دانشکده جغرافیا- دانشگاه تهران نشریه گردشگری شهری 2423-6926 12 3 2025 10 20 Explaining and Measuring Factors Affecting Artificial Intelligence Use in Medical Tourism Development: A case study of Ahvaz City تبیین و سنجش عوامل مؤثر بر کاربرد هوش مصنوعی در توسعه گردشگری پزشکی مطالعه موردی: شهر اهواز 1 18 100219 10.22059/jut.2024.377844.1216 FA مجید گودرزی گروه جغرافیا و برنامه‌ریزی شهری، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه شهید چمران اهواز، اهواز، ایران 0000-0001-7982-8027 ناهید آریانژاد گروه جغرافیا و برنامه‌ریزی شهری، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه شهید چمران اهواز، اهواز، ایران 0009-0007-4120-2564 زهرا سلطانی گروه جغرافیا و برنامه‌ریزی شهری، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه شهید چمران اهواز، اهواز، ایران 0000-0001-5876-0473 Journal Article 2025 06 01 A B S T R A C T As a transformative force in medical tourism, Artificial intelligence (AI) has driven this sector to new developments. AI in medical tourism has not only facilitated the delivery of quality treatments but also simplified the overall patient experience and brought about significant changes in the dynamics of this industry. Integrating intelligent healthcare systems that utilize AI technologies is essential in the healthcare ecosystem, especially in medical tourism monitoring. In addition, using AI helps reduce treatment costs and simplifies the information workflow. Therefore, applying advanced technologies and AI has increased healthcare services’ efficiency, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness, which benefits providers and medical tourists. The study mainly aimed to present a model to identify and rank factors affecting AI use in medical tourism development in Ahvaz. The applied study employed a descriptive-analytical research method. The statistical population consisted of 50 experts from the tourism sector and the medical sector, and due to the limited population, all people were selected as samples. The research results showed that the technological dimension had the highest weight, with a score of 0.2021. After that, the economic dimension, with a score of 0.2043; communication and information, with a score of 0.2021; infrastructure, with a score of 0.1971; and social, with a score of 0.1864, took the second to fifth positions. Extended Abstract Introduction As a transformative force in medical tourism, Artificial intelligence (AI) has driven this sector to new developments. AI in medical tourism has not only facilitated the delivery of quality treatments but also simplified the overall patient experience and brought about significant changes in the dynamics of this industry. Integrating intelligent healthcare systems that utilize AI technologies is essential in the healthcare ecosystem, especially in medical tourism monitoring. In addition, using AI helps reduce treatment costs and simplifies the information workflow. Therefore, applying advanced technologies and AI has increased healthcare services’ efficiency, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness, which benefits providers and medical tourists. The study mainly aimed to present a model to identify and rank factors affecting AI use in medical tourism development in Ahvaz. The applied study employed a descriptive-analytical research method. Methodology The primary research goal is to analyze artificial intelligence (AI) use in medical tourism development with the DEMATEL-Based Analytic Network Process (DANP) Model. Thus, an exploratory mixed methods sequential design method was employed; qualitative and quantitative research methods were sequenced. Based on this, in the first part of the research, which is qualitative, an in-depth review of the literature was used to determine AI use analysis in medical tourism development. In the second part, which is quantitative, the DANP was used to prioritize the variables. As mentioned, the first part of this research is dedicated to the qualitative part. A deep literature review method is used in this part of the research. The second part of this research is dedicated to the quantitative part. In this research, the findings of the qualitative phase were used, and the DANP model was used to investigate the relationship between the studied areas and their weighting. To collect information, using the dimensions and criteria of the qualitative part, the DEMATEL-based structured questionnaire based on the network analysis approach was employed, which was completed in person or via virtual submission. The nature of the questionnaires was such that they included a table of components, and the relationship and the effect of these components were obtained from experts regarding the appropriateness of the questionnaires and applied. In addition, the questionnaires were standard and used in similar studies. Post-test reliability was used to measure reliability. After some time, after sending the questionnaires, they were resent to five experts participating in the research to ensure this. The answers’ correlation is at least 70%, and the probability value is less than 0.5, indicating the questionnaires’ acceptable reliability. The reliability of the questionnaire pre-test/post-test was determined using the software. Cronbach’s alpha of this research is equal to 0.89, which shows a good value. The statistical population consisted of experts in tourism and the medical sector. The inclusion criteria of 50 experts selected via a non-random and purposive sampling technique were as follows: holder of a master’s degree and above, availability of tourists, willingness to participate in research, enough time to understand the questionnaire correctly, and complete mastery of the field of AI in medical tourism development. Results and discussion The prioritization of the research dimensions based on the obtained weights demonstrated that the technological dimension had the highest weight, with a score of 0.2021. After that, the economic dimension, with a score of 0.2043; the communication and information dimension, with a score of 0.2021; the infrastructure, with a score of 0.1971; and the social dimension, with a score of 0.1864, took the second to fifth ranks. According to these dimensions, among the indicators affecting AI use on medical tourism development in Ahvaz, the technological and economic dimensions are significant and consistent with the research literature. According to the research criteria prioritization and the obtained weights, the most weight is given to the indicators “improving patients’ experience by providing round-the-clock support to patients by answering their questions and providing useful information through artificial intelligence-based chatbots” (C3) with a score of 0.0733, “helping patients plan their trip including booking flights, hotels, and transportation” (F3) with a score of 0.0716, acceleration of remote medicine and diagnosis and treatment services (C1) with a score of 0.0708, ranked the first to third place among the indicators affecting AI use on medical tourism development in Ahvaz city. According to the survey of experts, these indicators have the highest scores. Also, the indicators “providing translation services for different languages and dialects and helping patients to understand medical terms and methods” (B1) with a score of 0.0252, “helping patients to contact family and friends at home and sharing their opinions with other potential medical tourists” (B2) with a score of 0.0345, and “medical tourism as an instrument for developing international relations with other countries” (D1) with a score of 0.0380 have the lowest scores. Thus, authorities need to pay much attention to them. Conclusion Employing the DNAP model distinguished the present study from other studies. The research results from the DANP Model showed that the technological dimension had the most weight, with a score of 0.2021. After that, the economic dimension with a score of 0.2043, the communication and information dimension with a score of 0.2021, the infrastructural dimension with a score of 0.1971, and the social dimension with a score of 0.1864 took the second to fifth ranks. The degree of influence and dependency, dimensions and criteria that interact more with other dimensions and criteria, and the weight of each dimension and component in the intelligent organization are determined. In total, 5 dimensions and 20 components apply artificial intelligence to medical tourism, and the weight of each of the dimensions and components was identified as described above to evaluate AI use and medical tourism in Ahvaz city. Funding There is no funding support. Authors’ Contribution Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none. Conflict of Interest Authors declared no conflict of interest. Acknowledgments We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper. هوش مصنوعی، یک نیروی دگرگون‌کننده در گردشگری پزشکی بوده و این بخش را به سمت پیشرفت‌های جدید سوق داده است. هوش مصنوعی در گردشگری پزشکی نه‌تنها ارائه درمان‌های باکیفیت را تسهیل کرده است بلکه تجربه کلی بیماران را نیز ساده و تغییرات قابل‌توجهی را در پویایی این صنعت ایجاد کرده است به‌گونه‌ای که ادغام سیستم‌های مراقبت بهداشتی هوشمند که از فناوری‌های هوش مصنوعی بهره می‌برند، نقشی اساسی در اکوسیستم مراقبت‌های بهداشتی به‌ویژه در زمینه نظارت بر گردشگران پزشکی ایفا می‌کند. علاوه بر این استفاده از هوش مصنوعی به کاهش هزینه‌های درمان و ساده‌سازی گردش کار اطلاعات نیز کمک می‌کند؛ بنابراین به‌کارگیری فناوری‌های پیشرفته و هوش مصنوعی، کارایی، اثربخشی و مقرون‌به‌صرفه بودن خدمات مراقبت‌های بهداشتی را افزایش داده است که هم برای ارائه‌دهندگان و هم برای گردشگران پزشکی سودمند است. ازاین‌رو، مهم‌ترین هدف پژوهش پیشِ رو ارائه مدلی در راستای شناسایی و رتبه‌بندی عوامل مؤثر بر کاربرد هوش مصنوعی در توسعه گردشگری پزشکی شهر اهواز است. پژوهش حاضر به لحاظ هدف، کاربردی و ازنظر نوع و ماهیت، توصیفی– تحلیلی می‌باشد. جامعه آماری پژوهش حاضر را 50 نفر از خبرگان بخش گردشگری و بخش درمانی تشکیل دادند که به دلیل محدود بودن جامعه، همه افراد به‌عنوان نمونه انتخاب شدند. نتایج پژوهش نشان داد که بیشترین وزن را بعد تکنولوژی با امتیاز (2021/0) دارد و بعدازآن بعد اقتصادی با امتیاز (2043/0)، ارتباطی و اطلاع‌رسانی با امتیاز (2021/0)، زیرساختی با امتیاز (1971/0) و اجتماعی با امتیاز (1864/0) رتبه‌های دوم تا پنجم را به خود اختصاص داده است.

https://jut.ut.ac.ir/article_100219_dec89f336c2a83818821a492735efe58.pdf

دانشکده جغرافیا- دانشگاه تهران نشریه گردشگری شهری 2423-6926 12 3 2025 11 19 The impact of developing tourism destination infrastructure on the competitiveness of tourism destinations in Gorgan County تأثیر توسعه زیرساخت‌های مقاصد گردشگری بر رقابت‌پذیری مقاصد گردشگری شهرستان گرگان 19 35 105291 10.22059/jut.2025.378946.1223 FA محمدرضا سلیمی گروه جغرافیا و برنامه‌ریزی گردشگری، پژوهشگاه علوم انتظامی و مطالعات اجتماعی، تهران، ایران افسانه رزجی گروه جغرافیا، دانشگاه زنجان، زنجان، ایران فرزاد درویشی گروه انتظامی، پژوهشگاه علوم انتظامی و مطالعات اجتماعی، تهران، ایران 0009-0002-6428-3524 Journal Article 2025 06 01 A B S T R A C T Gorgan County has high capabilities in terms of natural and human capacities in the tourism sector and can occupy a special place in the country in terms of attracting tourists, which requires the provision and development of infrastructure and recognition of the services needed by tourists in this area. The present study was designed and implemented to investigate the impact of developing tourism destination infrastructure on the competitiveness of tourism destinations in Gorgan County. For this purpose, the approach governing the research is of an applied-developmental type, and its research method is descriptive-analytical. The library and field methods (questionnaire tool) were used to collect the required information. After determining the sample size of 384 people, the questionnaires were completed, and their data were extracted. SPSS and Amos software and t-tests were used to analyze the questionnaire data and test the research variables. The t-test results show that the service and accommodation infrastructure index is higher, and the transportation and recreational-sports infrastructure index is lower than other tourism destination infrastructure indicators. The results of structural equation modeling (AMOS) indicate that among the dimensions of tourism infrastructure examined, accommodation and service infrastructure have the most significant impact on the competitiveness of tourists in Gorgan city. In this regard, urban managers are advised to contribute to the satisfaction of tourists and repeat travel to Gorgan city by developing tourism infrastructure such as services and accommodation and improving roads and transportation conditions. Extended Abstract Introduction The tourism industry has a significant impact on strengthening economic and social foundations and relationships between people, and the development of tourism destinations is one of the most important factors that can affect the competitiveness of tourists. The present study was designed and implemented to investigate the impact of developing tourism destination infrastructure on the competitiveness of tourism destinations, analyzing tourism infrastructure in different dimensions (accommodation infrastructure, service infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, and recreational infrastructure) simultaneously and identifying the relative importance of each dimension. What distinguishes this study from other studies is the in-depth study of the multidimensional effects of tourism infrastructure on the competitiveness of tourists and the identification of factors affecting the competitiveness of tourist destinations in the study area. Methodology The present research method is of an applied type, using descriptive-analytical methods and structural equation modeling to comprehensively analyze the development of tourism destination infrastructure and its impact on the competitiveness of the target population's tourism destinations. The statistical population is tourists from Gorgan who have traveled to Gorgan in the first quarter of 2024 for over 15 years. Also, the sample size is 384 respondents who were selected by simple random method. For this purpose, after conducting library studies and processing them, a questionnaire was prepared, and the necessary information about tourism development and its impact on competitiveness in Gorgan was collected. This study's measurement and data collection tool is a researcher-made questionnaire, which was applied to measure its reliability using Cronbach's alpha, which is above 87 percent. Also, to analyze the results of this research, descriptive statistics were used in descriptive statistical analysis, and structural equation modeling in the SPSS and AMOS software environments were employed in inferential statistical analysis. Results and discussion The results of the study of the duration of stay and the way tourists get acquainted showed that 74.5 percent of them stated that their duration of stay was 1 to 3 days. Regarding the way, they got acquainted with the attractions of Gorgan city, 38.2 percent of them stated that the Internet and cyberspace were the options, and 29.4 percent stated that their way of staying in Gorgan city was in organizational accommodation centers. Next, the tourism infrastructure variable was measured in the form of four indicators such as accommodation, service, transportation, and recreational infrastructure. Among the items of accommodation infrastructure, the quantitative status of guesthouses and hotels has the highest average, 3.47. In the service area, the item of the quantitative status of shopping centers to meet the needs of tourists has the highest average of 3.75. The item of the status of the public transportation system in the city has the highest average, with an average of 3.67. In the recreation area, the existence of sufficient public parks in the city has the highest average, with an average of 3.21. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis of the variable measurement model of the quality of infrastructure of tourist destinations, which includes the status of accommodation, service, transportation, and entertainment infrastructure, show that the image of the quality of infrastructure of tourist destinations and also the competitiveness of tourist destinations have factor loadings of more than 0.4. The factor analysis model of these variables is also approved. Also, considering the value of the T-statistic obtained for the path coefficient equal to 5.23, it can be inferred that the quality of infrastructure of tourist destinations increases the competitiveness of tourist destinations in Gorgan. Tourism infrastructure development indicators such as accommodation infrastructure, transportation, service and recreational infrastructure play a very important role in the competitiveness of Gorgan city's tourism destinations. In a way, the accommodation infrastructure index, one of the most important concerns of tourists, is the existence of desirable accommodation facilities in tourism destinations because the quality of infrastructure and their number and diversity in the area of interest for tourists will be promising for the development of tourism in Gorgan city. The results of the study showed that the number of existing camps in the province needs further development because the location of Gorgan city, due to the buffer zone between the movement of tourists and travelers to the holy Mashhad, requires the use of camps and resorts in these areas. On the other hand, the index of various infrastructure and service, recreational and sports factors, such as the existence of infrastructure and sports facilities and children's play facilities and the existence of sufficient public parks at the city level, can be among the important factors in attracting tourists and ensuring their comfort and well-being when traveling to this region. Overall, the infrastructure indicators of Gorgan city's tourist destinations are in an average state, and they affect the prosperity of tourism in this city because the infrastructure index is at a lower level due to lack of desirability, which is due to the lack of facilities and amenities related to transportation, accommodation and services in the region. Moreover, it can have a negative impact on the ability to attract tourists. Conclusion The results of the present study, in relation to statistical data and answers to the main research questions, indicate that the components of the indicators of accommodation, services, transportation, recreation, and sports infrastructures have a high range and diversity concerning the evaluation of the competitiveness of tourism destinations. The results of structural equation modeling indicate that accommodation and services infrastructures have the most significant role in the competitiveness of tourists in the target region among the dimensions of tourism infrastructures examined. After that, the dimensions of transportation, recreation, and sports infrastructures are recognized in third and fourth place by the respondents and affect the competitiveness of tourists in Gorgan city, respectively. Authors' Contribution The authors have contributed equally in all stages and parts of the research. Funding According to the statement of the corresponding author, this article has not been sponsored. Conflict of Interest Authors declared no conflict of interest. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank all those who helped conduct this research, especially those who assessed the quality of the article. امروزه مقاصد گردشگری برای دستیابی به توسعه پایدار، می‌بایست از زیرساخت‌ها، منابع و مزیت‌های رقابتی خود در زمینه گردشگری، بهترین استفاده را داشته باشند. پژوهش حاضر با هدف بررسی تأثیر توسعه زیرساخت‌های مقاصد گردشگری بر رقابت‌پذیری مقاصد گردشگری طراحی و اجرا شد. از نظر هدف، کاربردی و دارای ماهیتی توصیفی-تحلیلی و ژرفانگرانه است. از نظر نوع روش، در گروه پژوهش‌های کمی است. جامعه آماری پژوهش حاضر گردشگران ورودی به شهرستان گرگان بودند. با توجه به این‌که تعداد حجم جامعه آماری مشخص نبود از فرمول کوکران برای حجم جامعه نامحدود استفاده شد و حجم نمونه 384 نفر برآورد گردید. روش نمونه‌گیری در این پژوهش به‌صورت تصادفی ساده بود و به‌منظور تجزیه‌وتحلیل داده‌ای پژوهش از نرم‌افزارهای spss و Amos استفاده شد. یافته‌های پژوهش نشان داد که با توجه به مقدار ضریب مسیر به‌دست‌آمده متغیر کیفیت زیرساخت‌های گردشگری با ضریب مسیر 48/0 دارای بیشترین تأثیر بر روی متغیر وابسته یعنی رقابت‌پذیری مجتمع‌های گردشگری داشته است. نتایج حاصل‌شده این پژوهش حاکی از آن بود که مؤلفه‌های حمایت از توسعه زیرساخت‌های اقامتی، تفریحی، خدماتی و حمل‌ونقل گردشگری بر رقابت‌پذیری مقاصد گردشگری شهرستان گرگان مؤثر است.

https://jut.ut.ac.ir/article_105291_2812cdf19a965be838941a9f3e78aa9a.pdf

دانشکده جغرافیا- دانشگاه تهران نشریه گردشگری شهری 2423-6926 12 3 2025 10 21 Future Studies for Determining the Key Drivers of Sustainable Tourism: A case study of Torghabeh City تعیین پیشران‌های کلیدی مؤثر بر گردشگری پایدار مطالعه موردی: شهر طرقبه 37 56 105315 10.22059/jut.2025.392159.1274 FA محسن رفیعیان گروه شهرسازی، دانشکده هنر و معماری، دانشگاه یزد، یزد، ایران 0000-0002-4214-9765 فاطمه ارجمندی گروه شهرسازی، دانشکده هنر و معماری، دانشگاه یزد، یزد، ایران 0000-0003-1412-8219 Journal Article 2025 06 02 A B S T R A C T Today, tourism stands as one of the most prominent global industries, functioning both as a catalyst for economic growth and as a key platform for advancing sustainable urban development. Yet, despite substantial tourism potential, many cities have struggled to translate these advantages into sustainable development outcomes. This study seeks to identify the key factors shaping tourism across the various dimensions of sustainability and to explore the degree of interrelationship among them in Torghabeh—a city endowed with distinctive resources and facilities that can be leveraged to foster urban tourism development. Methodologically, this applied research employs a futures studies approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative techniques. In the first phase, relevant factors were identified through expert consultations with twelve tourism specialists, selected via the snowball sampling method. In the second phase, the key drivers of sustainable tourism development in Torghabeh were identified using a semi-structured questionnaire, with the cross-impact matrix applied to assess both the influence and interdependence of variables. The findings reveal instability within Torghabeh’s tourism system, highlighting six principal drivers: (1) cultural events such as festivals, exhibitions, conferences, and seminars; (2) private sector investment; (3) competitiveness; (4) equitable distribution of facilities; (5) macro-level policy frameworks; and (6) the expansion of tourism-related built environments. Together, these drivers constitute the critical forces shaping the city’s path toward sustainable tourism development. Extended Abstract Introduction Sustainable tourism indicators (STIs) constitute a core component of tourism planning and management. Such indicators serve as essential tools for destinations seeking to advance toward more sustainable models of tourism development. Yet, limited tangible progress combined with the rapid pace of technological change is compelling policymakers to reconsider and adapt existing indicator systems. Against this backdrop, the present study aims to evaluate sustainable tourism in Torghabeh and to provide insights and directions for future research concerning its potential for fostering sustainable tourism development. Methodology This study is applied in purpose and descriptive in nature. In the theoretical phase, data were collected through documentary and library research. In the practical phase, guided by a futures studies approach aimed at identifying effective drivers of sustainable tourism development, the research adopted a descriptive–analytical design, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methods. Accordingly, in the first stage, in-depth interviews were conducted with twelve tourism experts to identify variables and indicators relevant to the development of sustainable tourism in Torghabeh. Participants were recruited using the chain referral (snowball) technique, and by the tenth interview, theoretical saturation had been largely achieved. Nonetheless, the interview process continued until the twelfth case to ensure broader coverage. The interviews were manually coded, yielding 32 variables, which were subsequently categorized into five groups: socio-cultural, economic, environmental, managerial, and infrastructural–service factors. In the second stage, experts completed a semi-structured questionnaire in which they scored the effectiveness and influence of each variable on a scale from zero to three, within the framework of a cross-impact matrix. Here, zero denoted no impact, one indicated weak impact, two represented moderate impact, and three reflected strong impact. Finally, MICMAC software was employed to compute and analyze the cross-impact matrix. Results and Discussion Tourism activities demand careful planning, management, and monitoring within a long-term sustainability framework—an approach that many cities and countries currently lack. Variations in the key factors shaping sustainable tourism across cities highlight differences in their relative effectiveness, which depend on diverse local conditions and contextual factors. In their study of Kerman, Ali Akbari et al. (2017) identified competitiveness as the most significant driver influencing the future of sustainable tourism. Other important indicators included the removal of travel barriers, the expansion of built spaces, and environmental degradation linked to construction, alongside the role of participation and solidarity. Nasr (2018) identified eight categories of key drivers for tourism in the metropolis of Shiraz: advertising, local management, water resources, security, food security, historical monuments, macro-level national policies, and citizen participation. Similarly, Dohdehzadeh Silabi and Ahmadifard (2018) found that variables related to infrastructure and the service sector constitute the most influential drivers in the cities of Mazandaran Province. These variations reflect the specific conditions prevailing in each country. For instance, Maxim (2016) examined sustainable tourism in London and found that only a limited number of local authorities referenced its principles in policy documents, and even fewer demonstrated initiative in implementation. Consequently, government and local authorities emerged as the most influential drivers of sustainable tourism in London. Likewise, Kisi (2019) argued that the strategic approach to sustainable tourism development in Zonguldak, Turkey, hinges on product diversity, event management, destination image, sustainable visitor management systems, advertising and branding strategies, and collaborative partnerships. Conclusion The imperative for sustainable tourism development has gained global prominence, driven by the rapid expansion of the industry and its adverse impacts on social structures, natural resources, and cultural values. By contrast, sustainable tourism seeks to minimize environmental degradation while maximizing the socio-economic benefits generated for destinations. This study adopts a futures studies approach to formulate strategic pathways for the sustainable development of tourism in Torghabeh. Many of the factors identified through the cross-impact matrix emerged as development drivers, while others, though not classified as key variables in the initial analysis, still exerted influence as secondary forces in Torghabeh’s development process. Given the city’s specific conditions, the following drivers must be incorporated into the formulation of final scenarios: cultural events such as festivals, exhibitions, conferences, and seminars; private sector investment; competitiveness; equitable distribution of facilities; macro-level policy frameworks; and the expansion of tourism-related built spaces. These factors are central to enhancing Torghabeh’s capacity for long-term sustainability and to fostering repeat visitation by tourists. In conclusion, despite notable environmental weaknesses and threats, Torghabeh possesses significant tourism potential that requires strategic management to ensure sustainable development. Funding There is no funding support. Authors’ Contribution Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none. Conflict of Interest Authors declared no conflict of interest. Acknowledgments We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper. امروزه گردشگری به‌عنوان یکی از صنایع برجسته جهانی مطرح است که علاوه بر ایفای نقش به‌عنوان محرک رشد اقتصادی، بستری کلیدی برای ارتقای توسعه پایدار شهری نیز به شمار می‌آید. باوجوداین، بسیاری از شهرها علی‌رغم برخورداری از ظرفیت‌های قابل‌توجه گردشگری، در بهره‌گیری از این مزیت‌ها جهت دستیابی به نتایج پایدار توسعه با دشواری مواجه بوده‌اند. پژوهش حاضر با هدف شناسایی عوامل کلیدی اثرگذار بر گردشگری در ابعاد مختلف پایداری و بررسی میزان همبستگی میان آن‌ها در شهر طرقبه انجام‌شده است؛ شهری که از منابع و امکانات متمایزی برخوردار بوده و قابلیت بهره‌برداری در مسیر توسعه گردشگری شهری را دارد. از منظر روش‌شناسی، این تحقیق کاربردی با رویکرد آینده‌پژوهی و ترکیبی از روش‌های کمی و کیفی صورت پذیرفته است. در مرحله نخست، عوامل مرتبط از طریق مشاوره با دوازده متخصص گردشگری که به روش نمونه‌گیری گلوله برفی انتخاب شدند، شناسایی گردید. در مرحله دوم، با استفاده از پرسشنامه نیمه ساختاریافته، عوامل اصلی مؤثر بر توسعه گردشگری پایدار در طرقبه تعیین و سپس به کمک ماتریس اثرات متقاطع، میزان تأثیرگذاری و وابستگی متغیرها مورد ارزیابی قرار گرفت. یافته‌های پژوهش بیانگر بی‌ثباتی در نظام گردشگری طرقبه است و شش عامل اصلی را آشکار می‌سازد: (۱) رویدادهای فرهنگی نظیر جشنواره‌ها، نمایشگاه‌ها، همایش‌ها و سمینارها؛ (۲) سرمایه‌گذاری بخش خصوصی؛ (۳) ارتقای رقابت‌پذیری؛ (۴) توزیع عادلانه امکانات؛ (۵) چارچوب‌های سیاست‌گذاری کلان؛ و (۶) گسترش محیط‌های ساخته‌شده مرتبط با گردشگری. این عوامل در مجموع نیروهای تعیین‌کننده‌ای محسوب می‌شوند که مسیر توسعه گردشگری پایدار شهر را ترسیم می‌کنند..

https://jut.ut.ac.ir/article_105315_3dc2e8ff8798d3b8433196891460a506.pdf

دانشکده جغرافیا- دانشگاه تهران نشریه گردشگری شهری 2423-6926 12 3 2025 10 21 Measuring and Evaluating the Consequences of COVID-19 on Urban Tourism Destinations: A case study of Ardabil City سنجش و ارزیابی پیامدهای بحران کرونا (Covid-19) بر مقاصد گردشگری شهری مطالعه موردی: شهر اردبیل 57 79 100563 10.22059/jut.2025.375363.1203 FA علی موحد گروه جغرافیای انسانی، دانشکده علوم جغرافیایی، دانشگاه خوارزمی، تهران، ایران 0000-0001-8500-8340 طاهر پریزادی گروه جغرافیای انسانی، دانشکده علوم جغرافیایی، دانشگاه خوارزمی، تهران، ایران 0000-0001-8303-1723 احمد زنگانه گروه جغرافیای انسانی، دانشکده علوم جغرافیایی، دانشگاه خوارزمی، تهران، ایران 0000-0002-5540-2985 واحد آقائی گروه جغرافیای انسانی، دانشکده علوم جغرافیایی، دانشگاه خوارزمی، تهران، ایران 0000-0001-9040-2932 Journal Article 2025 06 02 A B S T R A C T The COVID-19 crisis is a widespread pandemic; it affected the structure, planning, economic, and social activities of tourist cities and made its continuation passive. The research aims to explain the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis on the urban tourism destinations of Ardabil. The logical approach governing the research is the inductive-comparative approach. The research is of a cognitive-analytical type, and from the point of view of method and nature, it is a type of post-event analysis. T-test and Friedman test were used to analyze the data, and a simulation of cause-effect relationships was performed in the Vensim environment. The obtained findings showed that the elements (primary and secondary) of urban tourism in Ardabil, before and after the COVID-19 period, underwent changes due to the COVID-19 crisis, and it shows a significant difference between the primary elements of tourism in the two periods, which is evident through the decrease in importance in the period during and after the COVID-19 period. Also, the analysis of the secondary elements of tourism showed that the highest importance and ranking for the period during and after the COVID-19 virus, respectively, include access to guest houses and hotels, the appearance and prospects of the tourism environment, the transportation status of the tourism area of Ardabil city, accurate information, etc., which are different. It is COVID-19 from the previous period. Also, the simulation of cause-effect relationships showed that there are two rings, R1 and R2, in the urban tourism model of Ardabil, which have decreasing and increasing effects and also show a mediating and mediating process on the primary and secondary elements. Extended Abstract Introduction The city is basically a living organism consisting of complex communications, comprehensive behaviors, and unpredictable nonlinear characteristics, which subsystems and subsystems such as tourism, land, urban housing, the body of the city, etc., operate in this complex system. Meanwhile, one of the most important urban subsystems is a subsystem of tourism, which is a multi-dimensional system that affects various aspects of human life, including economic, social, cultural, political, environmental, and physical in the territory. In fact, tourism is a production and consumption industry, the development of which has always helped to increase employment and national income and has created demand for many goods and services. Tourism is characterized as an open system with a high degree of connection with the environment, which is influenced by many inputs and outputs. Numerous interactions with different aspects of the outside world affect the tourism system and the environment. So, tourism, especially urban tourism, should be considered a system; without a systemic approach, all its dimensions are not considered. In this framework, the outbreak of COVID-19 has severely affected urban tourism. Therefore, the researcher is trying to consider the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis on Ardabil's urban tourism with an emphasis on primary and secondary elements. Methodology This research is positivist in terms of the type of philosophy, and the logical approach governing the research is the inductive-deductive approach. This research generally has two main parts, the first part includes the evaluation of primary and secondary elements in the period before Corona, during and after Corona, and the second part includes determining the cause-effect relationships of these elements and the degree of influence of the structures on each other. After extensive studies and consultation with professors, a researcher-made questionnaire was prepared, and to measure the validity of the questionnaire, after the approval of experts and professors, the final version of the questionnaire was obtained. The statistical population of the current research includes the relevant experts (experts, officials, and professors in the fields related to the subject), and the nature of the obtained data is qualitative and quantitative. Statistics and branches and descriptive and inferential techniques were used to analyze the data. Results and discussion In the primary elements, there is a difference between the two periods (before and after COVID-19), which is shown through a decrease in the average during and after COVID-19. The average of the secondary elements obtained in the pre-COVID-19 period is much higher than the secondary elements in the COVID-19 period. The general results of ranking for tourism elements before the COVID-19 period and during and after the COVID-19 period indicate that there is a significant difference in the average before the COVID-19 period and during and after the COVID-19 period, which is important for the two primary structures and secondary is generally considered. The comparison of the average ranking for the primary elements shows that the highest average for the pre-COVID-19 period in Ardabil urban tourism is the status of natural attractions, the status of food tourism, etc. Also, the ranking order of importance for the period during and after the COVID-19 period, respectively, includes the state of food tourism, the state of recreational and night tourism, etc. There is a significant difference between the research sub-variables in terms of importance. These sub-variables do not have the same value and importance, but they have a significant difference. The implementation of cause-effect relationships between the sub-system of urban tourism in Ardabil and the COVID-19 pandemic showed that urban tourism in Ardabil is a dynamic system that involves positive and sometimes negative actions and reactions with each other (other components), which is an example of input and the entropy of COVID-19 has brought a negative trend for urban tourism in Ardabil. Conclusion The results showed that there are two circles, R1 and R2, between the pandemic of the COVID-19 crisis and urban tourism in Ardabil, and circle R1 is related to two main variables, which is a negative trend in the relationship between the pandemic the COVID-19 crisis and urban tourism in Ardabil and a positive trend in the COVID-19 period for the relationship between the urban tourism of Ardabil showed the pandemic. Also, the result of the model diagram showed that the declining trend of urban tourism in Ardabil during the COVID-19 period is a clear trend (the trend of decreasing tourism); this also shows a significant and verifiable agreement with the results obtained from the evaluation and measurement. Funding There is no funding support. Authors’ Contribution Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none. Conflict of Interest Authors declared no conflict of interest. Acknowledgments We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper. بحران کرونا اپیدمی فراگیر؛ بر ساختار، برنامه‌ریزی، فعالیت‌های اقتصادی و اجتماعی شهرهای گردشگر پذیر تأثیر گذاشته و تداوم آن مدیریت شهری در ایران و شهر اردبیل منفعل کرد. هدف کلی پژوهش تبیین پیامدهای بحران کرونا روی مقاصد گردشگری شهری اردبیل است. رویکرد منطقی حاکم بر پژوهش، رویکرد استقرایی-قیاسی است. پژوهش از نوع شناختی - تحلیلی و از منظر روش و ماهیت از نوع تحلیل پس رویدادی است. جامعه آماری پژوهش شامل متخصصین حوزه گردشگری و شهری محدوده موردمطالعه است. برای تحلیل داده‌ها از آزمون T-test و Friedman test و شبیه‌سازی روابط علی- معلولی در محیط Vensim صورت گرفت. یافته‌های به‌دست‌آمده نشان داد که عناصر (اولیه و ثانویه) گردشگری شهری اردبیل؛ قبل و پس از دوره کرونا دچار تغییرات ناشی از بحران کرونا شده و اختلاف و تفاوت معناداری میان عناصر اولیه گردشگری در دو دوره را نشان می‌دهد که این مهم از طریق کاهش رتبه اهمیت در دوره حین و پس از کرونا نمایان است. هم‌چنین تحلیل عناصر ثانویه گردشگری نشان داد که بالاترین اهمیت و رتبه برای دوره حین و پس از کرونا به ترتیب شامل وضعیت دسترسی به مهمان‌سراها و هتل‌ها، ویژگی‌های ظاهری و چشم‌اندازهای محیط گردشگری، وضعیت حمل‌ونقل حوزه گردشگری شهر اردبیل، اطلاع‌رسانی دقیق و غیره است که متفاوت از دوره قبل کرونا است. هم‌چنین نتایج شبیه‌سازی روابط علی- معلولی نشان داد که دو حلقه R1 و R2 در مدل گردشگری شهری اردبیل وجود دارد که تأثیرات کاهشی و افزایشی بر هم داشته و روندی میانجی و واسطه‌ای بر روی عناصر اولیه و ثانویه را نیز نمایان می‌سازد.

https://jut.ut.ac.ir/article_100563_23050b6f7c682f27f2355d4c78165b76.pdf

دانشکده جغرافیا- دانشگاه تهران نشریه گردشگری شهری 2423-6926 12 3 2025 10 22 Analyzing the Brand Personality of Medical Tourism in Pakistan and Explaining the Loyalty of Customers of Southeast Iran to the Territory of Tourism and Terrorism تبیین وفاداری مشتریان سیستان و بلوچستان به گردشگری پزشکی در پاکستان واکاوی شخصیت برند (پارادوکس توریسم و تروریسم) 81 96 100221 10.22059/jut.2025.371480.1183 FA امیرحمزه شهبازی گروه جغرافیا و برنامه ریزی گردشگری، دانشکده جغرافیا و برنامه ریزی محیطی، دانشگاه سیستان و بلوچستان 0000-0002-5846-097X Journal Article 2025 06 03 A B S T R A C T The character of Pakistan's medical tourism brand is intertwined with the "paradox of tourism and terrorism" or "terror and tourism", but it is necessary to explain the reasons for the loyalty of medical tourists from Sistan-Baluchistan to the country of Pakistan. This research is applied and descriptive-analytical. Data collection was done by survey method (researcher-made questionnaire, sometimes interview and participatory observation) with random sampling method, and the scope of the research was the cities of Torbat, Panjgur, Karachi and Quetta in Pakistan and 26 cities in the southeast of Iran. Data analysis has been done with 9 non-parametric statistical inference models. The main research questions of medical tourists were focused on the emotional and mental image (emotional, perceptual), cognitive mental image (logical, rational awareness of costs), and behavioural mental image (return trip, loyalty and recommendation to others) of medical tourism destination cities in Pakistan. The results showed that 67% of respondents considered medical expenses and 59% of accommodation and food expenses low to moderate. In addition, the respondents' satisfaction with doctor's appointments, doctors' correct diagnosis and confidence in the final treatment results were 80%, 79% and 79%, respectively. The findings confirmed the feeling of perceptual and emotional satisfaction with the personality of the destination brand, the desirability of the cognitive image (rational and calculating) of the tourist destination, and satisfaction with the final achievement (as a factor of loyalty and recommendation to others). Based on these findings, the basic factors for attracting medical tourists to Pakistan (despite the phenomenon of terrorism and tourism), the existence of relative, causal and co-provincial relatives in the cities of Karachi, Panjgur, Torbat and Vaquita, the compatibility of the personality of the medical tourism brand of Pakistan with the dominant personality of the people of South Sistan and Baluchistan (linguistic, ethnic, religious, level of development, beliefs and behaviors). Extended Abstract Introduction The competition of cities to increase income and employment in medicine, as well as branding and promotion of brand personality, points out the need for analysis, recognition and planning. The character of Pakistan's medical tourism brand, which is also intertwined with the "paradox of tourism and terrorism" or "terror and tourism" and the importance of explaining the loyalty of medical tourists from Sistan-Baluchistan to the country of Pakistan, is necessary. The competition of the service organizations of each country for more and better coverage of the citizens, as well as the efforts of the senior managers of the countries to increase the spatial interaction of the citizens with the internal territory of the country, undoubtedly the necessity of studying the phenomenon of loyalty of medical tourists to the cities of Pakistan (a country with the paradox of tourism and terrorism, or terror and tour, is facing) has become a basic priority. The output of this research can improve the competitive position of Iranian cities. Methodology This research is practical in nature and descriptive and analytical in terms of method. Data collection was done by survey method (researcher questionnaire, case interview and case participant observation) by random sampling method, and the scope of the research was the cities of Torbat, Panjgur, Karachi and Quetta of Pakistan and 26 cities of southeastern Iran. Data analysis was done with non-parametric statistical inference models Cramer's V, Kendall's tau-c, Kruskal Wallis Test, Chi-doo, One-Sample Test, Size, Cohen's d, Hedges' correction, Kolmogorov Smirnov, Shapiro Wilk, Sign test (one-sample) and One- Sample Chi-Square. Results and discussion The findings with the results of the studies of Akbarian Rounizi and Rajaei (2017), Fahadikhah et al. (2022), Ajilchi et al. (2023), Chang and Wang (2019), and Chaulagain (2021) are compatible with the effect of destination image, service quality and cost on tourists' decision and their loyalty. They also align with the findings of Dosti Irani et al. (2022) and Peng et al. (2023) on emotional solidarity with residents and its relationship with place attachment. However, the results of the research do not confirm the findings of studies such as Ahmed et al. (2022), Kanwel et al. (2019), and Ahlfeldtet al. (2015) that considered the paradox of "terrorism and tourism" as well as "terror and tourism" in Pakistan as an obstacle to the presence of tourists; at least in the scope of the study. Conclusion Pakistan, despite many problems (terrorism, lack of proper security for foreigners, terror phenomena, kidnapping, failure to curb terrorism, extremism, vandalism, tribal rebellion, weak authority of the central government, lack of political stability, lack of proper communication infrastructure, the inefficiency of human power, but it has a high potential in natural areas (next to the Himalayas), social and including medical tourism (according to the similar situation in India). The mental image of the medical tourism brand of Pakistani cities is brief; one-third of medical tourists did not have a positive perception of security in Pakistani cities. About one-third of the respondents have evaluated the medical costs as high and one-third as average. The cost of accommodation and food for 36% of those who stayed at their relative's house and 56% of those who stayed at hotels and inns were considered high to very high. The level of hygiene and cleanliness in medical and medical centers of Pakistan has been considered low to very low by 37% of the samples and high to very high by 28%. Depreciation of Rial for 33% of people who stayed at their relatives' houses and 42% who stayed in hotels and inns. Summarizing the hypotheses test results indicates that the perception and feeling of emotional satisfaction of the medical tourists of Sistan and Baluchistan is higher than the assumed average according to the integration of 8 variables (computed). Also, the cognitive mental image (rational and calculating) of the medical tourists of the state of the destination, i.e. the cities of Pakistan, with the combination of variables (computer method), is in the average range and slightly above the average. In the end, the mental image of medical tourists to Pakistani cities (satisfaction with the final result of treatment in Pakistan) was tested as a basic index. Because it is the creator of the mental image of the destination, the factor of customer loyalty, the motivation to visit again and the factor of recommending the destination to others, it was revealed that it could be classified above the average (in the relatively large and strong category). It seems that the fundamental factor in attracting medical tourists from the middle and south of the province to Pakistan is the existence of relative, causal and even co-provincial relatives in the cities of Pakistan (Karachi, Panjgur, Torbat and Quetta). It has several advantages for medical tourists such as possibility of accommodation during the trip, empathy and care in the field of medicine, reduction of the cost of accommodation and food, attachment and belonging to the place and destination, advertising and awareness (word of mouth, internet) as well as the cultural similarity of the origin and destination in terms of the compatibility of the personality of the medical tourism brand of Pakistan with the dominant personality of the people of the center and south of Sistan and Baluchistan province (in terms of language, ethnicity, level of cultural development such as literacy, urbanization, women's economic participation rate, birth rate, beliefs, behavioral patterns and the rate of entry into the modern lifestyle) in comparison with the cities of Mashhad, Isfahan, Tehran and even Zahedan. Funding There is no funding support. Authors’ Contribution Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none. Conflict of Interest Authors declared no conflict of interest. Acknowledgments We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper. شخصیت برند گردشگری پزشکی پاکستان با «پارادوکس توریسم و تروریسم» یا «ترور و تور» عجین شده، لیکن تبیین علل وفاداری گردشگران پزشکی از سیستان و بلوچستان به کشور پاکستان ضرورت دارد. این پژوهش، کاربردی و توصیفی-تحلیلی است. گردآوری داده‌ها با روش پیمایشی ‌(پرسشنامه محقق ساخته، بعضاً مصاحبه و مشاهده مشارکتی) با روش نمونه‌برداری تصادفی انجام‌شده و قلمرو پژوهش، شهرهای تربت، پنجگور، کراچی و کویته پاکستان و 26 شهرستان جنوب شرق ایران بود. تحلیل داده‌ها با تعداد 9 مدل استنباط آماری ناپارامتریک، انجام‌شده است. سؤال‌های اصلی تحقیق از گردشگران پزشکی، معطوف به تصویر ذهنی عاطفی (احساسی، ادراکی)، تصویر ذهنی شناختی (آگاهی منطقی، عقلانی از هزینه‌ها)، تصویر ذهنی رفتاری (سفر مجدد، وفاداری و توصیه به دیگران) از شهرهای مقصد گردشگری پزشکی در پاکستان بود. نتایج نشان داد؛ 67% پاسخگویان، هزینه‌های پزشکی و 59% هزینه اقامت و غذا را کم، خیلی کم تا متوسط دانسته‌اند. ضمناً میزان رضایت پاسخگویان از «نوبت ویزیت دکتر، تشخیص درست پزشکان و اطمینان به نتیجه نهایی درمان»، به ترتیب: 80% و 79% و 79% بوده است. یافته‌ها بیانگر تأیید احساس رضایت ادراکی و عاطفی از شخصیت برند مقصد و مطلوبیت تصویر شناختی (عقلایی و حسابگرانه) از مقصد گردشگری و رضایت از دستاورد نهایی (به‌مثابه عامل وفاداری و توصیه به دیگران) بود. از پی این یافته‌ها، عوامل شالوده‌ای جذب گردشگران پزشکی به پاکستان، (علیرغم پدیده تروریسم و توریسم)، وجود خویشاوندان نسبی، سببی و هم‌ولایتی در شهرهای کراچی، پنجگور، تربت و کویته، سازگاری شخصیت برند گردشگری پزشکی پاکستان با شخصیت غالب اهالی جنوب سیستان و بلوچستان (زبانی، قومیتی، مذهبی، سطح توسعه، باورها و الگوهای رفتاری) بود.

https://jut.ut.ac.ir/article_100221_39d4d02bd94e7dad5e06b873a27b0fe4.pdf

دانشکده جغرافیا- دانشگاه تهران نشریه گردشگری شهری 2423-6926 12 3 2025 11 21 Analyzing the Roles of Environmental Resources in the Development of Urban Tourism in Khansar City تحلیل نقش منابع محیطی در گردشگری شهری خوانسار 97 111 100220 10.22059/jut.2025.360485.1134 FA حبیب اله فصیحی گروه جغرافیا و برنامه‌ریزی شهری، دانشکده علوم جغرافیایی، دانشگاه خوارزمی، تهران، ایران 0000-0002-0672-0944 Journal Article 2025 06 03 A B S T R A C T This article aimed to analyze the role of environmental resources in motivating tourists to come to the city of Khansar. Khansar is located in the west of Isfahan province. It has a population of 22000 people. The research uses a descriptive-analytical method based on documentary and survey data. Environmental resources that are supposed to be effective in attracting tourists are identified through studying many books and documents as well as consulting meetings with the director and the experts of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Office, and a few others. The evaluation of the motivation level of any selected resources was accomplished by 350 sample tourists. They are selected among the 4000 tourists who visit the area annually. The data was collected using a questionnaire that contained 37 items. The respondent must sign any of the items on the 5-point Likert scale. To analyze the data, it is implied the Friedman Test and the One Sample T-Test. Findings show that 15 out of 37 resources are evaluated as "effective resources," 13 resources as "relatively effective," and 9 resources as "non-effective." Also, the results indicated that items in the two categories of economic and cultural are attractive in absorbing tourists, and the others are in a moderate situation. In conclusion, despite what happened in previous decades, the nature and natural environment of Khansar would not be so effective in absorbing tourists. Climate change and droughts have largely eliminated the attraction of the physical environment for tourists. Extended Abstract Introduction Tourism has a high position in the models of destination development and modern competition. These models consider environmental resources an integral part of the process. Environmental resources of tourism are a multi-dimensional concept that includes not only the economic goods of tourism, such as overnight accommodation and entertainment but also the attractions of the environment, which are a source for tourism development and a main attraction for potential tourism demand. Some places have capacities and capabilities to attract tourists. These places may become tourist-friendly due to their tangible and intangible cultural heritage, charming landscapes, pleasant weather, attractive nature, magnificent shopping centers, festivals, special rituals, religious sanctity, etc. Khansar, the area of this research, is famous as a recreational travel destination. The attractiveness of this city for tourists is due to its natural environment on one hand, which is characterized by beautiful nature on the edge of the Central Mountains of Iran, gardens, and springs; on the other hand, the tangible and intangible heritage of this city, and its rich culture. The purpose of this research is to identify and evaluate those environmental elements that are attractive to visitors. The research seeks to inform tourists about the various types of attractions in Khansar city and the surrounding environment and evaluate the degree of importance they attach to these attractions in search of answers to the following questions: 1.What components of environmental resources have been involved in motivating tourists to choose Khansar as a tourist destination? How have these components, individually and in the five categories of natural and environmental, economic, social, institutional, cultural, and services, motivated tourists to choose Khansar as a tourist destination? Methodology The components of tourism environmental resources are identified by studying the research literature and implying consultation meetings with 15 experts. The indicators are categorized into 5 sets as natural and environmental, cultural, social-institutional, economic, and services. A survey method using a questionnaire is used to evaluate the indicators. The questionnaire consisted of 37 items. In each item, the respondent was asked to answer to what extent each mentioned place or phenomenon has attractions for traveling to Khansar. The respondent must evaluate the items in one of the ranges from none to a lot. The sample respondents consist of 350 people, including 192 men and 158 women, selected among the 4000 tourists. The obtained data was entered into the SPSS software and analyzed using Friedman's Test and the One Sample T-Test. Results and discussion Among the total 37 indicators of environmental tourism resources of Khwansar city, 15 sites are "influential," 13 sites are "relatively effective," and 9 sites are "without impact" on attracting tourists. Among the influential indicators, only three, Damaneh Cave, Baghkal Dam, and Honey Park, are in the "natural" category. "Trade," "investment search," and "souvenirs and handicrafts" are three influential indicators in the "economic" category and have the ranks of 2, 4, and 15, respectively. All four economic indicators except "collecting medicinal plants" are evaluated as "influential." Four indicators are in the "cultural" category as "Historical monuments and cultural heritage" (rank 5), "Pilgrimage to shrines" (rank 6), "Visiting Baba Turk's tomb" (Rank 8), and "Main Mosque" (rank 10). From the indicators of the "services" category, two indicators of "toilets" (rank 9) and " the roads toward Khansar" (rank 11) were evaluated as "influential" indicators. "Golestan-Koh" and "green tunnel-like streets" are two "natural" category indicators that are evaluated as "relatively effective." "Collecting medicinal plants" is another "relatively effective" indicator in the "economic" category. The only indicator from the "cultural" category that is evaluated as "relatively effective" is the "Architectural and heritage works of the villages near the city of Khansar." Four "relatively effective" indicators from ranks 24 to 27 are from the "social-institutional" category and include: "traditional rituals," "hospitality," "local foods," and "order in the city." "Quality of hotels and accommodation centers," "Car parking in the streets and tourist places," "Access to fuel stations," "Car repair shops and car service centers," "Restaurant," and finally, "Internet and telecommunications services" are five indicators from the "service" category that are evaluated as "relatively effective." Out of the total of 9 indicators that were "ineffective" in the motivation to travel to Khansar, 7 indicators are in the "natural" category and 2 indicators are in the "social-institutional" category. The "Economic" and "Cultural" indicators are attractive to tourists, and the indicators of the other three categories are moderately attractive. Also, the indicators of none of the categories are very attractive. Conclusions According to the findings of the research, the following measures are suggested for the development of Khansar tourism: Appropriate proper regulations to preserve natural resources and implementing the regulations strictly; Investing in implementing new techniques to exploit water resources efficiently to revive and expand gardens and green landscapes; Controlling tourists to prevent damage to the environment; Investing to build all kinds of accommodation centers and services that are suitable for different social and income groups; Research is needed to determine a suitable tourism brand and develop a strategic plan for Khansar tourism development. Funding There is no funding support. Authors’ Contribution Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none. Conflict of Interest Authors declared no conflict of interest. Acknowledgments We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper. هدف این مقاله تحلیل نقش منابع محیطی در انگیزش گردشگران برای سفر به شهر 22 هزار نفری خوانسار است. روش پژوهش، توصیفی-تحلیلی و مبتنی بر داده‌های اسنادی و پیمایشی است. شناسایی منابع محیطی تأثیرگذار بر گردشگری، با مطالعه در ادبیات تحقیق و جلسات مشورتی با مدیر و کارشناسان اداره میراث فرهنگی، صنایع‌دستی و گردشگری و کارشناسان امور اجتماعی و اداره امور اقتصادی فرمانداری شهرستان خوانسار صورت گرفته است. ارزیابی میزان انگیزش هر منبع، توسط نمونه آماری 350 نفره از گردشگران منطقه انجام‌شده است. تعداد نمونه بر مبنای مدل کوکران از برآورد جامعه آماری 4000 نفر گردشگر در سال به طریق طبقه‌بندی‌شده انتخاب گردیده‌اند. ابزار گردآوری داده‌های پیمایشی، پرسشنامه حاوی 37 گویه با قابلیت ارزیابی در 5 طیف لیکرت بوده و برای تحلیل داده‌ها از آزمون‌های فریدمن و تی‌تست ‌تک ‌نمونه‌ای استفاده‌شده است. یافته‌های تحقیق نشان دادند که 15 منبع از مجموع 37 منبع، در ایجاد انگیزه برای سفرهای گردشگری در خوانسار «تأثیرگذار» بوده، 13 منبع «نسبتاً تأثیرگذار» و 9 منبع «فاقد تأثیرگذاری»، ارزیابی‌شده‌اند. نتایج همچنین نشان داد که برای جلب گردشگر، دو بعد اقتصادی و فرهنگی دارای جذابیت بسیار بوده و سه بعد دیگر، جذابیت بینابینی داشته‌اند. جایگاه طبیعت و محیط‌زیست در منابع گردشگری خوانسار در زمان انجام تحقیق برای جلب گردشگر چندان مناسب نبوده و خشک‌سالی‌ها و عوامل دیگر، جذابیت‌های محیط طبیعی آن برای گردشگران را تا حدود زیادی تضعیف کرده است.

https://jut.ut.ac.ir/article_100220_b13e133450f9bc36643e738e018fa29d.pdf

دانشکده جغرافیا- دانشگاه تهران نشریه گردشگری شهری 2423-6926 12 3 2025 10 23 A systematic review of creative tourism literature with a meta-synthesis approach مرور نظام‌مند ادبیات گردشگری خلاق با رویکرد فراترکیب 113 126 101129 10.22059/jut.2025.378675.1222 FA بهمن خداپناه گروه مدیریت بازرگانی، دانشکده علوم اجتماعی، دانشگاه محقق اردبیلی، اردبیل، ایران 0000-0002-2433-3921 فریبا مصری عیسی لو گروه مدیریت بازرگانی، دانشکده علوم اجتماعی، دانشگاه محقق اردبیلی، اردبیل، ایران 0009-0000-8724-9367 Journal Article 2025 06 04 A B S T R A C T Creative tourism is a relatively new concept in the tourism field that has attracted the attention of individuals, policymakers, and researchers. As a subset of cultural tourism, this type of tourism emphasizes deep, authentic, and participatory experiences desired by tourists. Unlike traditional tourism, which primarily focuses on sightseeing, creative tourism provides opportunities for tourists to actively engage with local culture, arts, and community lifestyles. The present study aims to conduct a systematic review of the literature on creative tourism using a meta-synthesis approach to support the development of the tourism industry. Through this method, the researchers conducted an in-depth examination of the subject and synthesized the findings of previous qualitative studies. To achieve this, a comprehensive search was performed in reputable scientific databases within the time frame of 2000 to 2023, identifying 290 articles related to creative tourism. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 25 articles were selected for final content analysis, and the relevant indicators were extracted using open and axial coding strategies. Based on the study’s findings, six key indicators and 43 sub-indicators of creative tourism were identified. These indicators include creative industries, creative culture, creative individuals, creative places, creative experiences, and creative development. The results revealed that considering these indicators is crucial for the growth and sustainability of creative tourism. Ultimately, based on the findings, practical recommendations have been proposed for policymakers and local managers to enhance the balanced and sustainable development of creative tourism. Extended Abstract Introduction Tourism, a globally dominant service sector, profoundly influences economic, cultural, social, and political development. Its rapid global expansion has underscored its critical role in fostering regional economic growth, particularly within developing nations. Since the 1990s, the travel and tourism industry has contributed to global GDP and employment, driven by service-sector growth. In 2019, the industry's direct contribution to global GDP reached 10.3 percent, while its share of global employment stood at 10.4 percent. Projections indicate a sustained upward trajectory for these contributions in the future. Concurrently, the industry has evolved, prioritizing enhanced tourist experiences and the provision of creative services and products. In recent decades, the concepts of "creative economy," "creative industries," and "creative cities" have gained significant prominence. Within this context, creative tourism has emerged as a novel and alternative approach to traditional cultural tourism. This form of tourism emphasizes local culture, traditions, art, and history, actively engaging tourists in their destinations' cultural and creative texture. Emerging in the 1980s and 1990s, creative tourism has the potential to lead communities toward sustainable development and progress. Technological advancements, including widespread internet access and advancements in information and communication technology, have further catalyzed the growth of creative tourism, establishing it as a new paradigm within the tourism industry. Consequently, a comprehensive examination of creative tourism indicators and their interrelationship with the development of the tourism industry is crucial. This article aims to delve deeper into this subject, offering valuable insights and potential solutions for the optimal utilization and improvement of these indicators to foster the sustainable development of the tourism industry. Methodology This research utilizes a meta-synthesis approach for data collection and analysis. The primary data source was a systematic review of existing literature and relevant resources. Subsequently, qualitative content analysis was employed to analyze the collected data. Meta-synthesis, as a recognized research methodology, allows researchers to integrate and synthesize findings from multiple studies, thereby facilitating the development of more comprehensive and insightful conclusions. This study conducted an initial review of 290 sources to assess their methodological rigor. Following this rigorous evaluation, 25 sources were ultimately selected for inclusion in the analysis. This comprehensive review process ensures a thorough understanding of the multifaceted dimensions of creative tourism and its associated indicators. By adhering to stringent selection criteria, the study aims to maintain high accuracy and credibility in its findings, thereby establishing a robust foundation for the subsequent analysis of creative tourism indicators. Results and discussion This research identified key indicators of creative tourism, encompassing creative industries, creative culture, creative individuals, creative places, creative experiences, and creative development. These indicators were identified through a comprehensive literature review and subsequent qualitative content analysis. For instance, Richards and Raymond (2000) underscored the growing interest in understanding travel destinations' cultural, historical, and heritage dimensions, a phenomenon they termed the "creative turn." Furthermore, Dias et al. (2018) highlighted the pivotal role of external entities in fostering collaborative agreements, providing guidance, and facilitating access to technical and financial resources essential for the development of creative tourism. Conclusion This research examines the key indicators in the development of creative tourism. The results indicate that indicators such as creative industries, creative places, creative experiences, creative individuals, creative culture, and creative development play a significant role in the growth and sustainability of creative tourism. As one of the top five sources of foreign exchange earnings, tourism has a vital role in economic development and sustainability. Special attention to the tourism industry, especially creative tourism, can facilitate the achievement of developmental goals. Creative tourism, as a novel concept, has attracted the attention of many researchers. This type of tourism, emphasizing local culture, traditions, art, and history, allows tourists to engage in local culture and creativity actively. This not only enhances the tourism experience but also increases social participation through active interaction between tourists and local communities. In conclusion, it is suggested that policymakers and tourism managers consider the identified indicators when planning and implementing development programs. Policymakers should create frameworks that support creative tourism initiatives, enhance infrastructure, and provide training programs for local artisans and cultural practitioners. Additionally, fostering collaborations between local communities and tourism operators can further enhance the sustainability and impact of creative tourism. Moreover, establishing local and international networks for exchanging experiences and best practices can help improve the quality of creative tourism services and products. By creating a supportive environment and facilitating access to financial and technical resources, sustainable and comprehensive development of creative tourism can be achieved, ensuring long-term benefits for both tourists and local communities. Funding There is no funding support. Authors’ Contribution Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none. Conflict of Interest Authors declared no conflict of interest. Acknowledgments We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper. گردشگری خلاق موضوعی نسبتاً جدید در حوزه گردشگری است که توجه بسیاری از افراد، سیاست‌گذاران و پژوهشگران را به خود جلب کرده است. این نوع گردشگری به‌عنوان زیرمجموعه‌ای از گردشگری فرهنگی، بر تجربه‌های عمیق، اصیل و مشارکتی که گردشگران خواهان آن هستند، تأکید دارد. برخلاف گردشگری سنتی که صرفاً مبتنی بر بازدید از جاذبه‌هاست، گردشگری خلاق فرصت‌هایی را برای تعامل فعال گردشگران با فرهنگ محلی، هنر و شیوه‌های زندگی جامعه میزبان فراهم می‌سازد. پژوهش حاضر با هدف مرور نظام‌مند ادبیات گردشگری خلاق با رویکرد فراترکیب جهت توسعه صنعت گردشگری انجام‌شده است. پژوهشگران با بهره‌گیری از این روش، به بررسی دقیق و عمیق موضوع پرداخته و نتایج پژوهش‌های کیفی گذشته را ترکیب کرده‌اند. در این راستا، با جستجو در پایگاه‌های معتبر علمی در بازه زمانی 2000 تا 2023، تعداد 290 مقاله در حوزه گردشگری خلاق انتخاب شد. در نهایت، 25 مقاله از این مجموعه مورد تحلیل محتوایی قرار گرفتند و شاخص‌های مربوطه با استفاده از استراتژی کدگذاری باز و محوری استخراج گردیدند. بر اساس یافته‌های پژوهش، 6 شاخص و 43 زیر شاخص برای گردشگری خلاق شناسایی شد. این شاخص‌ها عبارت‌اند از: صنایع خلاق، فرهنگ خلاق، فرد خلاق، مکان خلاق، تجربه خلاق و توسعه خلاق. نتایج این پژوهش نشان داد که توجه به این شاخص‌ها از مهم‌ترین عوامل مؤثر بر رشد و پایداری گردشگری خلاق است. در نهایت، با توجه به یافته‌های پژوهش، پیشنهادهایی برای سیاست‌گذاران و مدیران محلی ارائه‌شده است.

https://jut.ut.ac.ir/article_101129_b626fe483488b3590f102ce78683bd6b.pdf