Tourism planning
Mohammad Hasan Zaal; Pedram Faehadi; nazanin tabrizi
Abstract
The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the criteria for establishing a cultural heritage village in the Firuzabad World Heritage Site. The research methodology employed is descriptive-analytical, utilizing documentary studies, field surveys, and researcher-designed questionnaires. The tourism community ...
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The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the criteria for establishing a cultural heritage village in the Firuzabad World Heritage Site. The research methodology employed is descriptive-analytical, utilizing documentary studies, field surveys, and researcher-designed questionnaires. The tourism community was chosen as the target population, with a sample size of 350 individuals. Quantitative data processing was conducted using structural equation modeling. Findings reveal satisfactory criteria for the heritage village in the Firuzabad World Heritage Site, yet challenges such as insufficient comprehensive and comparative studies, management issues, and planning are evident. Infrastructure and travel industry necessities play a crucial role as facilitators of the heritage village's functionality but differ from global standards and require investment based on field evidence. Local community support for heritage village-related activities is vital, and educating and raising awareness within this community about the benefits of the tourism industry can ensure practical backing for this project.
Tourism planning
hamid reza gohar rostami; Mojtaba Nakheinezhad; Yasamansadat Asl ahmadi
Abstract
Recreational-sports tourism as a branch of tourism can stimulate sustainable economic, social, and cultural development in the region. Gilan Province has an excellent potential to attract tourists with many tourist attractions and suitable weather conditions. Therefore, based on the fishbone diagram, ...
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Recreational-sports tourism as a branch of tourism can stimulate sustainable economic, social, and cultural development in the region. Gilan Province has an excellent potential to attract tourists with many tourist attractions and suitable weather conditions. Therefore, based on the fishbone diagram, this research investigated the quality barriers of leisure-sports tourism in Gilan Province. The research employed a descriptive-survey and practical approach conducted through field methods. The statistical population comprised recreational and sports tourists in Gilan Province, with a sample of 223 individuals selected through convenient sampling. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire utilizing a 5-point Likert scale. Ten physical education professors and experts confirmed face and content validity. The tool's reliability was established through Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α=0.93) and construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory). Data modeling and analysis were conducted using (PLS4) and (SPSS22) software. The findings revealed that, from the perspective of recreational and sports tourists in Gilan Province, the most significant obstacles among the seven dimensions (transportation and route, accommodation, return home, qualification and license, destination, activities, and reception and information) were identified as return home (5.50), destination (4.92), and residence (4.26). On the other hand, reception and information (2.86), qualification and licenses (3.25), and activities (3.54) were perceived as the least significant obstacles. Consequently, organizers and officials of recreational and sports tourism tours in Gilan Province should prioritize addressing these obstacles in each sector to enhance the overall quality of tourism experiences.IntroductionIn the contemporary era, tourism is pivotal in capturing widespread societal attention and representing a cornerstone of any country's economy. The tourism industry encompasses diverse dimensions, including recreational, medical, cultural, social, sports, religious, commercial, and political tourism, progressing rapidly. Sports tourism, formed by the integration of 'sports' and 'tourism,' is a particularly noteworthy type. In essence, sports become a crucial and almost constant activity for travelers, woven into the fabric of tourism experiences. Sports tourism entails journeys undertaken for non-commercial reasons, officially or unofficially, focusing on recreation or sports spectatorship. It encourages athlete participation, involves sporting or recreational events, occurs in the short term, and may unfold within or outside the country. In service industries such as tourism, the role of quality is paramount. The fishbone diagram serves as a valuable tool for quality management, systematically linking undesirable quality features of products or services to materials, processes, and methods for improvement. A cause-and-effect diagram is a precise tool to identify the root causes of organizational problems and obstacles by illustrating cause-and-effect relationships. With the increasing prominence of the tourism industry in sports, substantial academic research has been conducted. However, a more fruitful avenue may involve examining this field comparatively among countries with more advanced sports tourism practices. To comprehend the economic and revenue-generating aspects of the tourism industry, particularly in Gilan Province, renowned for its climatic diversity, historical attractions, and natural beauty, it attracts over five million visitors annually. Hence, this study focuses on the quality of the sports tourism industry, posing the main research question: What dimensions influence the quality of sports tourism in Gilan Province, and what are the obstacles within each dimension?MethodologyThis study aimed to investigate the quality barriers of recreational sports tourism in Gilan Province using the fishbone diagram. The research employed a descriptive and practical survey conducted through field methods. The statistical population comprised recreational and sports tourists in Gilan Province, with a sample of 223 individuals selected through convenient sampling. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire utilizing a five-point Likert scale. Ten physical education professors and experts confirmed face and content validity. The tool's reliability was established through Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α=0/93) and construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory). Data modeling and analysis were conducted using (PLS4) and (SPSS22) software.ResultsTo validate the factor structure of the questionnaire investigating obstacles to the quality of recreational-sports tourism in Gilan Province, two methods—exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis—were employed, guided by the cause-and-effect diagram. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test revealed that the significance level of all components in both leagues is less than 0/05 (α), signaling a non-normal data distribution. Consequently, non-parametric tests and structural equation modeling using Smart PLS version four were employed for testing statistical hypotheses related to them. Three types of validity (content validity, convergent validity (AVE), and discriminant validity) were utilized to confirm the validity of the measurement tool. Content validity was established through expert surveys, and questionnaire reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability coefficients. The measurement tool demonstrates adequate validity (content, convergent, and discriminant) and reliability, and the fit of the structural model of the research was confirmed. Results of the Friedman test indicated a significant difference between the effective dimensions of the obstacles to the quality of recreational and sports tourism. The priority of the obstacles, in order, includes returning home (5/50), destination (4/92), accommodation (4/26), transportation and route (3/67), activities (3/54), qualifications and permits (3/25), and information and reception (2/86). DiscussionIn light of Figure 5, which highlights the significance of all seven dimensions—transportation and route, accommodation, return home, qualifications and permits, destination, activities, and reception and information—strategic planning by relevant managers is crucial. Utilizing insights from factor analysis and the fishbone diagram, managers can prioritize these dimensions and allocate resources, emphasizing investments in human resources and infrastructure and enhancing the physical environment. Giving special attention to visual aspects, coupled with effective executive management, holds the potential to effectively address and eliminate the identified obstacles, thereby elevating the quality of recreational sports tourism.
Tourism planning
Somayeh Jahantigh mand
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate geo-tourism and geological protection strategies. The present research is applied in terms of purpose, and its method is combined (qualitative and quantitatively). The data collection and information collection tool and structured interview are structured. ...
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The purpose of this study is to investigate geo-tourism and geological protection strategies. The present research is applied in terms of purpose, and its method is combined (qualitative and quantitatively). The data collection and information collection tool and structured interview are structured. The statistical population of various experts has been in the relevant field of study in Lorestan Province. Seventy experts were selected by using a targeted sampling method. The unlimited exploration (Johannon method) test was used to identify and connect the strategies to geo-tourism elements of quality performance (QFD). The results of the study led to the identification of 36 strategies. So, 1) the most relevant strategies are those for protecting mountain landscapes, preserving national geo-parks and reserves, managing geographical heritage and documenting landscapes, introducing the economic values of geographical landscapes, and preventing pollution of the environmental and natural resources with the element of geographical perspective/geo-tourism. 2) Preserving land and preventing misuse of land, revitalizing geo-sites and damaged geological processes, ensuring the resiliency of tourist sites against natural disasters, introducing geological attractions and phenomena, and introducing geo-tourism areas with the highest geological background that have a relationship with geological processes. 3) Investment Strategies for the Construction of Infrastructure Facilities in the Geo-Citizens, drawing access routes to tourism attractions, using local customs and lifestyle in connection with the preservation of natural resources, and increasing public awareness to preserve the environment more closely related to tourism heritage have had the results of the oriented for the development of geo-tourism in Lorestan led to the identification of three types of short-term, medium and long-term orientation. Finally, recommendations and suggestions were made to achieve the goals of geo-tourism.IntroductionThe development of geo-tourism has many functions for local communities and is one of the appropriate solutions to deal with the problems of livelihood and unemployment. From the geocultural point of view, geo-tourism is considered a new way to develop less developed societies due to its economic efficiency. Although geo-tourism development has many benefits, the competitiveness of geo-tourism destinations and solving geo-tourism challenges and risks depends on several factors, including resources, demand conditions, management, marketing, and formulation of strategies for the destination. Developing a geo-tourism development strategy enables tourists to discover geo-sites, landscapes, and cultures and enjoy unique experiences of knowledge and sustainable development. In addition, formulating appropriate strategies can help improve the quality of life in the local community and turn destinations and areas with tourist attractions into a sustainable society. Also, developing geo-tourism strategies is a fundamental step in protecting the land and creating priorities in the management of tourist sites. Understanding and protecting landscapes, geology and geomorphology, geographic heritage, and experience of different features of geo-tourism are also promoted by formulating appropriate strategies. Therefore, it is necessary and necessary to identify the paths, strategies, and strategies of geo-tourism development to solve the challenges and sustainability of this type of tourism activities and future-oriented planning for its development.Research MethodologyThe purpose of this research is practical, and its method is combined (quantitative and qualitative). Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect information and data. Theoretical studies and the theoretical basis of the research were collected using the document-library method. This research collected information and data related to strategies for developing geo-tourism and geographical heritage in Lorestan Province through a Likert Scale questionnaire. The statistical community includes experts in various fields such as geography, tourism management, economics, social sciences, and sociology, as well as tourism specialists and elites/tour managers in Lorestan Province. Seventy samples were selected to complete the questionnaire and conduct interviews using purposeful sampling.Statistical methods (descriptive and inferential) were used to answer the research questions and analyze the data. In order to identify strategies and strategies for the development of geo-tourism in Lorestan Province, strategies and strategies for the protection of geo-tourism and geographical heritage were first identified through interviews and content analysis, and to determine the importance and prioritization of these strategies, an unlimited clustering rank test was used. Heuristic (Johansen method) was used. Then, the quality function mevelopment model (QFD) was used to investigate the importance and relationship of each geo-tourism development strategy and strategies with the critical elements of geo-tourism (geographic landscape, geological processes, tourism cultural heritage). FindingsThe exploratory unlimited co-accumulation rank test (Johansen's method) was used to investigate and analyze geo-tourism development strategies in Lorestan Province. In this test, according to special values (numerical value), while identifying and discovering the most important strategies, they can be ranked. For this, 33 strategies/strategies were considered and analyzed.Examining the Johanson test, according to the rejection of the null hypothesis at the 0.001 level, the test’s significance is considered among the 36 strategies for analyzing development strategies and strategies of geo-tourism and geographical heritage. It showed that, in order and according to the unique values, ten strategies and strategies for the protection of landscapes and mountain landscapes, waterfalls, springs, forests, pastures, and all-natural landscapes with a unique value (0.131), preserving land resources, and preventing the abuse of land resources related to tourism with a unique value (0.126), capital and investment attraction in the cultural sector and the education of native people and the promotion of tourism infrastructure with a unique value (0.123), determining the paths of development and preservation of geo-parks, national parks or reserves with a unique value (0.117), Construction of infrastructure facilities in the geo-site environment (road, residence, internet) with a unique value (0.113), restoration of the geo-site, and damaged geological processes with a special value (0.111) have been the most critical development strategies of geo-tourism and geographical heritage.Examining the Johanson test according to the rejection of the null hypothesis at the 0.005 level, the significance of the test showed that out of 36 strategies, ten strategies for preparing and increasing the resilience of tourism sites against natural and earth-building disasters (erosion, drift, creep) with a unique value (0.087) Increasing public awareness to participate in the environmental protection and tourism program with a unique value (0.084), environmental education of managers and local people and tourists themselves (0.079), recognizing and introducing the attractions and geological phenomena of the region to Tourists with a unique value (0.078), the most important critical and development strategies are geo-tourism and geographical heritage. Discussion and resultsLorestan Province in the west of the country is known as the geo-tourism capital due to its prominent cultural and local values, pristine and natural landscapes in the high Zagros, various waterfalls (it is nicknamed the land of waterfalls), and mountainous and important geological features. However, in recent years, tourism in this province has been declining after the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.The research results showed that in addition to the strategies and strategies for developing geo-tourism in Lorestan Province, the direction of future development and the prospect of geo-tourism development in Lorestan Province also needed to be developed. Based on the results, orientations have been presented in three short-term and present, medium-term, and long-term periods. So, the short-term orientation is more related to the development of geo-tourism products, the introduction of tourist attractions, and the protection of ecosystems, while the mid-term orientation is more related to investment in construction facilities and the development of geo-tourism facilities and infrastructures. And the expansion and cross-border development of geo-tourism in Lorestan Province. According to the findings, the general results of the research indicate that for the development of geo-tourism in Lorestan Province, development strategies should be used to diversify tourism types, develop unique geo-tourism products, and use geo-tourism tour programs. Be focused on these leaders. Also, the provided orientations can be used to complete the infrastructure, accommodation, and services in the tourist destination, education, and improvement and development of geo-tourism based on plans related to strategies and orientations.
Tourism planning
Ghasem Zarei; SeyedAli Naghavi
Abstract
Adequate comprehension of the challenges and influential elements of the religious tourism sector is necessary for its positive development. In this regard, the present research was conducted to present a model that can simulate the development of religious tourism in Yazd province by considering the ...
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Adequate comprehension of the challenges and influential elements of the religious tourism sector is necessary for its positive development. In this regard, the present research was conducted to present a model that can simulate the development of religious tourism in Yazd province by considering the influential factors. A mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) was carried out in this study, and the research method was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of nature. The statistical population of this research included 12 theoretical and experimental experts. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data with non-random and purposeful sampling. In the qualitative section, the main and sub-categories of religious tourism development in Yazd province were identified using the thematic analysis method. Then, in the quantitative part, the identified influential factors were prioritized using the interpretive structural modeling (ISM) method. Finally, the criteria obtained from the qualitative research analysis were simulated using the agent-based modeling (ABM) method. Based on the research results, 35 initial codes, 12 sub-themes, and six main themes (religious tourism policies, economic, infrastructure, environmental empowerment, marketing, and cultural) were identified. Religious tourism policies were recognized as the most influential factor. Also, the results showed that at the end of the simulation period, the rate of religious tourism development in Yazd Province had reached 70%. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that tourism managers give particular attention to the influential factors that have been identified as having a significant impact on the development of religious tourism.IntroductionTourism is one of the most significant social and economic phenomena of the modern era, a valuable instrument for achieving development. Religious tourism is among the oldest forms of tourism and the largest market segment for travel. Today, this type of tourism has been able to place itself in the context of global tourism due to its unique structural and functional features, so its sphere of influence covers the whole world (Ghaffari et al., 2022). The vast country of Iran also has blessed places, shrines, and many holy places, which has made it favorable for the development of religious tourism. For this reason, knowing the capacities of the country's provinces is one of the most important influencing factors, among which is Yazd Province, which also has excellent potential for developing religious tourism. Therefore, according to the explanations presented above, this research aims to present a model that can simulate the development of religious tourism in Yazd Province by considering critical factors with a future research approach so that it can play a positive role in helping managers develop religious tourism.Literature ReviewOne of the main types of tourism created to travel to religious locations and fulfill religious obligations is religious tourism (Jamshidi et al., 2019). Religious tourism can be considered the most sustainable type of tourism because pilgrimage and religious tourism have their roots in religious beliefs, and in its specialized sense and beyond dependence on time and leisure, it is an essential factor of human geography in shaping travel, creating concentration and numerous cultural perspectives (Sharma et al., 2023).MethodologyThe current applied study employed a mixed methodology, combining qualitative and quantitative methods with a descriptive-analytical focus regarding the nature of the research. Managers of religious tourism and university faculty members made up the statistical population for this study. Due to the high number of experts in this field and the possibility of not knowing all theoretical experts (university faculty members) and practical experts (tourism managers) by the researcher, sampling by snowball method was continued until reaching theoretical saturation (N=12). Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect research data. The steps of this research are as follows:In the first step, the thematic analysis method, one of the qualitative methods, was used to identify the factors affecting the development of religious tourism in Yazd Province. In the second step, the ISM method was used to prioritize (level) the factors. In the third step, the development of religious tourism in Yazd Province was simulated.In the qualitative part of the research, the validity of the interview using the Q-sort method and its reliability using Cohen’s Kappa index were checked and confirmed. In the quantitative part of the research, the validity of the questionnaires using the relative content validity method and its reliability based on the test-retest method was evaluated and confirmed. Also, experts’ opinions were obtained during face-to-face interviews to check the validity of the Agent-Based Model.ResultsBased on the research results, 35 initial codes, 12 sub-themes, and six main themes were identified. Due to having the highest driving power and the lowest dependence power, the factor of religious tourism policies was placed in the fifth level of the ISM. It was recognized as the most influential factor. Also, the results showed that at the end of the simulation period, the rate of religious tourism development in Yazd Province was 70%.DiscussionAlthough with different degrees, all six factors are essential for the development of religious tourism, and their prioritization was only due to greater understanding and recognition of more influential factors. The results showed that at the end of the simulation period, the rate of religious tourism development in Yazd Province was 70%. Therefore, applying the discussed factors can influence the growth of tourism development and be used in the policies and actions of the relevant managers. In line with the results of the religious tourism development simulation, as a general policy, the managers of tourism organizations in Yazd Province should implement the current research model. In this way, the research model is implemented in a specific period, and its ability to improve the effectiveness of religious tourism development is measured if, in practice, the research model leads to development in future periods.ConclusionThe results of this study indicate that managers of religious tourism should incorporate the factors identified into their development plans and plan the long-term horizons of religious tourism around these factors. It is essential to remember that merely incorporating these elements into the plans for development is unlikely to result in complete development; as such, it is imperative to address this problem from a fundamental standpoint and consider other significant influencing factors that are occasionally external to the current system.
Tourism planning
Nima Khademi; Abbas Abbasi; Kazem Askarifar
Abstract
Local event tourism is one of the types of tourism that can play an essential role in the sustainable economic and social development of communities. However, this issue has received less attention. Meymand Fars Flower and Rose Festival is one of these events held every year in the spring season. This ...
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Local event tourism is one of the types of tourism that can play an essential role in the sustainable economic and social development of communities. However, this issue has received less attention. Meymand Fars Flower and Rose Festival is one of these events held every year in the spring season. This study aims to identify the factors that attract tourists to this event. For this purpose, the factors attracting tourists to the events were extracted by qualitative content analysis and then the tourists' opinions. Finally, a conceptual framework ofinfluencing factors on customers' tendencies, including 50 indicators in 15 components, was presented. Also, the quantitative analysis of Q data shows that accessibility, hospitality, and spending time with friends were essential for the first group of tourists, social interactions and event quality were necessary for the second group, patriotic and learning motives were important for the third group, and experience and enjoyment of the event were necessary for the fourth group. At the same time, natural attractions and enjoyment of the festival environment have been essential for all tourists, and these results can be a basis for formulating marketing strategies for local tourism events.IntroductionDuring the last two decades, the tourism industry has increasingly strengthened the local economy due to its high diversity and convenient access. In addition, the development of the tourism industry causes benefits such as increasing the employment and income of residents, improving transportation, and, most importantly, protecting the cultural heritage of local communities. One of the types of tourism is event tourism, which has grown significantly in recent years. Event tourism is a form of travel with special interests in which people visit a special event to attend or along with their trip. One of the important products in tourism development has been an event in the form of cultural festivals. In this regard, local festivals as a branch of cultural events are considered one of travelers’ actions in rural areas. On the other hand, due to its various natural, historical, and cultural attractions, Iran is considered one of the most capable countries in the world for organizing such events. For this reason, practical steps can be taken toward the successful development of this type of tourism by more closely examining the events and festivals held in the country. One of these local festivals is the Meymand Fars Flower and Rose Festival, held every year at the beginning of the rose-picking season for one month in the Meymand Fars region. In this regard, it will be beneficial to identify the effective factors in attracting tourists to this annual local event, to get a more detailed understanding of the affairs and a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, and economic realities of the region and to plan for the sustainable development of this region. However, this issue has received less attention despite its clarity and necessity. On this subject, the current research seeks to identify the indicators and components influencing the tendency of tourists to visit rural events by using the qualitative content analysis method and providing a conceptual framework of these factors. Then, by analyzing the data of Meymand Flower and Rose Festival tourists based on the conceptual model, the types of tourists of this local event were identified.Materials and MethodsThis research aims to identify the factors that attract event tourists to local festivals using the Q method in Meymand Flower and Rose Festival, Fars. In terms of purpose, this research is practical, and according to the approach and type of data, it can be categorized as mixed research. The current research was carried out in 2023 in Fars province regarding time and place. In this research, first, the qualitative content analysis method with a directional approach has been used to identify and determine the existing indicators. Then, to know the mentality of participants in the Meymand Fars Flower and Rose Festival and collect data (using the Q method), all the customers who participated in this festival in 2023 were studied.Discussion and ResultsIn the first step, based on the content analysis of the screened studies, the researchers reviewed the final studies several times to determine titles or themes. At this stage, the researchers identified the factors affecting tourists' tendency towards events. Since some words had the same meaning, the necessary overlaps were made, and some indicators were removed. In the next step, the content validity ratio of Lawshe was used to check the validity of indicators in rural tourism. After this step, the number of 50 indicators was finalized and categorized into 15 concepts. Then, in the quantitative part, the data obtained from the Q factor analysis methodology was used to identify and extract the mentality of tourists. For this purpose, the tourists' opinions about the factors affecting their attendance at the Meymand Flower and Rose Festival 2023 were collected. With exploratory factor analysis, the participants were selected based on the shared values and the role of the data in explaining the total explanatory variance, and finally, the Varimax rotation divided the rest into four groups after removing 30 of them.ConclusionsIn this research, an attempt was made to use a mixed approach; firstly, with the help of qualitative content analysis, the indicators and components of local festivals were identified, and then the mentality of the tourists of Meymand Fars Flower and Rose Festival was extracted as a study. Finally, a conceptual framework of influencingfactors on customers' tendencies, including 50 indicators in 15 components, was presented. Then, based on the results of the quantitative method, four groups of customers were identified in Meymand Rose and Rose Festival. Enjoying nature, weather, and flowers and plants are among the motivations that are common among all four groups; in other words, it was the common feature of all visitors to this festival. However, in the separated groups, the factors have a significant dispersion.In the first group, the three factors of accessibility, hospitality of the destination, and spending time with friends are among the unique factors that have attracted them to this festival. This group constituted almost 37 percent of the participants in the research.The second group, which included almost 27 percent of the sample of festival tourists, with a sense of loyalty to the event and satisfaction, considers this festival a platform for social interactions and feels a sense of national pride by attending it.The third group is attracted to this festival with patriotic motives and the aim of learning, excitement, and making memories, and the festival’s popularity has been one of the main reasons for them. Finally, the fourth group of this festival has chosen a suitable place for photography and a space to enjoy holidays and relaxation with the intention of diversity in experience.In this context, the most significant difference between the present research and the previous studies is related to the classification of factors affecting the tendency of tourists, so that in none of the mentioned researches, the factors influencing the attraction of event tourists to local festivals have not been reported in a comprehensive category.Therefore, it is recommended to relevant provincial and national policymakers and patriot service providers to pay attention to the extracted effective indicators as the most key factors in their service strategy by recognizing the important characteristics of each category of tourists.
Tourism planning
Fatemeh Shekari
Abstract
Although the research on religious tourism experiences has increased in recent years, and given that most of the studies have been focused on the spiritual aspect of these experiences, there still needs to be more knowledge about the multiple attributes of religious tourists’ experiences. Therefore, ...
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Although the research on religious tourism experiences has increased in recent years, and given that most of the studies have been focused on the spiritual aspect of these experiences, there still needs to be more knowledge about the multiple attributes of religious tourists’ experiences. Therefore, the current study aims to provide an “integrated and multifaceted conceptual framework of religious tourists’ experiences” using a systematic literature review and deductive thematic analysis. The search was conducted on June 12, 2023. The PRISMA procedure identified fifty-three relevant articles ranging from 2006 to 2022. Based on the findings, the multifaceted religious tourists’ experiences can include cognitive, emotional, physical, relational, recovery, spiritual, transformative, and behavioral facets. The findings can extend the literature and benefit managers, planners, and destination marketing organizations in designing religious tourism experiences to enhance visitors’ satisfaction and destination competitiveness.Introduction In the 21st century, religious tourism and pilgrimages are critical components of the travel and tourism market (Albayrak et al., 2018). Bibliometric studies reveal the exponential growth of religious tourism studies in the last decade. Due to religious tourism’s benefits, destinations need to understand religious tourists' experiences to enhance destination competitiveness and attract these tourists. However, religious tourism experience is an emerging topic in the literature (Collins-Kreiner, 2020), and scant studies have been conducted on this topic (Bond et al., 2015). Also, most of the research has focused on the spiritual aspect and ignored other aspects to a large extent. Meanwhile, managers of religious sites should offer a holistic experience that embraces spiritual and non-spiritual complementary aspects (Durán-Sánchez et al., 2018). Considering the importance of understanding the religious tourists' experience and the inadequate studies in this field, especially the lack of comprehensive frameworks that include multiple aspects of the religious tourists’ experiences (Kim et al., 2020), the present study has systematically reviewed the literature to provide an “integrated, multifaceted religious tourism experience conceptual framework” and extends literature in this field.Materials nd MethodsThe present research employed a systematic literature review. Scopus was chosen as the database as it is the largest multidisciplinary database in social sciences (Aria et al., 2020). Also, compared to the Web of Science, it has a broader coverage of tourism journals (Lin & Rasoolimanesh, 2022). The search was conducted on June 12, 2023. The PRISMA procedure identified fifty-three relevant articles ranging from 2006 to 2022. The deductive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) was done to determine the aspects and components of the religious tourists’ experience based on the “orchestra model” (Pearce & Mohammadi, 2021) and the “multifaceted conceptual framework of tourist experience” (Packer & Ballantyne, 2016).Discussion and ResultsBased on the findings, the “integrated, multifaceted framework of religious tourists’ experiences” includes cognitive, affective, physical, relational, restorative, spiritual, transformative, and behavioral facets, each includes the following aspects:Cognitive: reflection, learning or discovering, perceived authenticity, perception of setting attributes, mental engagement, and rememberingAffective: joy, awe or wonder, attachment, hope, pride, discontentPhysical: sensory engagement, bodily engagement, or challengeRelational: social interaction and sharing, communitasRestorative: peacefulness or relaxation, escape, nourishment, freedomSpiritual: spiritual connection, religiousness or closeness to God or sacred people, communion with nature, purificationTransformative: self-growth or fulfillment, liminality or flow, identity constructionBehavioral: religious site or ritual-specific (religious), non-religious (touristic) ConclusionsTheoretically, this research attempted to provide a multifaceted perspective of the religious tourists’ experience, employing a systematic literature review. Therefore, it has presented the most recent overview of the topic and identified the theories used, methodologies, study context, and experience attributes. By providing an “integrated, multifaceted conceptual framework of the religious tourist experience,” the present study contributes to extending the literature. This research used the existing frameworks to categorize the attributes of experience. It also added new facets and components. Three facets, namely restorative, spiritual, and transformative, can be added to the “orchestra model of tourist experience” (Pearce & Mohammadi, 2021). Also, the religious tourism-related components of communitas (relational), hope (affective), religiousness or closeness to God or sacred people, communion with nature, purification (spiritual), and liminality or flow (transformative) were added. Other components were also included that may be helpful to describe more general tourism experiences: perceived authenticity and mental engagement (cognitive), self-expression and social acceptance (relational), and identity construction (transformative). This framework needs to be more comprehensive, and future research may add other facets and components. The findings can extend the literature and benefit managers, planners, and destination marketing organizations in designing religious tourism experiences to enhance visitors' satisfaction and destination competitiveness. Finally, study limitations and future research directions are proposed, including cross-cultural studies to compare results and enhance the generalizability of the findings, examining the proposed framework in various religious destinations contexts, paying more attention to Muslim religious tourists’ experiences, considering the role of information and communication technologies, and investigating the interactions of the framework components.
Tourism planning
Pedram Farhadi; Nazanin Tabrizi
Abstract
This research aims to assess the benefits of gamification and its impact on tourism development at the historical site of Persepolis. The research methodology employed in this study is descriptive-analytical and is based on documentary studies, field investigations, and researcher-designed questionnaires. ...
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This research aims to assess the benefits of gamification and its impact on tourism development at the historical site of Persepolis. The research methodology employed in this study is descriptive-analytical and is based on documentary studies, field investigations, and researcher-designed questionnaires. The target population for this research consists of active individuals in the tourism industry, with a sample size of 354 participants selected. Data analysis was conducted using tests such as average variance extracted (AVE), Fornell-Larcker, factor loading coefficients, Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability, and structural equation modeling, utilizing SPSS and Smart PLS software. The results of this study indicate that gamification exhibits a positive and significant relationship with all four dimensions under investigation: education, branding, loyalty, employment, and income generation. Gamification at Persepolis provides a recreational and educational experience and enables tourists to engage with the culture and history of the country they are visiting in a novel and interactive manner. With an enhanced tourist experience through gamification, Persepolis is poised to become a unique and captivating tourist destination.IntroductionThe text discusses the concept of "Gamification," which involves integrating game elements into non-game contexts. It was first introduced in 2008 and has since been applied in various fields, including tourism. However, its use in the tourism industry is still early. Gamification in tourism can enhance tourist interactions, satisfaction, brand awareness, and loyalty. It offers both external benefits, such as trip planning, and internal benefits, providing virtual travel experiences. Location-based and online games are vital in engaging tourists during their journeys. Gamification can be applied in organizational training programs to boost employee participation and skill acquisition. Overall, gamification is an innovative approach with the potential to transform how tourists engage with destinations, creating more exciting and interactive travel experiences. This article explores its application in the historical context of Persepolis, emphasizing its impact on branding, education, loyalty, and marketing in tourism. This article represents one of the initial academic endeavors in Iran to explore the significance and advantages of gamification in the historical and cultural context of Persepolis, shedding light on its potential impact on branding, education, loyalty, marketing, and the overall development of tourism at this historical site.Materials and methodsThis study aimed to evaluate the benefits of gamification and its impact on the tourism development of the historic Persepolis area. This study is of descriptive-analytical practical purposes, and the sampling method was simple randomization, with the study population including professors and tourism activists, 354 sampled according to Cochran's formula.Discussion and ResultsThe findings indicate that all hypotheses achieved statistical significance, thereby confirming the primary hypothesis of this investigation. Consequently, substantial associations exist among destination marketing, tourism education, and loyal tourists. It is evident that gamification positively influences tourism development in the Persepolis region.ConclusionsTravel should offer tourists a meaningful and engaging experience, and gamification is pivotal in achieving this objective within the tourism industry. The primary goal of implementing a gamification system is to induce a cognitive and emotional impact on users. In this context, it is essential to consider individuals’ intrinsic motivations, which revolve around engaging in an activity solely for its inherent enjoyment rather than being driven by external rewards, pressures, or stimuli.This research has unveiled further insights across various domains, including marketing, economic prosperity, and employment generation. By incorporating games that revolve around Persepolis’s rich history and culture, tourists are encouraged to spend extended periods in Marvdasht, subsequently fostering job creation and local community engagement. The gamification framework in tourism also contributes to developing sustainable tourism practices.Furthermore, brand attraction is deemed a crucial aspect of capital in the tourism sector, prompting extensive efforts in marketing to allure and retain tourists. Gamification significantly enhances the overall tourist experience, instrumental in retaining existing customers and enticing new visitors.
Tourism planning
Zahra Soleymani; Hamdollah Sojasi qedari; Hamid Shayan; Siamak Seyfi
Abstract
While traveling, tourists are looking for memorable experiences, and often, their decisions are influenced by the experiences they have gained from the destination. ZMET cognitive approach was used to extract memorable experiences of tourists from rural destinations. Based on theoretical saturation, ...
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While traveling, tourists are looking for memorable experiences, and often, their decisions are influenced by the experiences they have gained from the destination. ZMET cognitive approach was used to extract memorable experiences of tourists from rural destinations. Based on theoretical saturation, an interview was conducted with 35 tourists who had traveled to the villages of Mashhad, Neyshabur, and Torghabe - Shandiz counties and had more than 83 mental involvements with these destinations. Nine originator constructs and 11 destination constructs were extracted; the most frequent originator construct was the "natural landscape of the village," which created memorable experiences like "silence and peace," "feeling of freshness and liberation," and "pleasantness" in tourists. The theoretical literature on memorable experiences from rural destinations is very limited, so this study provides a new understanding regarding the formation of memorable experiences from rural destinations, which managers of rural destinations use to attract more tourists and loyalty.IntroductionTourists are looking for different tourism experiences by presence in rural areas. Experiences are not like products and services that are produced and distributed in the outside world, but are created individually. They are simultaneously created in the depths of the mind as a result of interaction with the surrounding environment. Since the existence of rural tourism destinations depends on the presence of tourists. Therefore, if rural tourism destinations can design and provide memorable and attractive experiences for them through identifying and understanding their customers' needs, they will achieve development. In general, understanding and enhancing the positive and memorable experiences of tourists is considered as a competitive advantage in the contemporary tourism market. For this reason, memorable tourism experiences are necessary for the sustainability and competitiveness of rural destinations. Also, experiences affect tourists' future decisions. If rural tourism destinations can offer memorable tourism experiences to visitors, it will significantly influence the consumer's behavioral intention to revisit or recommend the destination to others.Materials and MethodsThe research method of this study is a set of descriptive-analytical methods. In terms of purpose, it is practical and a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. In order to identify the memorable experiences of tourists in the studied rural areas, Zaikovsky's questionnaire and then the ZMET method were used. For this purpose, 35 tourists who traveled to the tourist villages of Mashhad, Neyshabur and Torghabe- Shandiz cities and had more than 83 mental involvements with these destinations based on the Zaykovsky questionnaire, were interviewed by the ZMET method.Discussion and ResultsIn general, 7 basic structures were identified in tourist villages, which can be effective in creating memorable experiences among tourists. These 7 structures include the natural landscape of the village, healthy products, local culture, traditional architecture, adventure and physical activity, interaction and cooperation, and deficiencies and damages. Each of these basic structures has several connecting structures that ultimately lead to final structures or memorable experiences. Finally, 11 memorable experiences that include silence and peace, fresh and liberated feeling, enjoyable, new flavors, unique lifestyle, exploration and learning, nostalgic feeling, exciting, being unique, involving and participation, and being uncomfortable is extracted. All sample tourists pointed to the basic structure of the natural and pristine landscape of the villages and mentioned 6 connecting structures for this structure, which ultimately led to 3 memorable experiences, namely silence and peace, freshness and liberation feeling, and enjoyable. The basic structure of traditional architecture with a frequency of 32 is another frequent structure that is led by 6 connecting structures to a nostalgic feeling as another memorable experience for tourists from rural destinations. The third most frequent construct with a frequency of 18 is local culture. This structure includes 12 connecting structures that ultimately lead to a unique lifestyle experience and exploration and learning in them.ConclusionsExperiences are the main product of tourism, which are formed individually and in the tourist's mind, which cannot be interfered with and are specific to each person. But it is possible to influence the formation of these experiences through basic actions and planning in tourism destinations. In fact, providing attractive, diverse and memorable experiences makes a rural destination have the ability to compete in the tourism market and is considered as a fundamental factor that can lead to the success and innovation of this industry. The experiences that tourists gain from rural tourism destinations have a great impact on their future behavioral intentions and, as a result, on the development of rural tourism destinations. Based on this, in the present study, 10 positive memorable experiences were extracted through interviews with 35 tourists who had traveled to the studied rural tourism areas, which include peace and silence, freshness and liberation feeling, pleasantness, new flavors, unique lifestyle, exploring and learning, nostalgic feeling, excitement, uniqueness and involvement and participation. In addition to these experiences, negative memorable experiences have also been mentioned by tourists, which include discomfort and sadness as a result of shortages and damages in rural areas. Considering the many capabilities that rural areas have in the field of tourism, they can offer many experiences to tourists. The results and findings of the present research can have a significant impact on the expansion of literature in the field of memorable experiences of tourists from rural tourism destinations. Also, the findings of the research can be used by managers and planners of rural tourism in knowing the experiences and views of tourists from rural destinations, who can provide a suitable environment for tourists to have memorable and attractive experiences when traveling to rural destinations.
Tourism planning
Ali Movahed; Asghar Tahmasbi; Nasrein Gholamali Fard
Abstract
Spiritual experience is one of the growing potentials and attractions in many tourist destinations, and involves a wide range of religious and secular tourists. This paper aims to analyze the motives and factors affecting the spiritual experiences of foreign female tourists in Iran. The required data ...
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Spiritual experience is one of the growing potentials and attractions in many tourist destinations, and involves a wide range of religious and secular tourists. This paper aims to analyze the motives and factors affecting the spiritual experiences of foreign female tourists in Iran. The required data were collected using 383 questionnaires from foreign female tourists in the hotels where they stayed, or at airports on their way to their country. Then the data were analyzed by applying correlation test and multi-linear regression analysis. The results of study show that, being in harmony with the nature is the most important motive for foreign female tourists traveling to Iran. Among the characteristics of tourist destinations, natural geography, history and culture lie as the most important factors affecting the spiritual experiences of the foreign female tourists visiting Iran.IntroductionReligion and spirituality have been the most important motives of tourists for traveling in the old time. There is a common agreement on the proximity of these two concepts but spirituality and religion don’t necessarily cover each other. The spirituality concept has become much wider and includes issues including health, social relationships, happiness, vivacity, self-esteem, calmness, sublimity and God. Men and women are different in spiritual aspects. According to some psychologists, women are more religious than men, and have more tendency to spirituality and religious activities (Rich, 2012 Hajizadeh-Meimndi, Ebrahimi-Sadrabadi, 1389). Also, psychologists believe that, tendency to religious affairs is more in women due to the harmony and consistency of spiritual and religious views with women’s souls. Regarding the differences in men’s and women’s traveling and the differences in their incentives, Bond (1997) states that the traveling of alone women beyond their country borders has recently increased significantly. Women tend to take journeys to get experiences and communicational skills as well as to attain awareness and confidence. The statistics show a significant increase in the number of women’s traveling. Therefore, the activists of tourism industry pay special attention to the women’s sector in the market and the economy of travel and tourism. Women are considered as one of the new markets in tourism industry, and understanding their spiritual experiences became a main priority. Female tourists look for different destinations to get the experiences and because of the diversity of expectation form spiritual experience, the need for various destinations to satisfy the different groups of spiritual tourists is felt more than ever. Iran can be a special destination for female tourists, due to its geographical, cultural and historic situation. Climatic diversity and natural landscapes shaped by climates, heights, plains, seas and coastal areas, deserts in addition to historic, cultural and religious attractions and the existence of different ethnic groups with their own special customs and ceremonies, provide very diverse and unique conditions for women’s spiritual experiences in Iran.However, existing knowledge on spiritual experiences of foreign female tourists in Iran and its determining factors are very limited.Research MethodologyThis study is a descriptive-exploratory research and the statistical society is the foreign female tourists in Iran and the measuring instrument is questionnaire, of which 383 copies have been distributed among and completed by foreign female tourists, using convenience sampling. The data have been analyzed by SPSS software. Descriptive statistics indices such as frequency and percentage have been applied to search and analyze the information related to general characteristics of the respondents. Correlation tests and multi-linear regression analysis have also been used in the inferential statistics part.Research FindingsThe findings of this study show that three aspects of demographics, travel motives and the destination characteristics, predict 85 percent of the variance of the spiritual experiences of the foreign female tourists in Iran.The characteristics of Iran as a tourist destination with beta of 0.355 had the highest effects on the spiritual experiences of the foreign female tourists. In this study the Crouch and Ritchie model of destination competitiveness was used to determine the tourist destination characteristics. Therefore, the effects of 8 variables including history and culture of the natural geography, infrastructure, costs, security, hospitality, events and situation on the tourists’ spiritual experiences were examined using the multi-linear regression analysis. The results show that the destination characteristics predict 94 percent of the variance of the spiritual experiences of the foreign female tourists in Iran. Among the destination characteristics, a) factors of history and culture, b) natural geography, c) infrastructure, d) costs, e) security, f) hospitality, g) events and h) situation, in order, had the highest effects on the quality of the spiritual experiences of the foreign female tourists in Iran.ConclusionBased on Crouch model, the destination characteristics are among important factors in tourists’ choice for different purposes. According to the results of this research, foreign female tourists have considered the features of their destination as the most effective factor in their spiritual experiences. Fox’s research (1996) on the women participating in spiritual experiences in pristine places indicated that the nature is seen as a powerful, healing and spiritual element. Furthermore, women on journeys have energy more similar to the nature and can get more spiritual awareness. As discussed above, spiritual tourism for women could play very important role as a novel strategy for tourism marketing in programming macro-tourism in Iran and branding women’s spiritual tourism can be conducted for this valuable guideline.Particularly in advertising via internet and TV programs, Iran should introduce itself as a new destination for female spiritual tourists. Providing necessary facilities and infrastructures and designing trip packages for female spiritual tourists are from necessary steps toward female spiritual tourism. In this research we offered a general framework to examine female spiritual experiences and examined the impact of three main factors including: the destination characteristics, travel motives and the tourists’ demographic features. The destination characteristics in the female tourists’ view, had very significant role in their spiritual experiences. Furthermore, harmony with nature was found as the most important motive to have the spiritual experience in Iran.In the future studies one may examine the effects of different environments including the nature or religious places or even historical buildings to discover the effects of places on spiritual experiences. Also, the effects of each of these aspects and indices on spiritual experiences for two groups of men and women may be assessed and compared separately.
