Javad Madani; Rahim Zare; Ahmad Mahmoudi
Abstract
Sports tourism is an important type of tourism that is growing and developing rapidly. Tourist destinations in the field of sports not only support sports tourism policies but also attend to environmental issues in a bid to promote green behaviors among tourists. This research aimed to investigate the ...
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Sports tourism is an important type of tourism that is growing and developing rapidly. Tourist destinations in the field of sports not only support sports tourism policies but also attend to environmental issues in a bid to promote green behaviors among tourists. This research aimed to investigate the role of sports tourism in promoting green behaviors among tourists in Ardabil Province. As a mixed methods research, the study relied on a sequential exploratory approach consisting of qualitative and quantitative phases. The methods of thematic analysis and survey were used to analyze the data. The first phase of the study involved interviewing experts in sports tourism, sports management, and behavior management through purposive sampling. The second phase used systematic sampling and the influential actors of the field as the statistical population, with 31 experts responding to the questionnaire. According to the research findings in the first phase, 36 basic themes, 15 organizing themes, and three global themes were extracted from the semi-structured interviews. In the second phase, the identified themes were approved by the experts as the factors affecting the role of sports tourism in promoting green behaviors among tourists. The study highlights that sports tourism not only creates macro social, cultural, and economic benefits for residents and visitors, but also has a significant contribution to green behaviors among tourists. Green behaviors, in addition to protecting the environment, have a positive impact on the development of sports tourism and can strengthen and develop pro-environmental attitudes among tourists, besides creating recreational experiences.Introduction Sport is an ever-evolving phenomenon, with new sport events emerging regularly. Organizations need to study specific aspects of sports in order to manage their resources more effectively. As one of the most important fields in this respect, sports tourism refers to those trips for recreational (non-commercial) reasons to participate in or observe sports activities outside one’s usual residence, with or without competitive goals. Sports tourism has gradually gained popularity in different countries, leading to the establishment of specialized sports tourism agencies in large cities and small local towns. Sports activities, such as beach volleyball, rock climbing, river tracking, etc., allow tourists to participate freely in the tourism process, Sports tourism is a low-cost recreational activity that can improve physical and mental health. Travelers from many countries are paying increasing attention to sports tourism, creating many sports activities in sightseeing spots and resorts, including mountain climbing, cycling, road running, river trekking, rock climbing, and swimming.The sports tourism industry is highly competitive. Implementing and managing sustainable tourism development programs and a greener competitive advantage in these areas provide potential benefits for sports tourism destinations. Nowadays, sports tourism destinations tend to take measures to attract tourists and increase the credibility of sports tourism. Sports tourism departments have taken steps towards the greening of tourists’ behaviors. In addition to economic, political, and cultural fields, sports tourism has attended to environmental issues and greening. Green behaviors among tourists can positively affect the host community as well as the environment. Destinations providing sports tourism can benefit by encouraging tourism service providers to develop green measures and strategies. Green behaviors among tourists can play a fundamental role. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate and analyze the role of sports tourism and its influential factors in promoting green behaviors among tourists. The present study aimed to investigate this issue in Ardabil Province, which has ten cities with sports tourism in several sports, such as skiing, rock climbing, mountaineering, river trekking, water sports, hiking, camping, etc. Considering the province’s pristine and beautiful nature, it is vital to promote green behaviors among tourists. Materials and MethodsAs an applied research based on a mixed methods design, the present study utilized a sequential exploratory approach involving both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Given more analytical weight, the first phase used the qualitative method of thematic analysis. Using tools such as semi-structured interviews, the study could obtain relevant codes. In an inductive approach (part to whole), the identified themes were categorized under basic, organizing, and global themes. During the second phase, the study employed the quantitative survey method, and each of the themes was sent to the experts for verification, review, and measurement of its components and assessment of its validity. The participants of the study were categorized separately for both phases. In the first phase, the purposeful sampling method was used to identify 11 experts in sports tourism, sports management, and behavior management, who participated in the study online. The second phase of the study used the influential actors in the field, who were mainly active in the academic and executive sectors. The second phase relied on the systematic sampling method, and 31 experts responded to the questionnaire. Results and DiscussionHaving examined the semi-structured interviews, the study identified 121 indicators, from which 36 basic themes, 15 organizing themes, and three global themes were extracted. Each organizing theme is the principal element and constituent of the global themes. The themes indicate that these factors influence and determine the role of sports tourism in promoting green behaviors among tourists in the host community. In the quantitative phase, the themes received values higher than the acceptable limit, which indicates the appropriateness of the measurement model. The theme of creating, supporting, and promoting pro-environmental behavior (among the global themes) and the theme of enhancement of environmentally responsible behaviors of sports tourists (among the organizing themes) had the most significant effect with values of 0.56 and 0.57, respectively. ConclusionSports tourism contributes to the host society’s economic growth, cultural promotion, and enrichment. It is also considered important in environmental protection and greening of tourists’ behaviors. Many countries use mechanisms such as sports tourism to green tourists’ behaviors in order to face challenging environmental issues and problems. The findings of the study can offer important practical implications for the stakeholders in the sports tourism industry. The relationship between tourists’ green behaviors and environmental behaviors in tourist destinations creates a specific context with opportunities. One of the most fundamental topics in the field was found to be the global theme of creating, supporting, and promoting pro-environmental behaviors, which plays an essential role in sports tourism by influencing tourists’ green behavioral intentions. This theme emphasizes the significance of participation and interaction of sports tourists with the host community in order to promote greener behaviors, which in turn makes green consumption and measures a necessary part of their daily life. Another global theme is sustainable green engagement and communication which stresses a multi-faceted relationship with tourists and the local community. Moving towards greener behaviors among sports tourists and creating green destinations is not just an objective but a systematic and extensive process that requires much attention. Environmental education through media (e.g., television, newspapers, internet, social media, etc.) is needed to teach professional environmental practices to travelers and non-travelers. The environmental education helps tourists understand the importance of green behaviors. Destinations can thus help educate tourists by familiarizing them with environmental protection information. These measures can create interaction and participation as critical and valuable measures in the field. The attempt at greening of behaviors can thus help create environmentally responsible behaviors among tourists. Concerning the organizing themes, the theme of enhancement of environmentally responsible behaviors of sports tourists had the highest path coefficient effect. Environmentally responsible behavior refers to the cases in which a person or a group of people follow actions or behaviors that control environmental impact and are highly responsive to the environment and its subsequent issues. In addition to the preservation of the environment, such behaviors are necessary to maintain the growth of sports tourism.
Sahar Pirjamadi; Morteza Motahhari; Mehdi Karoubi; Ahmad Mahmoudi
Abstract
Introduction
The tourism industry, as the largest and most diverse industry in the world, is nowadays considered an essential source of income and an influential factor in cultural exchanges between countries. Many developed and developing countries consider this dynamic industry as the primary source ...
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Introduction
The tourism industry, as the largest and most diverse industry in the world, is nowadays considered an essential source of income and an influential factor in cultural exchanges between countries. Many developed and developing countries consider this dynamic industry as the primary source of income, job creation, private sector growth, and infrastructure development (Camilleri, 2018). Sport is also a significant and important industry in the current world. The integration of sports and tourism creates one of the most impressive modern service industries, namely the sports tourism industry (Cho et al., 2019). Gibson defines sports tourism as leisure-based travel in which people temporarily leave their homes to play or watch physical activities or see the attractions associated with those activities (Amin-Rostamkolaee & Poursoltani, 2019). The important point worthy of attention is the fact the climate of each region has a significant impact on drawing the future lines of tourism development. The multiple capabilities of receiving tourists in different areas and regions throughout the year pave the way for increasing tourism capacity, especially sports tourism (Karimi et al., 2018). In this regard, the free trade, industrial, and economic zones in Iran have unique capabilities for investment and planning in sports tourism, considering their favorable climate and various attractions and natural landscapes. Due to their special geographical and climatic location, most of these areas have ecological potential for attracting tourists, including pristine beaches, anticlines, and synods (Savadi et al., 2019). Therefore, tourism marketing for a country or a region is essential since marketing can provide potential tourists with information about what the region can offer, thus encouraging them to visit it (Nekmahmud et al., 2020). As one of the main pillars of the national development process, the sports tourism industry requires specific missions, visions, strategies, and policies, especially in free trade zones. In their research, Szemkovics et al., (2018) concluded that cultural-tourist indicators in an area increase the likelihood of investing in those areas. Kodirovna et al., (2020) stated that advertising in tourism is intended not only to attract tourists but also to create a clear and positive image of tourists, so advertising helps tourists to get acquainted with the place before a personal visit. Concerning the obstacles to the development of sports tourism, Abedi et al., (2021) refer to infrastructure as a matter of the utmost importance. Moreover, holding festivals and competitions of water and beach sports were identified as new strategies for developing sports tourism. Free trade zones with favorable climatic conditions, beautiful nature, and historical monuments and natural sites have many capabilities for establishing tourist activities, especially in the realm of sports. Every free zone also has its own special sports and sports competitions that can increase the number of tourists, including spectators, participants and organizers, and others.
Materials and Methods
As an applied research, the present article relies on the qualitative and exploratory method, coupled with the field method used to obtain data. The study explores and identifies the marketing feasibility indicators of sports tourism development in free trade, industrial, and economic zones in Iran. The statistical population of the study included all experts and knowledgeable individuals in the sports tourism industry; experts and professors in sports management with scientific and research backgrounds in sports tourism; tourism managers in free trade, industrial and economic zones; and scientists who had the necessary expertise related to the research. The research conducted a purposeful sampling to achieve an appropriate sample.
Results and Discussion
Twenty-one interviews with experts were conducted and then analyzed by MAXQDA software. A total of 341 primary identifiers were extracted. Having summarized and merged the identifiers that were semantically and conceptually common, the study identified a total of 145 identifiers categorized under 23 main categories and seven general concepts, as described below. The identified concepts and the relevant categories are as follows: 1) Promotion and advertising of tourist attractions (application of new digital and communication technologies, specialized and professional approach to advertising, environmental advertising, written and tangible advertising, virtual social media, and national media); 2) readiness and capacity-building in attracting domestic and foreign tourists (cultural and social capacity-building, management of tourist attractions, advertising and marketing, provision of quality of desirable services, support and reception from the private sector and investors); 3) stakeholder integration (local residents, government support for investment, and interaction and cooperation between organizations); 4) market risk acceptance (market risk, economic capacities, and free zones trade); 5) recognition of infrastructural and natural capacities (infrastructural facilities, natural attraction facilities, historical monuments, and support facilities); 6) past experiences and approaches (innovative and modern experiences and negative experiences); 7) experiences of neighboring countries in tourism development (successful experiences).
Conclusion
Among the mentioned components, the most frequent one is natural attraction facilities, which is consistent with the findings in Szemkovics et al. (2018). Their research concluded that cultural-tourist indicators in an area increase the likelihood of investing in those areas. Concerning the crystallization of sport as a need, sports tourism development, and its largest share in service industries in the world with further specialization, tourism nowadays provides the opportunity for every destination area to benefit from tourism. At the heart of this development, sports tourism can lead to new job opportunities as well as employment of women and the youth in activities related to the industry. Tourism potentialities are unique assets for each country, it is thus important to identify, classify, and plan for sports tourism. In fact, sports tourism requires comprehensive and efficient planning. At the same time, free trade zones, due to their unique features and capabilities, possess high potential for the development of the sports tourism industry. In this respect, the first economic effect of tourism is an increase in income for local residents in tourist areas, be it individual or collective income. The results of the present study suggest that the managers of Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism (including managers of investment, infrastructure and sample tourism areas, domestic tourism development, monitoring and evaluation of tourism services, cultural heritage and tourism free zones), of Ministry of Sports and Youth, of the organizations and relevant and influential departments and agencies (e.g., municipalities and decision makers) develop the tourism infrastructure in free zones concerning tourism hotels, transportation, etc.; improve the quality of existing infrastructure to increase tourist satisfaction and attract more tourists; establish recreational and sports complexes; pay more attention to areas with lower sports tourism infrastructure, to the establishment of special headquarters for sports tourism, training and recruitment of creative sports tourism specialists to maintain this national capital in Iran; increase funding for sports tourism in free zones; increase social and cultural security, prepare comprehensive and creative sports tourism plans in free zones; consistently publish books, articles, catalogs and photos of sports tourism attractions in free zones; pay attention to the growth and development of natural and urban environments, including natural attractions; use marketing and advertising techniques; conduct needs analysis; focus on purposeful activity of sports delegations in free zones; hold sports competitions organized by sports federations and hosted by free zones; and use the experiences of other prosperous countries.
Mehdi Karoubi; Ahmad Mahmoudi; Peyman Seyyedi
Abstract
The aim of present study is to investigate the effect of constraints on themotivation of ski resort tourists. The population includes all of ski resort touristsin Shemshak and Tochal stations which has attended in sports at least threetimes in the year. Regarding to unfeasibility of certain population ...
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The aim of present study is to investigate the effect of constraints on themotivation of ski resort tourists. The population includes all of ski resort touristsin Shemshak and Tochal stations which has attended in sports at least threetimes in the year. Regarding to unfeasibility of certain population and uncertainsize, the sample size was determined through Cochran formula (N=141). Thedata were gathered by Wei (2008) questionnaire. Reliability was tested throughAlpha Cronbach for constraints and motivation as 0.756 and 0.898, respectively.In order to analyze the data, descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation)and inferential statistics (Kolmogorov, Smirnoff, correlation coefficient ofPearson, and multi-various linear Regression) were used at the level of P≤0.05.The results showed that there was meaningful reverse relationship betweenconstraints and its dimensions and motivation of ski resort tourists (r- 0.362,P=0.001). Also, the interpersonal factors (t=2.251, B=0.247) and structuralfactors (t=2.331, B=0.238) were the most effective predictors. Therefore,regarding to the results, facilitating the tourists’ attendance through trainingand taking advantage of experiences in the field of ski and resolving structuralconstraints in order to provide security for tourists is so important for enhancingtheir motivation and continuous attendance in sky resorts
