Marketing economics
Khadija Bozrajmehri; Amin Faal Jalali
Abstract
Economic development is a multidimensional process aimed at creating new opportunities and reducing economic problems at the community level. This process encompasses improving trade, increasing productivity, and reducing poverty and unemployment. Villages, as a vital part of human settlements, face ...
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Economic development is a multidimensional process aimed at creating new opportunities and reducing economic problems at the community level. This process encompasses improving trade, increasing productivity, and reducing poverty and unemployment. Villages, as a vital part of human settlements, face numerous economic challenges, including decreasing population and rising unemployment rates. In Iran, since the land reforms, the proportion of the rural population has sharply declined, and the rural unemployment rate has reached approximately 9.8%, highlighting the growing economic issues in these areas. To address these challenges, this study focuses on enhancing economic resilience in rural communities by utilizing cultural and sports capacities. Choukhe wrestling, a traditional sport in Northern Khorasan, not only represents a part of local cultural identity but also offers potential to attract tourists and generat significant employment. Organizing championship competitions of Choukhe wrestling can strengthen the economic and social resilience of rural communities. This sport serves as a non-oil source of income, creating jobs and boosting tourism while providing sustainable income for villagers, especially during the agricultural off-seasons. This research aims to investigate the impact of organizing Choukhe wrestling competitions on the economic resilience of rural areas in Northern Khorasan and its role in strengthening the local economy. The findings of this study can inform the design of effective strategies for the sustainable development of these regions.
Information systems
Mehrnaz Tohidi Moghadam; Raheleh Jalalniya; Esmaeel MalekAkhlagh
Abstract
Smart social tourism, as an emerging approach combining smart technologies with social participation, has opened up new capacities for sustainable development in local communities. Amid rapid technological advancements and increasing social complexities, effective policymaking in this field is an undeniable ...
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Smart social tourism, as an emerging approach combining smart technologies with social participation, has opened up new capacities for sustainable development in local communities. Amid rapid technological advancements and increasing social complexities, effective policymaking in this field is an undeniable necessity for countries like Iran, which possesses rich cultural, historical, and geographical diversity. This study aims to design a policymaking model for the development of smart social tourism in Iran. It is a fundamental research based on a fieldwork approach. The participants consisted of two expert groups: Academic scholars in tourism policymaking (theoretical experts) and active managers in the tourism industry (practical experts). Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews comprising six main questions and the flexibility to ask follow-up questions. Data analysis was conducted using the grounded theory method. Findings revealed that causal conditions—including social capital of host communities, economic motivations, institutional capacity in tourism planning and policymaking, and digital transformation of tourism—affect the core phenomenon of smart social tourism. The core phenomenon, in turn, is shaped by contextual conditions (such as the tourism institutional system and smart infrastructure) and intervening conditions (such as inefficiencies in spatial distribution). These influence the strategies and actions adopted, which include drafting a national development plan for social tourism, spatially just planning, smart innovations to ensure fairness in tourism experiences, strengthening policymaking institutions and governance structures, empowering human resources, and institutionalizing the discourse of responsibility and justice in public tourism culture. Ultimately, these strategies lead to key outcomes, including a balanced distribution of tourism opportunities, enhanced social dynamism in destinations, improved national tourism positioning, and comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable development of social tourism.
Tourism planning
Hojjat Varmazyari; Marziye Fathi; Khalil Kalantari
Abstract
Community-Based Tourism (CBT) can help improve the economic and social conditions of local communities, but there are various obstacles. This research aims to identify and analyze the obstacles to local community participation in the development of CBT in rural areas. This investigation has been conducted ...
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Community-Based Tourism (CBT) can help improve the economic and social conditions of local communities, but there are various obstacles. This research aims to identify and analyze the obstacles to local community participation in the development of CBT in rural areas. This investigation has been conducted in nine villages in the Sarvabad and Marivan Counties of Kurdistan Province, Iran, which are recognized for their significant tourism potential. A total of 40 participants were selected using the theoretical saturation criterion, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather in-depth insights. Data coding ultimately segmented the identified barriers into nine categories, including: (1) the exogenous management of rural tourism projects coupled with limited villager involvement; (2) the absence of a monitoring system and the inadequate transmission of management information and supporting evidence to decision-makers; (3) perceived cultural disparities alongside associated negative impacts; and (4) fragile internal organizational structures within the villages. By identifying the aforementioned barriers, this research can help policymakers and researchers make better decisions for the development of CBT in rural areas.
Marketing economics
Ali Movahed; Moslem Ghasemi; seyed Hamed Kermanian
Abstract
Tourism, as a transnational practice with political, economic, social, and moral consequences, moves beyond the priorities and motivations of general travel (Antonio, 1403: 14). That’s becuase, on the one hand, politics and political change affect how tourism develops in a destination and, ...
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Tourism, as a transnational practice with political, economic, social, and moral consequences, moves beyond the priorities and motivations of general travel (Antonio, 1403: 14). That’s becuase, on the one hand, politics and political change affect how tourism develops in a destination and, on the other, tourism has political consequences that are international and/or domestic in scope (Hall, 2010).Therefore, the study of tourism as a political and social activity in international studies places it at the center of international relations (Antonio, 1403: 15).Some sanctions can lead to restrictions on transnational mobility and on international investments in the tourism and hospitality industries (Farmaki, et al., 2015; Ivanov et al., 2017). The implications of sanctions are that the sanctioned country may be forced into acute financial and political dependency on ‘friendly nations’ (Alipour & Kilic, 2005), which further restricts its capacity to normalize political relations with sanctioning countries while also reinforcing certain images of the country in its politics.Tourism is directly and indirectly affected by sanctions. Indirect effects usually arise from actions that impact firms in the tourism supply chain, e.g., the availability of spare parts for passenger planes, or from financial actions that affect the capacity to use US dollars or to attract investments for projects (Seyfi & Hall, 2019).Iran possesses significant tourism potential, yet its tourism industry has been severely impacted by political factors and international sanctions following events such as the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War (Butler & Suntikul, 2017; Hall, 2005). Sanctions have restricted foreign investment and financial transactions, creating a perception of insecurity (Pratt & Alizadeh, 2018; Seyfi & Hall, 2018). This research aims to explore the economic effects of these sanctions on Iran's tourism sector.
Bahman Khodapanah; Fariba Mesri Eisalo; Vali Nemati; Mojtaba Babaei
Abstract
This study aims to design a framework for circular tourism development in Ardabil Province using a content analysis approach. To achieve this, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 tourism experts. Data analysis and coding yielded 229 open codes, which were categorized into 26 axial ...
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This study aims to design a framework for circular tourism development in Ardabil Province using a content analysis approach. To achieve this, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 tourism experts. Data analysis and coding yielded 229 open codes, which were categorized into 26 axial codes. Furthermore, 10 selective codes were identified, including sustainable management of local resources, strengthening local culture and heritage, reutilization and ecological coexistence, waste management and crisis conditions, empowerment and local participation, strengthening the local economy and entrepreneurship, enhancing local solidarity and public awareness, innovation and creative management, autonomy and process improvement, and diversification and local incentives.As a pioneering study in circular tourism, this research provides a conceptual framework for developing this tourism model in Ardabil Province. The study concludes with practical recommendations to facilitate the implementation of circular tourism and promote sustainable regional development.
tourism management
Ali Delshad; Melika Sadeghizade; Fatemeh Shoelaei Majoumerd
Abstract
This study aims to systematically collect and evaluate prior research on the tourism value chain to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge and suggest future research directions. Over a five-month period, more than 65 articles were retrieved from reputable international databases such ...
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This study aims to systematically collect and evaluate prior research on the tourism value chain to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge and suggest future research directions. Over a five-month period, more than 65 articles were retrieved from reputable international databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, selected based on thematic relevance, credibility, and publication date. Following a rigorous screening process, 51 English-language articles published between 2014 and 2024 were analyzed using a systematic review combined with a paradigm funnel approach. The findings reveal a lack of comprehensive comparative studies examining the value chain structure across diverse tourism destinations. Additionally, critical dimensions such as environmental sustainability and social equity, particularly under global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, have been largely overlooked. The insights gained can aid policymakers and stakeholders in enhancing sustainable development within the tourism industry.
tourism management
Hooman Sabzavi; Amin Dehghan
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 ...
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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.
Sustainable development of tourism
Marzieh Moradi; Mohammad Safari
Abstract
With the global expansion of tourism and growing attention to sustainability issues, the study of consumer behavior and sustainable travel in this industry has gained increasing importance. The goal of this research is to analyze the scientific network of studies related to customer journeys and sustainable ...
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With the global expansion of tourism and growing attention to sustainability issues, the study of consumer behavior and sustainable travel in this industry has gained increasing importance. The goal of this research is to analyze the scientific network of studies related to customer journeys and sustainable tourism. This study uses bibliometric network simulation and bibliographic analysis to identify dominant trends and concepts in this field.This research employs bibliometric methods, scientific network analysis, and thematic analysis. Data were extracted from the Scopus database and analyzed using VOSviewer and Max-QDA software. Citation analysis, bibliographic linking, co-occurrence of words, and thematic analysis were conducted.The results showed that since 2020, many papers have been published on sustainability and customer behavior in sustainable tourism. Thematic analysis identified emerging themes such as destination sustainability, the role of technology in sustainable tourism, and community involvement.
Marketing economics
Azadeh Kazeminia
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to identify potential segments of health-wellbeing tourists visiting Guilan based on their motivations, and to find out if there are statistically significant differences between the segments concerning factors related to interests in various wellness attractions/attributes. ...
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The purpose of this paper is to identify potential segments of health-wellbeing tourists visiting Guilan based on their motivations, and to find out if there are statistically significant differences between the segments concerning factors related to interests in various wellness attractions/attributes. A sample of 227 tourists visiting Guilan was surveyed over a period of 3 months. Data analysis included two distinct phases. First, by conducting a two-stage cluster analysis (hierarchical clustering using the Ward algorithm - non-hierarchical k-means clustering), three segments have been recognized: 1) social escapers, 2) escaper learners, and 3) social learners. Next, the profiles of the identified segments have been defined using logistic regression analysis. The three groups exhibited significant differences in terms of how much importance they attributed to various wellness attractions/activities, superstructure components, and infrastructure elements They also differed from each other in terms of the demographic and information search characteristics. Managerial implications are discussed.
