Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Faculty of Management University of Tehran
2 Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences - University of Tehran
Abstract
With increasing competition in tourism and rising tourist expectations, destination competitiveness has become crucial. However, no comprehensive assessment of Iran’s ski resorts had been conducted. This study aimed to identify key competitiveness dimensions and rank active ski resorts in Iran using a mixed-method approach. In the qualitative phase, a systematic literature review and fuzzy Delphi technique with 18 experts led to the identification of 23 indicators in six main dimensions. In the quantitative phase, data from 302 tourism and sports professionals were collected through a validated questionnaire. One-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests were used for analysis. The results showed significant differences in competitiveness among the ski resorts. Tochal ranked highest in most dimensions, while Kakan had the lowest score. These findings provide valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders to evaluate and enhance the competitiveness of winter tourism destinations by focusing on key indicators and addressing destination-specific weaknesses.
Keywords
Main Subjects
- Albayrak, T., Caber, M., González-Rodríguez, M. R., & Aksu, A. (2018). Analysis of destination competitiveness by IPA and IPCA methods: The case of Costa Brava, Spain against Antalya, Turkey. Tourism Management Perspectives, 28, 53-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2018.07.005
- Armenski, T., Dwyer, L., & Pavluković, V. (2018). Destination competitiveness: public and private sector tourism management in Serbia. Journal of Travel Research, 57(3), 384-398. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287517692445
- Bacoş, I. B., & Gabor, M. R. (2021). Tourism economy. Mountain tourism: Quantitative analysis of winter destinations in romania. Economics, 9, 143–159. doi: 10.2478/eoik-2021-0005
- Bocquet, R. (2008). Proximités et coordination inter-firmes: Une analyse empirique de la compétitivité des stations de sports d’hiver. Revue D’économie Régionale & Urbaine, (2), 159-178. http://dx.doi.org/10.3917/reru.082.0159
- Botti, L., Goncalves, O., & Peypoch, N. (2012). Benchmarking pyrenean ski resorts. Journal of Alpine Research| Revue de géographie alpine, (100-4). https://doi.org/10.4000/rga.1855
- Crouch, G. I., & Ritchie, J. B. (2000). The competitive destination: A sustainability perspective. Tourism Management, 21(1), 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9780851996646.0000
- Cronjé, D. F., & du Plessis, E. (2020). A review on tourism destination competitiveness. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 45, 256-265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.06.012
- Cordova-Buiza, F., & Serruto-Perea, Y. A. (2024). The competitiveness of tourist destinations: A review of the scientific literature. International Conference on Tourism Research. http://dx.doi.org/10.34190/ictr.7.1.2146
- Cimbaljević, M., Panić, A., Kovačić, S., Knežević, M., & Pavluković, V. (2025). What factors do tourists consider most important when evaluating the competitiveness of tourism? The focus on developing economy. Journal of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA, 75(1), 67-85. https://ojs.gi.sanu.ac.rs/index.php/zbornik/article/view/981
- D’Hauteserre, A. M. (2000). Lessons in managed destination competitiveness: The case of Foxwoods Casino Resort. Tourism Management, 21(1), 23–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(99)00097-7
- Du Plessis, E., Van der Merwe, A., & Saayman, M. (2017), “Explore changes in the aspects fundamental to the competitiveness of South Africa as a preferred tourist destination”, SouthAfrican Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, 20(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.4102/SAJEMS.V20I1.1519
- Dwyer, L., & Kim, C. (2003). Destination competitiveness: Determinants and indicators. Current Issues in Tourism, 6(5), 369-414. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500308667962
- Dalakis, A., Yfantidou, G., Costa, G., Matsouka, O., & Tsitskari, E. (2018). Tourists' perspective and nationality impact on destination competitiveness. E-Review of Tourism Research, 15. https://B2n.ir/tt8198
- Hong, S. W. C. (2008). Competitiveness in the tourism sector: A comprehensive approach from Economic and Management points. Springer Science & Business Media. https://B2n.ir/kr7700
- Evren, S., & Kozak, N. (2018). “Competitive positioning of winter tourism destinations: A comparative analysis of demand and supply sides perspectives–Cases from Turkey”, Journal of Destination Marketing and Management, 9, 247-257, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2018.01.009
- Faullant, R., Matzler, K., & Füller, J.(2008) The impact of satisfaction and image on loyalty: the case of Alpine ski resorts. Managing Service Quality: An International Journal, 18 (2): 163–178. https://doi.org/10.1108/09604520810859210
- Frochot, I., & Kreziak, D. (2008). Customers' perceptions of ski resorts' images: Implications for resorts' positioning strategies. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 8(4), 298-308. http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/thr.2008.27
- Hallmann, K., Muller, S., Feiler, S., Breuer, C., & Roth, R. (2012), “Suppliers’ perception of destination competitiveness in a winter sport resort”. Tourism Review, 67(2), 13-21.
- doi: 10.1108/16605371211236105
- Hallmann, K., M€uller, S., & Feiler, S. (2014), “Destination competitiveness of winter sport resorts in the Alps: How sport tourists perceive destinations?”, Current Issues in Tourism, 17(4), 327-349, doi: 10.1080/13683500.2012.720247.
- Hallmann, K., Mueller, S., & Peters, M. (2015). The assessment of competitiveness: The case of three alpine winter sports destinations. Tourism Analysis, 20(6), 677–687. http://dx.doi.org/10.3727/108354215X14464845878110
- Hudson, S., Ritchie, B., & Timur, S. (2004), “Measuring destination competitiveness: An empirical study of Canadian ski resorts”, Tourism and Hospitality Planning and Development, 1(1),
- 79-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1875399X01609010053
- Hassan, S. S. (2000). Determinants of market competitiveness in an environmentally sustainable tourism industry. Journal of travel research, 38(3), 239-245. https://doi.org/10.1177/004728750003800305
- Heath, E. (2003). Towards a model to enhance destination competitiveness: A Southern African perspective. CAUTHE 2003: Riding the Wave of Tourism and Hospitality Research, 500. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/6058
- Khin, E., Daengbuppha, J., & Nonsiri, P. (2014). Destination competitiveness: a structural model for measuring attributes competitiveness of Bagan, Myanmar. International Journal of Business, Economics and Law, 4(2), 51-59.
- https://ijbel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/KLE4221-Ei-Ei-Khin-Petchsri-Nonsiri-DESTINATION-COMPETITIVENESS.pdf
- Khelashvili, I., & Okroshidze, L. (2025). Exploring the Tourism Competitiveness of a Destination: A Case Study of Georgia. Sustainability, 17(8), 3342. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083342
- Moradi, E., Ehsani, M., Saffari, M., & Norouzi Seyed Hosseini, R. (2023). How can destination competitiveness play an essential role in small island sports tourism development? Integrated ISM-MICMAC modelling of key factors. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 6(3), 1222-1252. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-03-2022-0118
- Mokhtarian Pourzavareh, M., Khodayari, A., & Kohandel, M. (2022). Sustainable development mountain tourism in Iran. Sports Business Journal, 2(2), 301-320. https://doi.org/10.22051/sbj.2023.42023.1057
- Mulec, I., & Wise, N. (2013), “Indicating the competitiveness of Serbia’s Vojvodina Region as an emerging tourism destination”. Tourism Management Perspectives, 8, 68-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2013.07.001
- Novais, M. A., Ruhanen, L., & Arcodia, C. (2018), “Destination competitiveness: A phenomenographic study”, Tourism Management, 64, 324-334, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.08.014
- Novakowski, N. and Wellar, B. (2008), “Using the Delphi technique in normative planning research: Methodological design considerations”, Environment and Planning, 40(6), 1485-1500. https://doi.org/10.1068/a39267
- Okoli, C., & Pawlowski, S.D. (2004), “The Delphi method as a research tool: An example, design considerations and applications”. Information and Management, 42(1), 15-29.
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2003.11.002
- Porter, M. E. (1990). Competitive advantage of nations. Harvard Business Review, 68(2), 73–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-6486.00221
- Ritchie, J. B., & Crouch, G. I. (2003). The competitive destination: A sustainable tourism perspective. Cabi. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9780851996646.0000
- Stankova, M. (2011). Competitiveness analysis and management of a tourist destination. International Journal of Contemporary Economics and Administrative Sciences, 1(1), 65-77. available at: https://www.academia.edu/69569373/Competitiveness_Analysis_and_Management_of_a_Tourist_Destination
- Sainaghi, R. (2008). Strategic positioning and performance of winter destinations. Tourism Review, 63(4), 40-57.
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/16605370810912209
- Tse, S., & Tung, V.W.S. (2022), “Measuring the valence and intensity of residents’ behaviors in host–tourist interactions: implications for destination image and destination competitiveness”, Journal of Travel Research, 61(3), 565-580. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287521997576
- Vanat, L. (2023). International report on snow & mountain tourism. (p. 83). https://www.vanat.ch/ski-resorts-english.shtml
- Vanat, L. (2024). International snow report. https://www.thebookedition.com/fr/2024-international-snow-report-p-405209.html
- Wu, H., Pongsakornrungsilp, P., Kumar, V., & Chinchanachokchai, S. (2024). Key determinants to enhance the competitiveness of tourist destinations. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development.https://systems.enpress-publisher.com/index.php/jipd/article/view/5298
- World Economic Forum. (2024). Travel & tourism development index 2024. https://www.weforum.org/publications/travel-tourism-development-index-2024/
- Yangutova, A., Dong, S., Cheng, H., Xu, S., Li, F., Li, Z., Zhang, M., Li. J., Bazarzhapov, T., & Boldanov, T. (2023). Assessing the competitiveness of the ski resources around Lake Baikal (Russia) and measures for their further development. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410752
- Zehrer, A., Smeral, E. & Hallmann, K. (2017), “Destination competitivenes a comparison ofsubjective and objective indicators for winter sports areas”, Journal of Travel Research, 56(1), 55-66, https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287515625129
- Ahangari, N. , Hosseinzade, F. & hajinezhad, S. (2019). Sports tourism development strategic planning by using combined model SWOT and VIKOR (Case Study: West Azarbaijan province). Sport Physiology & Management Investigations, 11(4), 91-106. https://www.sportrc.ir/article_107714.html [In Persian]
- Alizadeh Sola, R., Mikaeili Kivi, S., & Taher, A. (2021). Investigating the competitive factors of Meshginshahr County in winter tourism. Nokhbegān-e ‘Olūm va Mohandesi [Elites of Science and Engineering], 6(2), 10–19. https://sid.ir/paper/967477/fa [In Persian]
- Delshad, A. (2021). Analysis of the competitiveness of urban tourism destinations in Iran. Urban Tourism, 8(1), 143-161. http://doi.org/10.22059/JUT.2021.310205.836 [In Persian]
- Janbaaz Ghobadi, Gh., & Norouzi, V. Sh. (2015). Investigating factors affecting the development of winter tourism (case study: Dizin International Ski Resort) [Review of Investigating factors affecting the development of winter tourism (case study: Dizin International Ski Resort)]. The First National Conference on Geography, Tourism, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, 2, 14–15. https://civilica.com/doc/357264/ [In Persian]
- Hasanvand, S., & Khodapanah, M. (2014).The impact of tourism on economic growth in developing countries: Two approaches static panel data and dynamic panel data. Quarterly Journal of The Macro and Strategic Policies, 2(6), 87-102. https://www.jmsp.ir/article_7364.html [In Persian]
- Azizian, N. , ojagh, S. A., & Moharramzadeh, M. (2024). Content analysis of sports tourism from an international perspective. Sport Physiology & Management Investigations, 16(1), 177-196. https://www.sportrc.ir/article_199791.html [In Persian]
- Ski Federation of Iran. (2024). Dizin Ski Resort. Ski Federation of Iran. http://www.skifed.ir/NewsOne/d?id=7 [In Persian]