Tourism Management Studies

Evaluation and Explanation of the Criteria for Establishing Heritage Villages in World Heritage Sites (Case Study: Historical Complex of Firouzabad County)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Pedram Faehadi 1
Mohammad Hasan Zaal 2
Nazanin Tabrizi 2

1 Master of Tourism Management, Faculty of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism, Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Tourism Management, Faculty of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism, Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/tms.2024.78321.2920
Abstract
The study utilized a descriptive-analytical approach, employing documentary studies and field investigations to evaluate the criteria for establishing a cultural heritage village in the global precinct of Firozabad. A researcher-developed questionnaire was administered to 350 individuals from the local community, focusing on three critical criteria: heritage capacities, travel industry infrastructure, and community participation. Data analysis was conducted using statistical software, including SPSS and Smart PLS, incorporating descriptive statistics and inferential tests aligned with the research objectives. Given the region's rich cultural and natural attractions, The findings suggest favorable conditions for establishing a heritage village in the Firozabad global complex. However, challenges such as the need for comprehensive studies, management issues, and budget allocation need to be addressed. Additionally, the travel industry infrastructure requires improvement to meet global standards, necessitating public and private investment. Government support and community involvement are crucial for the success of heritage village initiatives, and educating the local community about the benefits of tourism can foster practical support for such projects.                                     

Keywords

heritage village
tangible and intangible heritage
local community participation and support
Firouzabad world heritage complex
Subjects
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  6. Cohen, M. (2017). Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Conservation. Environmental Science Quarterly, 4(112-130).
  7. Conrad, P. J. (2020). Benefits of Tourism: Economic and Social Impacts. Tourism and Development Journal, 1(10-25).
  8. Davis, J. (2019). The Positive Effects of Tourism on Local Economies. Economic Review, 3(45-60).
  9. David van der Merwe, C., Khumalo, T., & Sebatlelo, P. (2014). 'Who is a heritage tourist?' a comparative study of Constitution Hill and the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure, 3(1), 1-13.
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  3. Arcana, K. T. P., & Wiweka, K. (2016). The perception of the local community toward tourist accommodation development, case study: Village of Seminyak, Bali. Journal of Business on Hospitality and Tourism, 2(1), 16. DOI: 22334/jbhost.v2i1.79.
  4. Bujdosó, Z., Dávid, L., Tőzsér, A., Kovács, G., Major-Kathi, V., Uakhitova, G., Katona, P., & Vasvári, M. (2015, May 14). Basis of Heritagization and Cultural Tourism Development. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 188, 307-315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.03.399.
  5. Cellini, R. (2011). Is UNESCO’s recognition effective in fostering tourism? A comment on Yang, Lin, and Han. Tourism Management, 32(2), 452–454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2010.01.018
  6. Christensen, A. (1936). L'Iran sous les Sassanides. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 10(6½), 559, 52.
  7. Cohen, M. (2017). Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Conservation. Environmental Science Quarterly, 4(112-130).
  8. Conrad, P. J. (2020). Benefits of Tourism: Economic and Social Impacts. Tourism and Development Journal, 1(10-25).
  9. Davis, J. (2019). The Positive Effects of Tourism on Local Economies. Economic Review, 3(45-60).
  10. David van der Merwe, C., Khumalo, T., & Sebatlelo, P. (2014). 'Who is a heritage tourist?' a comparative study of Constitution Hill and the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure, 3(1), 1-13.
  11. (2023, April 21). Heritage Village Dubai. Retrieved from https://www.dayoutdubai.ae/blog/city-sightseeing/heritage-village-dubai
  12. De Simone, E., Canale, R. R., & Di Maio, A. (2019). Do UNESCO World Heritage Sites Influence International Tourist Arrivals? Evidence from Italian Provincial Data. Social Indicators Research, 146(3), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-1939-7
  13. Daryaee, T. (2008). "The Sasanian Empire (224-651 AD)." In The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History (pp. 1-27). Oxford University Press.
  14. Fang, B., Ye, Q., & Law, R. (2016). Effect of sharing economy on tourism industry employment. Annals of Tourism Research, pp. 57, 264-267. doi:1016/j.annals.2015.11.018.
  15. Fletcher, C., Pforr, C., & Brueckner, M. (2016). Factors influencing Indigenous engagement in tourism development: An international perspective. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 24(8-9), 1100-1120. doi:1080/09669582.2016.1173045.
  16. Global Village Dubai. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.globalvillage.ae/en/
  17. Golimbert, J.-C. (2018). Cultural Exchange and Tourism: A Global Perspective. International Journal of Tourism Studies, 2(78-93).
  18. Hall, C. M. (2008). Tourism Planning: Policies, Processes, and Relationships. Pearson Education.
  19. Herrmann, G. (1977). The Iranian revival. Elsevier-Phaidon.
  20. Huff, D. L. (2015). “The World’s First Superpower: The Rise of the Sassanian Empire.” The Historian, 77(2), 208-230.
  21. Huff, D. L. (1987). Archaeology iv. Sasanian. Encyclopaedia Iranica, pp. 2, 302–308.
  22. Jamal, T., & Robinson, M. (2009, September 18). The SAGE Handbook of Tourism Studies. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 1-16. https://sk.sagepub.com/reference/hdbk_tourism
  23. Kim, S. (2016). World Heritage Site Designation Impacts on a Historic Village: A Case Study on Residents’ Perceptions of Hahoe Village (Korea). Sustainability, 8(3), 258. doi:3390/su8030258.
  24. Leask, A., & Fyall, A. (2006). An examination of factors influencing small tourism business success: An image approach. Tourism Management, 27(5), 819-832
  25. Leiper, N. (1979). The framework of tourism: Towards a definition of tourism, tourist, and the tourist industry. Annals of Tourism Research, 6(4), 390-407. doi:1016/0160-7383(79)90003-3.
  26. Liou, Y. H., Hsu, Y. J., & Liu, Y. C. (2020). An Analysis of Community-Based Tourism Development in Taiwan: From the Perspective of the Community Capitals Framework. Sustainability, 12(15), 6094.
  27. Liu, A., & Wall, G. (2006, February). Planning tourism employment: a developing country perspective. Tourism Management, 27(1), 159-170. Doi: 1016/j.tourman.2004.08.004.
  28. Logan, W., & Reeves, K. (2009). Your Place or Mine? Learning to Read the Seductive Cultural Landscape. Journal of Travel Research, 47(2), 123-134.
  29. López-Guzmán, T., & Santa-Cruz, F. G. (2017, June). Visitors’ experiences with Intangible Cultural Heritage: a case study from Córdoba, Spain. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 12(4), 1-6. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1743873X.2016.1195834.
  30. McKercher, B., & du Cros, H. (2003, December 1). Cultural Tourism: The Partnership Between Tourism and Cultural Heritage Management. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 15(7). https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/09596110310496060/full/html
  31. Nagy, K. (2011). Methodology of Heritage-based Tourism Product Development - Thematic Routes as New and Special Possibilities. In Doktoranduszok Fóruma (pp. 104-110). Miskolci Egyetem Gazdaságtudományi Kar szekciókiadványa. doi:13140/2.1.2115.4086.
  32. Propsearch. (2022, April 21). Culture Village. Retrieved from https://propsearch.ae/dubai/culture-village
  33. Richard, B. (1993). Village heritage. Countryside and Small Communities Series.
  34. Richard, N. (1993). The Heritage of Persia (Bibliotheca Iranica, Band 1). USA: Mazda Pub.
  35. Richards, G. (Ed.). (2007). Cultural tourism: Global and local perspectives. Psychology Press.
  36. Richardson, D. (2016). Tourism's Role in Preserving Cultural Heritage. Heritage Management Journal, 5(200-215).
  37. Santos, V. (2015). Tourism and Diplomacy: Building Bridges through Travel. Diplomatic Relations Quarterly, 6(30-45).
  38. Smith, M. K. (2010). Issues in cultural tourism studies. Routledge.
  39. Saadat Abadi, M., & Indumati, S. (2012). Facility Level Offered to Tourists Visiting Fars Province in Iran. Journal Title, Volume (Issue), 176-183. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/04419057.2009.9728270
  40. Timothy, D. J. (2011). Tourism and the Personalization of Place. In Cultural Heritage and Tourism in the Developing World (pp. 11-21). Routledge.
  41. Timothy, D. J., & Nyaupane, G. P. (2009). Cultural heritage and tourism in the developing world: A regional perspective (ISBN 9780415776226).
  42. Timothy, D. J., & Nyaupane, G. P. (2017). Cultural heritage and tourism: An introduction. Channel View.
  43. Tolvanen, A., Komppula, R., & Kauppila, S. (2020). The role of tourism in the development of local food: challenges and opportunities in the rural context. Sustainability, 12(1), 104.
  44. (2003). Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Retrieved from https://ich.unesco.org/en/convention
  45. (2021). United Nations World Tourism Organization. Retrieved from: https://www.unwto.org.
  46. (2022, May 26). BEST TOURISM. [PDF document]. Retrieved from
  47. (2023, April 4). UNESCO CULTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS. Retrieved from the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972); the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003); the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2000); and the Conven
  48. Vitányi, I. (1997). A magyar társadalom kulturális állapota. Budapest: Maecenas Kiadó.
  49. World Tourism Cities Federation. (2022). One picture to understand the "World Tourism Economic Trends Report (2022)." Retrieved on September 23, 2022, from https://en.wtcf.org.cn/.
  50. Wang, N. (1999). Rethinking Authenticity in Tourism Experience. Annals of Tourism Research, 26(2), 349-370. https://www.sciencedirect.com/author/55178845900/ning-wang
  51. Yang, L., & Wall, G. (2021, February 23). Heritage tourism in China: Opportunities and challenges in a historic town. https://doi.org/10.1080/19388160.2021.1976340
  52. Yanes, A., Zielinski, S., Diaz Cano, M., & Kim, S. (2019). Community-Based Tourism in Developing Countries: A Framework for Policy Evaluation. Sustainability, 11(9), 2506. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092506.
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Tourism Management Studies
Volume 19, Issue 66
Spring 2024
Pages 7-40

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