Identification and Analysis of Factors Contributing to the Effectiveness of Tourist Attractions in the Development of Izeh City

Introduction

For the planning and effectiveness of tourist attractions in the development of urban areas, identifying and analyzing effective factors in this field is necessary. Izeh city in Khuzestan province is in a favorable situation in terms of tourism resources and attractions. The tourist attraction of Eshkaft Salman is one of the most important ones that dates back to the Elamite period. During the last two decades, some measures have been taken to develop the tourist attraction of Eshkaft Salman, but it seems that it was not enough. In general, it can be said that these conditions are related to the lack of management and tourism development approach in this city. The research problem is that the Eshkaft Salman is an important tourist attraction for Izeh city, but there is no influence on the city's development; so how can it play this role, and what factors can be effective in this process and effectiveness? On the one hand, the necessity of the issue is related to the importance of exploitation and development of tourism, and on the other hand, tourism and its resources should have a better position in the management of this city. Proper identification of this problem can help the process of urban development and tourism. As a result, this research aims to identify and analyze the effective factors in the effectiveness of the tourist attraction of Eshkaft Salman in the development of Izeh, so this knowledge can be used to improve the existing situation and use it properly.



Methodology

This quantitative-qualitative research is a survey study based on descriptive-analytical and in-depth methods. The data collection method has been two forms of documentary-scientific studies, as well as interviews and questionnaires. In order to carry out this research according to the objective, first, an unstructured in-depth interview method based on exploratory study was used to identify primary codes. In this method, data analysis was done using open, central, and selective coding systems, and finally, the categories obtained in the process of constructing the underlying theory (database) were used employing open and central codes (factors). A questionnaire was also used to validate the results. The statistical population is made up of urban and tourism elites. In the first stage, the number of 16 people was determined by using the interview, and in the second stage, 86 people were determined as the sample size through the questionnaire.



Results and discussion

The results showed that the tourism attraction of Eshkaft Salman is effective in the development of Izeh city through four categories or main factors under the title of causal, contextual, intervening, and strategic categories. According to these results, the most important factors affecting the effectiveness of tourism attractions in the development of Izeh include weak tourism infrastructure, lack of investment, cultural issues, and weak governance. In fact, the lack of a suitable situation in the mentioned indicators causes the tourist attraction of Eshkaft Salman to not be able to play a role in the development of Izeh city. In order to improve the existing conditions and have a favorable future, it is very important to pay attention, modify and develop these factors or categories. Also, in terms of the contextual category, factors such as physical and promotional management of tourism, appropriate social and cultural participation, easy and quality access to the attraction of Eshkaft Salman, as well as holding cultural programs and annual festivals, are known to be very important and influential.

The result of the research shows that some of the other influential factors are the factors that belong to the phenomenon in question. The orientation of metropolitan policies and the anonymity and unknownness of Eshkaft Salman’s attraction are two important categories in this field. It seems that the orientation of urban policies is incompatible with tourism, and tourism has not been emphasized in city development plans. Based on the analysis of the results, the design of the program and the local model of the development of the attraction of Eshkaft Salman, the improvement of the city's social capital index, the specialized manpower in the field of urban tourism, the creation of tourism infrastructure and also the branding of the city's tourism, are 5 main strategic categories that are in line with The effectiveness of tourist attraction in the development of the city is known.

In total, the results showed that the tourism attraction of Eshkaft Salman can be effective in the development of Izeh and the tourism sector through causal (4 categories), contextual (4 categories), intervening (2 categories), and strategic (5 categories) categories. The number of 263 primary concepts and 45 central factors were extracted using the analysis of interviews. Among the causal, contextual, intervening, and strategic categories effective in the effectiveness of tourism attraction in the urban development of Izeh, we can respectively refer to the weak infrastructure of the city's tourism, physical and promotional management of tourism, the direction of metropolitan policies and the design of local programs and models. The consequence of these factors is the realization of urban development and tourism in the effectiveness of the tourist attraction of Eshkaft Salman for the city of Izeh.



Conclusion

In general, the result showed that various factors play a role in the effectiveness of Eshkaft Salman tourism attraction in the development of Izeh city. Some of these sources have favorable conditions and some have unfavorable conditions. It is essential to pay attention to, review, and systematically develop the factors involved in enhancing the tourist attractions of this city, including Eshkaft Salman. Following this, we can leverage the development of these attractions in alignment with sustainable urban development. So, it is suggested that the results of this research be used and exploited operationally by the municipality and related institutions.