coding procedures. Finally, the model of creative rural tourism was designed and presented, in which "creative rural tourism" was selected as the central phenomenon affected by the causal factors of the research. Contextual and intervening factors, together with the central phenomenon, shaped creative rural tourism development strategies and consequences such as increasing private sector investments, driving income from cities to villages, preventing migration to cities, increasing employment rates, returning to villages and cultural development, and a sense of cooperation were identified in the area.IntroductionRaymond and Richards presented the first definition of creative tourism in 2000. They described it as follows: "A type of tourism that gives visitors the opportunity to develop their creative potential through active participation in the learning and experiences they gain from the characteristics of the destination." The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defined the concept of creative tourism as follows: Creative tourism is travel that leads to an engaging and authentic experience, with participatory learning in the art, heritage, or special features of a place. It is directed and provides a proper connection with those who live in this place and create this living culture. In Kermanshah province, 14 villages are the target of tourism; for example, we can mention the villages of Kandoleh, Piran, Shalan, Shamshir, Hajij, Khaneqah, and Najobran. Considering the many benefits that the booming tourism industry can bring to the province and the target villages of tourism, it is necessary to pay more attention to the tourism industry in this province, as it can be said that this industry can, in addition to turning the province into the tourism pole can provide one of the axes of all-round development of the province. Therefore, the current research is looking for a way to promote tourism in rural areas to achieve sustainable development by spending less money and using local facilities, and to achieve this goal, creative tourism in rural areas has been investigated. According to the above information and the tourism potential of Kermanshah province, especially the target villages for tourism in this region, they can create conditions that attract domestic and foreign travelers and tourists and provide employment. It will raise the area and ultimately boost the business. Finally, this research seeks to answer the question, what is the pattern of creative tourism in the target villages of Kermanshah province, and what dimensions and components does it consist of?Materials and MethodsThe current research is qualitative in terms of paradigm, developmental-applicative in terms of purpose, and exploratory and ground-theoretical in terms of method. The community of the research studied was comprised of experts in creative tourism. Based on this, 23 semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants using purposeful sampling. The data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin’s systematic approach. In order to analyze the data, three types of coding are used, which include open coding (creating concepts and categories), axial coding (identifying the core category, causal conditions, contextual and environmental conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and consequences) and selective coding (creation of theory). In order to measure the validity and comply with the qualitative features of the research, validation, accuracy, and robustness of the data, the four criteria of Lincoln and Goba, such as reliability, transferability and appropriateness, reliability and stability, and verifiability, were used. The reliability of the research was also calculated using Holsti’s coefficient of reliability formula, and 82% was obtained, indicating adequate reliability. ResultsThe results of coding are summarized in Table 1. Table 1. Components of Creative Rural Tourism Development Paradigm Model Categorical clusterMain CategoriesSubcategoriesA central phenomenonDevelopment of creative rural tourismNatural capacitiesAttracting touristsCausal conditionsCommunication between policymakers and practitionersCreating communication circlesFormation of specialized associations Participation of activists and stakeholdersBackground conditionsCultural and social barriersCultural differencesLittle awareness of the hosts about the needs and wants of touristsTourists' lack of awareness of the hosts' cultureCultural barriersIntervening conditionsNot using the Internet and virtual spaceLimited facilitiesNon-use of technologyAbsence of presence in virtual spaceCompeting companiesLack of suitable conditionsStrategiesDevelopment strategiesScientific development of tourismAdvertisingAttention to the interests of touristsAttention to the relative advantages of the regionDevelopment of rural tourism infrastructureCultivationEducationExhibitingConsequencesEconomic, social and cultural developmentIncrease in private sector investmentsMoving income from urban to rural areasPrevent migration to cities.Increase the employment rate.Return to the village (reverse migration)Cultural development and a sense of cooperation in the regionResearch findings. Conclusions Based on the research findings, government planners and private companies should consider creative rural tourism due to its role and importance in increasing employment and sustainable rural development. Therefore, in the tourism target villages of Kermanshah province, by creating suitable infrastructures and providing welfare and recreational services for travelers, conditions can be created that attract domestic and foreign travelers and tourists, increase employment in these areas, and ultimately lead to prosperity. Small and medium businesses in the mentioned areas. In this regard, using the basic theory, the current research investigated the influential factors on the development of creative rural tourism.Summarizing the findings of the qualitative part of the research confirms the fact that by creating communication links between policymakers and the local people of the region, changing the structure of tourism in the region, providing a suitable platform, and identifying tourism capacities in the region and its development in different dimensions (employment, quality of life, preservation of cultural and historical heritage, increase in health level), the ground for creating creative rural tourism in Kermanshah province is provided. However, among these limiting factors are laws and regulations, educational barriers, lack of specialized human resources, organizational and structural barriers, and more Internet and virtual space to advertise and introduce the region to tourists. Strategies and measures that can work in this field include the scientific development of tourism and the use of scientific technology and tools, advertising and introducing the tourist area, creating motivation and paying attention to the interests of tourists, paying attention to the relative advantages of the region, developing rural tourism infrastructure, creating culture, training and holding exhibitions to introduce products. Moreover, the local production of the tourism area, if these measures are realized, the private sector investments will happen in these areas, the result of which is an increase in the employment rate and driving the income to the villages, and a decrease in the migration rate from the village to the city, and an increase Migration is counterproductive and creates cultural development and a sense of cooperation in the region.
tourism management
Ayoub Pazhouhan; Moslem Fallahi
Abstract
Religious tourism, a branch of cultural tourism, can stimulate development, especially in rural areas. This research was conducted to conceptualize a religious tourism development model emphasizing the holy sites of Kermanshah province. The research approach was of qualitative and Grounded Theory type; ...
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Religious tourism, a branch of cultural tourism, can stimulate development, especially in rural areas. This research was conducted to conceptualize a religious tourism development model emphasizing the holy sites of Kermanshah province. The research approach was of qualitative and Grounded Theory type; the research sample comprised experts in the field of religious tourism. Accordingly, 16 semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants using the purposeful sampling method. The four criteria of Lincoln and Guba, including credibility, transferability, reliability, and verifiability, were used to measure the validity and comply with the qualitative research features, validation, accuracy, and robustness of the data. The reliability of the research was also assessed using the test-retest reliability method, with 77% reliability. Strauss and Corbin’s systematic approach analyzed data. Through three open, central, and selective coding procedures, the content analysis results yielded 71 concepts, 14 sub-categories, and six main categories. Finally, the paradigmatic religious tourism development model was presented, in which the development of religious tourism was chosen as the central phenomenon affected by the causal conditions of the research. Contextual and intervening conditions and the central phenomenon formed religious tourism development strategies, and economic, cultural, and social development outcomes were obtained. In the end, practical suggestions were presented for developing religious tourism in Kermanshah province.Introduction"Religious tourism" is one of the oldest forms of tourism and plays an important role in the history of tourism development. Religious tourism includes people who travel for religious or spiritual purposes and visit religious places or participate in religious activities and festivals. In other words, religious tourism refers to all types of trips made with voluntary religious motivation, without pay, and for a limited period.Kermanshah province, with 16,550 sacred places and monuments, is one of the provinces with the potential to attract religious tourists. Despite the potential and attractions that Kermanshah province has in the field of tourism in general and religious tourism in particular, the category of religious tourism in this province should be addressed more. This matter has been neglected from the point of view of the trustees and planners of the matter.This research aims to develop a religious tourism development model with an emphasis on blessed and religious places and locations in Kermanshah province to creat employment and reduce the unemployment rate. So, the current study seeks to answer this question, what kind of model does Kermanshah province has for the development of religious tourism with an emphasis on blessed and religious places?Materials and MethodsThe current research is qualitative in terms of paradigm, developmental-applicative in terms of purpose, and exploratory and ground-theoretical in terms of method. The studied community of the research was made up of experts in the field of religious tourism. Based on this, 16 semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants using the purposeful sampling method. The data were analyzed using the systematic approach of Strauss and Corbin. In order to analyze the data, three types of coding were used, which include open coding (creating concepts and categories), axial coding (identifying the core category, causal conditions, contextual and environmental conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and consequences) and selective coding (creation of theory). In order to measure the validity and comply with the qualitative features of the research, validation, accuracy, and robustness of the data, the four criteria of Lincoln and Goba, such as reliability, transferability and appropriateness, reliability and stability, and verifiability, were used. The reliability of the research was also calculated using the test-retest reliability method, and 77% was obtained.ResultsConclusions The resulting Paradigm Model identified welfare and religious attractions as "causal conditions." The mentioned factors are the factors that make the development of religious tourism necessary and inevitable. Religious tourism development strategies include promotional strategies, infrastructural strategies, collaborative strategies, and human resource strategies that are affected by factors such as advertising management and integrated tourism management as "intervening conditions" And "background conditions" such as residents' attitude about the consequences of tourism and residents' attitude towards religious and cultural responsibilities towards pilgrims and tourists. Finally, the development of religious tourism leads to the emergence of "consequences of the development of religious tourism," such as "economic development," such as an increase in rial and foreign exchange income and the prosperity of the tax system, creating job opportunities for the local people of the province, expanding commercial and welfare centers around religious attractions. The province, the prosperity of local industries and products of the province, the employment of women and students on a part-time basis, and the attraction of domestic and foreign capital to the province; and "cultural and social development" such as cultural interaction and expansion of cultural exchanges of the province, strengthening of religious thinking among the local community of the province, awareness of the local community of cultural-religious assets, sense of pride of the local community in cultural-religious assets, strengthening of cultural character and increasing respect pilgrims are given the opportunity to strengthen religious and Islamic culture and rites between guilds and trades, and to revive local-religious traditions and manners. Based on the research findings, somepractical suggestions are presented to develop religious tourism in Kermanshah province
