Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 The Student of PhD. Public Administration, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Public Administration, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

3 Professor of Tourism Management, Allameh Tabataba"i University

4 Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Policy agenda setting significantly affects tourism policies, describing which tourism issues make onto public policy agenda. Given the considerable gap in studying this stage, this paper seeks to explore Iran’s public policy agenda between 2013 and 2019 focusing on different types of tourism issues. Conducting an archival study, data related to agenda indicators drawn from three institutional venues in Iran including legislative-led, executive-led and budget indicators.  The results of qualitative content analysis of official documents showed that relatively a few numbers of the issues reached the agenda including those related to tourism management, developing tourism product, and enacting relevant rules and regulations. However, tourism marketing and tourism information management issues were less considered in the agenda setting process. It is argued that failure in getting different types of the issues on to the agenda could result in gaps in subsequent tourism policies, affecting tourism development.
Introduction
Considering Tourism as one of the fastest growing economic sectors, it is intorduced as an effective tool for economic development in Iran. Pursuing this goal, tourism policies play a vital role, since they determine the direction or course of action to develop tourism(Goeldner & Ritchie, 2009). However, the low contribution of tourism industry to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Iran (Bahmani & Namamian, 2021; Farzin, Abbaspoor, Ashrafi & Zargham Boroojeni, 2020) indicates that Iran’s tourism policies fail in pursuing their intended goals(Karoubi, Yavari Gohar, Zarea & Abbasi, 2020). Regardless of the quality of tourism policy, it is the successful transmission of tourism issues to the public policy agenda that assures policy formation in addressing these issues. In this regard, expolring agenda setting stage in public policy making could contribute to a better understanding of tourism policy making. Given the considerable gap in studying agenda setting, this paper seeks to explore Iran’s public policy agenda focusing on different types of tourism issues.
Materials and Methods
This study considers the status of different types of tourism issues on Iran’s public policy agenda over years between 2013 and 2019. Conducting an archival study, data drawn from three institutional venues in Iran including legislative-led, executive-led and budget indicators, looking for tourism related keywords in both title and context of the ofiicial documents. Qualitattive content analysis was used as the main method in two coding circles: open and axial coding. The emergent categories represent the main groups of the issues which made it onto the agenda.
Discussion and Results
The relative share of tourism issues on the agenda was calculated through qualitative content analysis of 4800 officiacl documents including tourism policies, congressional  hearings, tourism bills, Tourism proposals and the government spending. As a result, 486 documents were identified with focus on tourism issues. Minor changes in relative share of the issue on the agenda during 2013- 2019 reflect the failure in tourism agenda setting.
Turning to the typology of the tourism issues, six categories identified: tourism management and organization, tourism product development, tourism rules and regulations, tourism marketing, tourism human resources and tourism information management. While the first three stood in the main category places in the most of the agenda indicators, issues related to marketing and information management has been less considered.
Conclusions
Using a variety of policy agenda indicators to study the transmission of different types of tourism issues to public policy process, this study differs from few past agenda setting research in the context of Iran in which only policies are explored.
In conclusion, it is argued that the failure in getting different tourism issues onto the public policy agenda is one of the main challenges in tourism policy making and subsequently in tourism development in this country. Emphasizing on less considered issues as agenda setting priorities could effectively address the gaps in needed tourism policies. This paper suggests that participatory tourism management at macro level might facilitate the transmission of the tourism priorities towrads policy agenda.

Keywords

امینیان، ناصر و سیدنقوی، میرعلی (1397). ارائه الگوی حکمروایی مطلوب گردشگری در ایران.
فصلنامه مطالعات مدیریت گردشگری. 13(42): 27 – 102.
بخشی، حامد (1393). بررسی جایگاه و ابعاد گردشگری در اسناد فرادستی عمرانی و توسعه ایران.
در مجموعه مقالات همایش بین المللی علمی ـ راهبردی توسعه گردشگری جمهوری اسلامی ایران، چالش‌ها و چشم اندازها (ص 224 ـ 237). پژوهشکده گردشگری جهاد دانشگاهی، مشهد، مهر 1393.
بهمنی، پریسا و نمامیان، فرشید (1399). طراحی مدل اقتصاد گردشگری شهری با رویکردساختاری
 – تفسیری. مطالعات ساختار و کارکرد شهری. 7(25): 157-177.
خدایاری زرنق، رحیم؛ رواقی، حمید؛ مصدق راد، علی محمد؛ صداقت، عباس؛ فلاحی، حمیرا؛
 سید علی‌نقی، سیداحمد و محرز، مینو (1395). فرایند سیاستگذاری اچ‌آی‌وی/ ایدز در ایران: بخش اول ـ تحلیل دستورگذاری اچ‌آی‌وی/ ایدز با کاربرد چارچوب کینگدان. تصویر سلامت. 7(3): 1 – 14.
رحمانی، زین‌العابدین؛ پرهیزگار، محمد مهدی؛ امینی، محمد تقی و شیرمحمدی، یزدان (1393).
عوامل مؤثر بر اجرای سیاست‌های گردشگری جمهوری اسلامی ایران. فصلنامه مطالعات مدیریت گردشگری. 8(24): 183-207.
رنجبر متعلق، فرانک (1399). الگوی تنظیم دستورکار خط‌مشی‌های عمومی ایران با تأکید بر
گردشگری. رساله دکتری مدیریت دولتی، دانشگاه علامه طباطبایی تهران.
ضرغام بروجنی، حمید و بذرافشان، مرتضی (1395). چارچوب تدوین سیاست‌های گردشگری
جمهوری اسلامی ایران. دوفصلنامه مطالعات اجتماعی گردشگری. (8): 51 – 77..
عباسی کارجگان، داود (1395). طراحی و تدوین الگوی مناسب مدیریت گردشگری شهر تهران.
رساله دکتری مدیریت گردشگری، دانشگاه علامه طباطبایی تهران.
فرزین، محمدرضا؛ عباس‌پور، نیلوفر؛ اشرفی، یکتا و ضرغام بروجنی، حمید (1399). اثرات توسعه
گردشگری ورودی بر توزیع درآمد بین خانوارها و شرکت‌ها. دوفصلنامه مطالعات اجتماعی گردشگری. 8(16): 1- 26.
کروبی، مهدی؛ یاوری‌گهر، فاطمه؛ زارع، رحیم و عباسی، دیاکو (1399). موانع اجرای سیاست
 گردشگری در ج.ا.ایران: ارائهٔ چارچوبی مفهومی. برنامه‌ریزی و توسعه گردشگری. 9(34): 43 – 66.
معاونت پژوهش‌های اجتماعی - فرهنگی (1396). بررسی لایحه بودجه سال 1394 کل کشور، بخش
 فرهنگ. مرکز پژوهش‌های مجلس شورای اسلامی.
معاونت پژوهش‌های اجتماعی - فرهنگی (1397). بررسی لایحه بودجه سال 1394 کل کشور، حوزه
تربیت بدنی، ورزش و جوانان. مرکز پژوهش‌های مجلس شورای اسلامی.
معاونت پژوهش‌های اجتماعی - فرهنگی (1398). بررسی لایحه بودجه سال 1394 کل کشور، 35.
چشم انداز کلی بودجه فرهنگ. مرکز پژوهش‌های مجلس شورای اسلامی.
مهرآرا، محسن و شیرمحمدی، پگاه (1398). اثر درآمدهای گردشگری بر نابرابری درآمد با رویکرد
رگرسیون پانل کوانتایل (مطالعه موردی: منتخب کشورهای درحال‌توسعه). مطالعات گردشگری. 14(46): 197 – 222.
مجیدی، محمدرضا (1390). سیاست گردشگری خارجی در ایران: جستجوی الگوی مطلوب.
فصلنامه سیاست. 40(4):: 257 – 272.
میرزمانی، اعظم؛ اخوان علوی، سید حسین؛ امیری، علی نقی و اسماعیلی، حسین (1397). فهم فرایند
سیاست‌گذاری مالیاتی در ایران: عوامل مؤثر بر دستورگذاری مالیاتی در سطح ملی و بازیگران آن. پژوهشنامه مالیات 25(36): 211 – 248.
Hsieh, H.-F., & Shannon, S. E. (2005). Three Approaches to Qualitative Content Analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 15(9): 1277–1288. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732305276687.
Cross, J. P., & Vaznonytė, A. (2020). Can we do what we say we will do? Issue salience, government effectiveness, and the legislative efficiency of Council Presidencies.. European Union Politic, 21(4): 657–679. https://doi.org/10.1177/1465116520950829.
Borghetto, E. & Belchior, A. M.. (2019). Party Manifestos, Opposition and Media as Determinants of the Cabinet Agenda. Political Studies, 68(1):37-53. doi:10.1177/0032321718820738.
Brynard, P. (2006). The nature of the policy problem. Journal of PublicAdministration, 41(2.2): 357 - 373. retrieved from: http://hdl.handle.net/2263/3142.
Dearing, J. W. & Rogers, E. M.. (1996). Agenda-Setting. London: SAGE Publications.
Dekker, R. & Scholten, P. (2017). Framing the Immigration Policy Agenda: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Media Effects on Dutch Immigration Policies. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 22(2):202-222. doi:10.1177/1940161216688323.
Elo, S.; Kääriäinen, M.; Kanste, O.; Pölkki, T.; Utriainen, K. & Kyngäs, H.. (2014). Qualitative Content Analysis: A Focus on Trustworthiness. SAGE Open, 4(1): 1- 10. DOI: 10.1177/2158244014522633.
Gee, C. Y. & Fayos Solá, E.. (1997). International tourism: a global perspective. Madrid: World Tourism Organization.
Goeldner, C. R. & Ritchie, J. R. B. (2009). TOURISM; Principles, Practices, Philosophies(11th ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Green-Pedersen, C. (2015). Agenda Settting, Public Policy in. In J. D. Wright, International encyclopedia of the social and behavioral sciences (pp. 357 - 361). Waltham: Elsevier.
Green-Pedersen, C., & Mortensen, P. B. (2018). The Agenda-Setting Power of the Prime Minister Party in Coalition Governments. Political Research Quarterly, 71(4):743-756. doi:10.1177/1065912918761007.
Halpin, D. R. & Fraussen, B. (2019). Laying the Groundwork: Linking Internal Agenda Setting Processes of Interest Groups to Their Role in Policy Making. Administration & Society, 51(8) 1337 –1359. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1177/0095399717728094.
Jennings, W. & Wlezien, C. ((2011)). Distinguishing Between Most Important Problems and Issues?. Public Opinion Quarterly, 75(3): 545 - 555. https://doi.org/10.1093/poq/nfr025.
Kingdon, J. W. (2014). Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policies(2nd ed.). Edinburgh: Pearson.
Klucking, T. V. (2003). KINGDON ON DEFENSE: AN ANALYSIS OF THE POLICY STREAMS: APPROACH AND A POLICY STREAMS ANALYSIS OF THE GOLDWATER-NICHOLS ACT(Doctoral Dissertation). Alabama: Auburn University.
Lincoln, S. Y. & Guba, E. G.. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
O'Toole, L. J. (1989). The Public Administrator's Role in Setting the Policy Agenda. In J. L. Perry, Handbook of Public Administration (pp. 225 - 236). San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods. London: sage.
Polit, D. F. & Beck, C. T. (2012). Nursing research: Principles and methods. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Princen, S. (2007). Agenda-setting in the EuropeanUnion: A theoretical exploration andagenda for research. Journal of European Public Policy, (14)1: 21–38. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1080/13501760601071539.
Riege, A. M. (2003). Validity and reliability tests in case study research: a literature review with "hands-on applications for each research phase. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 6(2): 75 - 86. DOI:10.1108/13522750310470055.
Salamon, L. M. & Benevolenski, V. (2020). Putting Nonprofits on the Policy Agenda of Post-Soviet Russia: A Story of Convergence. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 1- 22. doi:10.1177/0899764020927463.
Soroka, S. (2000). Expanding the agenda setting agenda: Issue Dynamics in Canada, 1985-1995(Doctoral dissertation). Vancouver: University of British Columbia.
Vliegenthart, R. &. (2011). Content Matters:The Dynamics of Parliamentary Questioning in Belgium and Denmark. Comparative Political Studies, 44(8) 1031 –1059. doi:10.1177/0010414011405168.
World Tourism Organization. (2019). International Tourism Highlights,, 2019 Edition. Madrid: DOI: https://doi.org/10.18111/9789284421152.: UNWTO.
A’zam M. ; Sayyad Hossein, A. A. ; Amiri A. & Hossein, E. (2019). Understanding Tax Policy-making Process in Iran: Factors Affecting Tax Agenda setting Process at the National Level and its Actors. Journal of Tax Research, 25 (36): 211- 249. Retrived from: http://taxjournal.ir/article-۱-۱۳۲۸-fa.html.
Abbasi Karjegan, A. (2016). Design and Development of the Model of Tehran Tourism Management. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation: Allameh Tabataba'i University.
Aminian, N. & Seyed Naghavi, M. A. (2018). Presenting Pattern of Good Governance of Tourism in Iran. Tourism Studies, 13(42): 67 - 102. Retrieved from: https://tms.atu.ac.ir/article_9018.html?lang=en.
Bahmani, P. & Namamian, F. (2021). Designing a Model of Urban Tourism Economy with Structural-Interpretive Approach. Urban Structure and Function Studies, 7(25): 157 - 177. doi: 10.22080/usfs.2020.17545.1891.
Bakhshi, H. (2014). Status and Dimentions of Tourism in Development Plans of Iran. International Scientific - Strategic Conference on Tourism Development for Islamic Republic of Iran, Challenges and Prospects (pp. 224 - 237). Mashhad: Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research.
Deputy of Social- Cultural research (2017). National Budget Bill – Culture Segment. The Research Center of Islamic legislative Assembly.
Deputy of Social- Cultural research (2018). National Budget Bill – Sport and Youths Segment. The Research Center of Islamic legislative Assembly.
Deputy of Social- Cultural research (2019). National Budget Bill – Culture Segment. The Research Center of Islamic legislative Assembly.
Farzin, M. R.; Abbaspoor, N.; Ashrafi, Y. & Zargham Boroojeni, H.. (2020). The Impact of Inbound Tourism Development on the Income Distribution among Households and Institutions (A Structural Path Analysis Approach). Social Studies in Tourism, 8(16): 1-26. Retrieved from: http://journalitor.ir/En-Article/13990817250609.
Karoubi, M; Yavari Gohar, F.; Zarea, R. & Abbasi, D.. (2020). Barriers to tourism policy in the Islamic Republic of Iran: conceptual framework. Tourism Planing anf Development, 9(34): 43-66. Retrieved from: http://tourismpd.journals.umz.ac.ir/article_3014.html?lang=en.
Khodayari Zarnaq, R.; Ravaghi, H.; Mosaddeghrad, A. M.; Sedaghat, A.; Fallahi, H.; Seyed Ali Naghi, A. & Mohraz, M. (2016). HIV/AIDS Policy Making Process in Iran: Analysis of HIV/AIDS Agenda Setting Based on Kingdon's Framework. Depiction of Health, 7 (3): 1 - 14. Retrieved from: magiran.com/p1627255.
Majidi, M. R. (2011). FOREIGN TOURISM POLICY IN IRAN: TOWARDS REACHING THE DESIRED MODEL. Political Quartely, 40(4): 257 - 272. Retrieved from: https://jpq.ut.ac.ir/article_29638.html.
Mehrara, M. & Shirmohammadi, P.. (2019). The Effect of Tourism Revenues on Income Inequality with the Quantiles Panel Regression Approach (Case study: Selected Developing Countries). Tourism Management Studies, 14(46): 197 - 222. Retrieved from: https://tms.atu.ac.ir/article_10432.html?lang=en.
Rahmani, Z.; Parhizgar, M. M.; Amini, M. T. & ShirMohammadi, Y.. (2014). Factors Affecting the Implementation of Tourism Policies in Islamic Republic of Iran. Tourism Studies, 8(24): 183 - 207. Retrived from: https://tms.atu.ac.ir/article_81.html?lang=fa.
Ranjbar Motalegh, F. (2021). Public Policy Agenda Setting in Iran: Tourism Issues. [Unbublished Doctoral Dissertation]: Allameh Tabataba'i University.
Zargham Boroojeni, H. & Bazrafshan, M. (2016). The Framework for Formulating Tourism Policies of Islamic Republic of Iran. Tourism Social Studies, 4 (8): 51- 77.