Tourism planning
Mohammadreza Rezvani; alireza darban astane; Zabihollah Torabi
Abstract
This study aimed to design and validate the evaluation and ranking model of the country's tourism target villages. The research method was a mixed method, and its statistical population was 36 faculty members of Iranian universities and 75 provincial and national experts, This study was conducted in ...
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This study aimed to design and validate the evaluation and ranking model of the country's tourism target villages. The research method was a mixed method, and its statistical population was 36 faculty members of Iranian universities and 75 provincial and national experts, This study was conducted in three phases. First, domestic studies and the most important global benchmarks were reviewed Then in-depth interviews were conducted with elites, and an initial list of indicators was identified. In the second phase, using the Delphi research method, the results were provided to 36 professors . In the third step, based on the opinions of experts from 31 provinces, the results showed that the appropriate evaluation model is systemic. This model was designed and developed in four dimensions, including resources and attractions, infrastructure, empowerment processes and value chain, and the sustainability dimension, as well as 12 components and finally 35 indicators.
Information systems
Yazdan Shirmohammadi; Zeinab Hashemi Baghi
Abstract
This research was conducted with the aim of identifying the effective factors in the digital tourism industry based on Jung's archetypes using qualitative and quantitative methods. In the first step, a systematic review of previous literature was conducted using the bibliometric method using VOSviewer ...
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This research was conducted with the aim of identifying the effective factors in the digital tourism industry based on Jung's archetypes using qualitative and quantitative methods. In the first step, a systematic review of previous literature was conducted using the bibliometric method using VOSviewer software and the R programming language. In this step, four clusters were identified. Cluster 1: Mental engagement, authenticity, and customer experience in the era of digital tourism, Cluster 2: Destination image and tourism experience on visitor loyalty, and Cluster 3: Virtual reality, augmented reality, and metaverse in tourism experience. The results of the analyses showed that the variables of symbolic codes and multisensory experience of the digital brand had the highest level of influence, capacity for influence, and centrality index. In contrast, the variables of tourist involvement and destination loyalty showed the lowest level of influence, capacity for influence, and centrality index.
tourism management
hamdollah sojasi; lida alizadeh Dowlatabadi; seyed reza hosseini Kahnooj
Abstract
The present research method is descriptive-analytical and applied, and its statistical population consists of tourists to food destinations in the countryside of Mashhad. The factor analysis technique was used to extract and rank the factors, and the flow chart was used to identify the cause-and-effect ...
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The present research method is descriptive-analytical and applied, and its statistical population consists of tourists to food destinations in the countryside of Mashhad. The factor analysis technique was used to extract and rank the factors, and the flow chart was used to identify the cause-and-effect relationship and dynamic flow-analysis between the factors obtained from the factor analysis. The results of the factor analysis showed that the existence of the health factor and the hygiene of the tourist destination environments with an eigenvalue of 0.412 and a rate of 12.88% of the variance were identified as the most important factors affecting the development of food tourism destinations. In connection with the identification of cause-and-effect relationships, three loops were identified, and by combining the obtained loops as dynamic hypotheses, the general structure of the flow pattern was presented quantitatively.
Sustainable development of tourism
saeed bakhshi; Nader Naderi
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the impact of social entrepreneurship on the development of sustainable tourism. Methodologically, the research is descriptive and survey-based, and from an applied perspective, it is categorized as practical research. The study population comprised 360 experts from the ...
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This study aims to investigate the impact of social entrepreneurship on the development of sustainable tourism. Methodologically, the research is descriptive and survey-based, and from an applied perspective, it is categorized as practical research. The study population comprised 360 experts from the administrative departments of Harsin County and employees of tourism service units with lived experience in the region. Among them, 186 participants were selected using proportionate stratified random sampling, and data were collected through a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire’s validity and reliability were confirmed by experts in the field, and its reliability was further assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and confirmatory factor analysis. Out of the distributed questionnaires, 176 were completed and subsequently analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings indicate a positive and significant effect of social entrepreneurship dimensions on sustainable tourism development. Specifically, social passion plays a pivotal role in promoting tourism development.
Marketing economics
Mahdi Bashirpour
Abstract
Destination brand image is crucial for attracting and retaining tourists, particularly in religious destinations. This study explores pilgrims’ mental associations with Mashhad, a key pilgrimage city in Iran and the Islamic world, using a qualitative free-association approach. Findings reveal a ...
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Destination brand image is crucial for attracting and retaining tourists, particularly in religious destinations. This study explores pilgrims’ mental associations with Mashhad, a key pilgrimage city in Iran and the Islamic world, using a qualitative free-association approach. Findings reveal a multi-layered brand image comprising two main dimensions: first one is spiritual-emotional—tranquility, spirituality, religious identity, pilgrimage experience; and second one is service-cognitive—infrastructure, transportation, accommodation, urban services, and crowd management. Spiritual associations enhance emotional bonds and loyalty, while service deficiencies negatively affect overall experience and brand perception. The study underscores the need for integrated brand management addressing both dimensions and offers a framework for branding religious destinations, providing practical guidance for policymakers and tourism managers to improve pilgrim experiences and strengthen Mashhad’s international positioning.
Marketing economics
Hamed Fallah Tafti
Abstract
This research analyzes customer satisfaction in the hospitality industry using online reviews from TripAdvisor. Its goal is to uncover hidden patterns in customer feedback and provide evidence-based solutions to improve the guest experience. The study collected textual and numerical data using a web ...
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This research analyzes customer satisfaction in the hospitality industry using online reviews from TripAdvisor. Its goal is to uncover hidden patterns in customer feedback and provide evidence-based solutions to improve the guest experience. The study collected textual and numerical data using a web scraping technique. Then, it used a random forest regression model to identify the importance of various features. An analysis of 2,411 reviews showed that room quality and staff service are the most significant factors influencing customer satisfaction. The research also revealed that factors such as location and price have a notable impact. This study provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the drivers of customer satisfaction and emphasizes the need to focus on room quality and staff service to optimize the guest experience. This data-driven approach helps hotel managers effectively allocate resources and strengthen their competitive advantage.
Tourism planning
Mehrshad Ghanbari Hossein Abadi; mohsen moslehi; Reza Nasr Esfahani; Mohammad Ali Rajaei Rizi
Abstract
The potential of spiritual events in international tourism and regenerative tourism motivated this study, aiming to inform developmental planning through the analysis of tourists’ lived experiences. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected via in-depth interviews with 28 purposively selected ...
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The potential of spiritual events in international tourism and regenerative tourism motivated this study, aiming to inform developmental planning through the analysis of tourists’ lived experiences. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected via in-depth interviews with 28 purposively selected participants who had directly experienced spiritual events. Analysis followed Colaizzi’s seven-step phenomenological method, resulting in 57 statements across five main dimensions and the development of a conceptual model. The model, consistent with regenerative tourism principles, highlights the centrality of narration, participation, and experience. It functions as a feedback cycle in which positive outcomes of lived experience reinforce attraction and experience transfer, fostering the dynamism, renewal, and continuous regeneration of experiences within spiritual events. This framework provides a practical foundation for planners and policymakers to enhance both individual and collective benefits while supporting sustainable and transformative development in spiritual tourism.
Marketing economics
Mojtaba Ershadian; karim zohrevandian; Zeinab Mondalizadeh
Abstract
This research aims to develop a qualitative model for branding Maranjab Desert as a supplementary tourism destination, emphasizing sports and recreational tourism. Given the emergent nature of combining concepts like destination branding, supplementary destination, and sports tourism, a qualitative research ...
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This research aims to develop a qualitative model for branding Maranjab Desert as a supplementary tourism destination, emphasizing sports and recreational tourism. Given the emergent nature of combining concepts like destination branding, supplementary destination, and sports tourism, a qualitative research methodology based on Grounded Theory, following the Strauss and Corbin approach, was employed. Data were collected and analyzed through in-depth interviews with 16 academic and executive experts to derive a novel theoretical framework from empirical data. The findings resulted in a comprehensive paradigmatic model comprising five clusters of factors: Causal Conditions (e.g., unique potential), Contextual Conditions (e.g., supportive regulations), Intervening Conditions (e.g., governmental policies), Strategies (e.g., establishing a unique identity), and Consequences (e.g., economic benefits and increased tourist flow). This developed model adds significant theoretical added value to the destination branding literature and provides an operational framework for managers seeking to enhance Maranjab Desert’s position within the national tourism ecosystem.
Tourism planning
Amin Faal Jalali; maryam ghasemi; Mohsen Noghani Dokht Bahmani
Abstract
Cultural differences in rural areas have bestowed a unique identity on each region, transforming villages into valuable hubs for developing creative tourism. This study examines the creative tourism potential based on the seven UNESCO creativity domains in target tourism villages. The research employs ...
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Cultural differences in rural areas have bestowed a unique identity on each region, transforming villages into valuable hubs for developing creative tourism. This study examines the creative tourism potential based on the seven UNESCO creativity domains in target tourism villages. The research employs a descriptive method grounded in field studies. A total of 190 experts and tourism business owners from 16 target villages in Razavi Khorasan Province participated in completing the research instrument. Results indicate that Kriz excels in handicrafts, Bojhan in gastronomy, Mazinan in music and literature/art, Zafaraniyeh in media and photography, and Riab in design, each showing high potential. Overall, Mazinan ranks first across all creative activities assessed. Among the creativity domains, gastronomy/food emerges as the most attractive compared to others.
Information systems
Fatemeh Mohammadi; Zahra Azani
Abstract
With the growth of digital technologies in the tourism industry, customer experience has become one of the key dimensions of successful digital services. This study aims to identify the factors influencing customers' digital experience in the tourism context using a meta-synthesis. This qualitative research ...
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With the growth of digital technologies in the tourism industry, customer experience has become one of the key dimensions of successful digital services. This study aims to identify the factors influencing customers' digital experience in the tourism context using a meta-synthesis. This qualitative research was conducted using a meta-synthesis approach. To perform the meta-synthesis, 870 articles were initially collected through a systematic review from reputable scientific indexing databases covering the period 2015–2025 for international studies . 27 articles were selected for the final analysis. The findings revealed six main categories in customers’ digital experience: digital system design and performance, digital interaction and human communication, personalization and unique experiences, emerging technologies and technological attractiveness, customer emotions and psychological states, and economic considerations and accessibility. Customer digital experience in the tourism industry is a multidimensional and interdisciplinary phenomenon shaped by the interaction of technology, human factors, emotions, and economic value.
