Identifying Obstacles Affecting the Development of Child Tourism in Rasht

A B S T R A C T
In recent years, child tourism has garnered the attention of experts and planners due to the significance of childhood and the impact of tourism on the development of children's personalities. Therefore, this study examines the factors affecting the development of child tourism in Rasht, as one of the most important tourist destinations in Iran. This research was conducted with an applied objective, utilizing a descriptive survey method and a cross-sectional field study approach. The present study was conducted in two qualitative and quantitative parts. In the first part, the objective was to identify obstacles to the development of child tourism in Rasht, which was achieved by conducting interviews with 23 experts from the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of Guilan Province, travel agency employees, and tourists entering Rasht until the theoretical saturation stage was reached. The obtained data were analyzed using the basic method and in MAXQDA software. In the second part, the statistical population consisted of tourists, from whom 384 were randomly selected as a sample to complete the questionnaire. The results showed that from the experts' point of view, the factors affecting child tourism in Rasht fall into 5 categories as economic, socio-cultural, environmental, managerial, and infrastructural. Additionally, from the tourists' perspective, safety and security, as well as managerial, infrastructural, economic, environmental, social, and cultural components, are important priorities in child tourism.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Today, in many countries, the tourism industry is recognized as a key source of income, employment, private sector growth, and infrastructure development. One of the target groups that has recently received attention in tourism is children and adolescents, and they are referred to as child tourism. Child tourism is very important from the perspective of developed countries because it is considered a type of human development. Travel spaces have much more profound effects on children than on adults. Effects that may seem simple on the surface are deep and rooted, and this can be observed in the memories that children carry after their travels. On the other hand, a child who does not experience purposeful travel in his childhood, with all his interests and tastes, is less likely to be an individual tourist who travels with a purpose, knows the destination, understands the environment, enjoys the trip based on his purpose, and acts positively and effectively upon his return. Perhaps it is better to say that when a child's childhood structure is not properly formed in relation to the environment, travel, nature, and the child's personal identity, he cannot take steps towards sustainable development as an individual or citizen in adulthood. Rasht was one of the 12 pilot cities as a child-friendly city in the country in 2010. A child-friendly city is a new approach to urban planning that, by addressing children in the city and considering them as full citizens, seeks to provide a favorable and suitable space for children to grow and develop, as well as create a suitable environment for forming lasting memories. Rasht, with its numerous natural, historical, and cultural attractions, has been working towards achieving this goal by creating special spaces for children and adolescents in recent years. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to investigate the factors affecting child tourism in Rasht.
 
Methodology
The present study is an applied research in terms of its purpose and a descriptive research in terms of its method and nature, and is considered cross-sectional in terms of its period. The method used in this study combines library, field, and survey research methods. The statistical population of this study, comprising the qualitative and interview parts, consists of 23 employees from the General Department of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism of Guilan Province, employees of travel agencies, and tourists entering the city of Rasht who have a child under the age of 18. Additionally, the quantitative part of this study includes the statistical population of all parents (tourists) entering Rasht. Sampling was conducted using a convenience method, and participants were randomly selected from among these individuals. Thus, 385 people were selected as the statistical sample of this study. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency distribution tables and graphs) and inferential statistics. In the qualitative section, the grounded theory method and MAXQDA software were used to analyze the data. First, open coding was performed. Then, concepts were created by combining the initial codes, and finally, categories were extracted and analyzed. In the next section, the presented components were comprehensively and accurately tested by quantifying them based on a questionnaire. In the quantitative section, descriptive statistics and SPSS26 software were used to prioritize these components.
 
Results and discussion
In order to identify and explain the obstacles to the development of child tourism in Rasht, interviews were conducted with 23 people in three groups: experts, tourists, and business investors. Most of the interviews were conducted in person, while a small number were conducted virtually due to limited access to individuals. The interviews proceeded to the theoretical saturation stage, at which point the interviewees expressed no new issues. During the interview process, the conversations were conducted openly, and the interviewees expressed their opinions and thoughts. The results obtained from the interviews were entered into the MAXQDA software and categorized into 120 codes, classified in the relevant tables. After merging similar codes, different frequencies were identified, and similar concepts were grouped into a single code. In total, the number of categories obtained was 5, under the titles of economic, social, environmental, management, and infrastructure, and the concepts obtained comprised 23 indicators. According to the results of the binomial test, they have an impact on the design of children's tourism packages. Regarding the economic indicator, 66 percent of the respondents believe that it has an impact greater than average, i.e. 3, on children's tourism. In the social and cultural indicator, 241 people, or 65 percent, believed that the impact was greater than average. In the environmental, safety, and security index, 63% of respondents gave a score of 3 or higher. In the infrastructure and management index, 61 and 62%, respectively, chose more than 3.
 
Conclusion
Tourism is a journey that is carried out with the motive of traveling and the purpose of enjoyment, recreation and relaxation. Tourism is one of the fastest growing economic sectors. Leading countries in this dimension of economic activities annually allocate a major share of the income from the arrival of tourists. There is no age requirement in tourism, therefore children can be considered tourists. Children are among those social groups that have not received much attention in tourism to meet their present and future needs and special demands. Children, who are considered to be supportable members of society, are often present with their families on many trips and can have a great influence on their parents; whether in deciding on the destination or in the activities they do there. In the course of expanding the discourse of tourism for all, today child tourism is recognized and accepted as an important part of tourism, however, child tourism is a new and emerging issue that has received less attention. In this type of tourism, efforts are made to respond to children's needs for tourism as an activity worthy of attention, taking into account the special considerations of children. In this regard, little research has been done in the field of child tourism and the factors affecting it. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of investigating the factors affecting child tourism in the city of Rasht.
The results showed that from the perspective of experts in this field, the effective indicators in the development of child tourism fall under 5 categories of core factors: economic, socio-cultural, environmental, management and infrastructure. Also, from the perspective of tourists, safety and security, management, infrastructure, economic, environmental, social and cultural components are among the important and considered priorities in child tourism. In explaining the results, it should be stated that one of the most important pillars of the development of child tourism in the country, in addition to the aesthetic feeling of children and the economic factor that is the foundation of tourism design and development in all areas, is to consider social security and maintain the safety and health of children and observe safety standards in the design of tourism spaces. Another component is the social factor. In this case, since the tourism industry is a socio-environmental process and the presence of child tourists in the family and participation with the community of other tourists and the host community occurs, the existence and observance of social and cultural criteria provide the basis for child satisfaction and the development of this type of tourism. Attention to environmental factors is also another influential component in the design and development of child tourism packages. In this regard, it should be said that child-friendly spaces mainly seek to create a suitable environment in tourism environments for entertainment and recreation, education, intellectual and social development of these people, which should be free from any environmental issues and problems, including air and water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution and the use of environmentally destructive pollutants. Another important component is the management component. In general, the management of the tourism industry in any region requires the development of a management plan appropriate to the ecological, economic and social characteristics of that region, which helps to manage tourism, facilities and amenities related to it. Therefore, attention to management issues in the macro and governmental fields and the adoption of policies in the field of child tourism are very vital. Regarding the existence of the necessary infrastructure, it should be said that every society in every field needs appropriate software and hardware facilities to meet its needs. In the field of child tourism, urban facilities and services, as well as the existence of infrastructure in the field of entertainment and child tourism, are basic prerequisites. According to the results of the research, it is suggested that tourism activists, including tourism offices, should help the prosperity of child tourism by organizing various tourism tours, especially cultural and nature tours, in accordance with the needs of children in places such as nature or museums and historical monuments, and organizing important events and happenings for children, including storytelling, children's games, painting or sculpture, etc. Also, by preparing and compiling a long-term plan and adopting the necessary policies and also observing international standards in the field of child tourism, it is possible to develop this part of tourism in the country's tourist areas.
 
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.