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Volume 39, Issue 1 (2024)
GeoRes 2024, 39(1): 37-47 |
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Received: 2023/12/11 | Accepted: 2024/02/25 | Published: 2024/03/10
Received: 2023/12/11 | Accepted: 2024/02/25 | Published: 2024/03/10
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Rahmati Kachomesghali M, Sanavi Fard R, Eyvazi Heshmat A. Identification and Ranking the Criteria for Sustainable Smart Tourism Growth in Tehran. GeoRes 2024; 39 (1) :37-47
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1- Department of Business Management, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran
2- Department of Management, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Management, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
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Background
The study investigates sustainable smart tourism development in Tehran’s travel agencies, aiming to identify and rank key factors contributing to the growth of this emerging field. The demand for smart tourism aligns with global digital advancements that emphasize innovation and sustainability.
Previous Studies
Tourism, a multifaceted and complex phenomenon, contributes significantly to foreign exchange, job creation, promotion of handicrafts, and transport infrastructure development. Sustainable tourism, defined as development without depleting resources for future generations, seeks a balance between ecosystems, society, and culture. Core attributes of sustainable tourism include environmental health, small-scale production, and equal consideration for all stakeholders, including future generations. Smart tourism, emerging as an essential model, integrates advanced ICT to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness in destinations, supporting applications from cultural tourism to environmental resource management [Buhalis & Low, 2008; Buhalis & Amaranggana, 2013; Park et al., 2022].
Aim(s)
This study aimed to determine and prioritize critical factors to the sustainable growth of smart tourism in Tehran’s travel agencies.
Research Type
The study was a mixed-method survey research combining quantitative and qualitative approaches.
Research Society
The target group consists of experts in Tehran’s travel agencies, tourism consultants, and university professors specializing in tourism.
Place and Time
The study was conducted in Tehran, Iran, in the year 2023.
Sampling Method and Number
A purposive and judgmental sampling method was used to select 50 experts from Tehran’s tourism industry. These experts were asked to complete a 42-item closed-ended questionnaire developed based on literature review and initial factor selection.
Used Devices & Materials
The main research tool was a 42-item Likert-scale questionnaire. Responses were analyzed using fuzzy Delphi and fuzzy network analysis methods to evaluate and rank the smart tourism development factors.
Findings by Text
Fifty of the experts were selected purposefully and based on judgment sampling (Table 1). Data analysis utilized the fuzzy Delphi and fuzzy network methods. In this study, triangular fuzzy numbers were used to fuzzify the experts' perspectives according to the Delphi method. Expert opinions on the importance of each indicator were gathered using a 9-level fuzzy scale (Table 2).
Table 1) Demographic Characteristics of Experts Studied
Table 2) 9-Level Fuzzy Scale for Indicator Valuation
In the Delphi analysis’s first round, 107 out of 150 variables were excluded as they did not meet the threshold mean value of 7. In the second round, a revised 43-item questionnaire was used to verify the remaining factors. The study employed Analytic Network Process (ANP) to determine the weights of criteria for smart sustainable tourism. The most significant indicator was the alignment of economic, social, political, and environmental goals (S56) with a normalized weight of 0.253, emphasizing tourism's role in balanced development. Other key indicators included smart experiences (S51) at 0.245, focusing on technology-enhanced travel, and cultural, managerial, and technological barriers (S12) at 0.243, highlighting the need to address cultural identity, management weaknesses, and technological adaptation. These findings underscore the importance of integrating various dimensions for enhancing tourism experiences and sustainability.
Main Comparisons to Similar Studies
The findings of this study align with previous research highlighting the importance of integrating multiple dimensions of sustainability in tourism development (Huang et al., 2023; Li et al., 2022). Similar studies have emphasized that effective tourism management requires balancing economic, social, and environmental goals to enhance community well-being while preserving cultural identities (Zhou et al., 2021). For instance, research on smart tourism destinations has shown that leveraging technology improves visitor experiences and promotes local engagement (Gretzel et al., 2020). Furthermore, the identification of barriers—cultural, managerial, and technological-echoes findings from other studies that underscore the challenges faced in implementing smart tourism strategies (Fuchs & Weiermair, 2004). Overall, these comparisons reinforce the notion that a holistic approach is essential for achieving sustainable tourism outcomes.
Suggestions
The study recommends that Tehran’s tourism agencies enhance smart tourism by investing in technology, policy alignment, environmental sustainability, and stakeholder engagement. Developing mobile apps, augmented reality experiences, and secure infrastructures is suggested to align with global trends and meet visitor expectations.
Conclusion
Smart tourism has the potential to significantly boost Tehran’s tourism sector by enhancing the visitor experience, supporting local culture, and contributing to sustainable development. Effective prioritization of the identified factors can foster a balanced tourism model that aligns with economic, social, and environmental goals.
Acknowledgments: The authors express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Rasool Sahnavi Fard and Dr. Ali Asghar Ayouzi Hesmat for their assistance in preparing this article.
Ethical Permission: No issues have been reported by the authors.
Conflict of Interests: No issues have been reported by the authors.
Author Contributions: Rahmati Kachomesghali M (first author), Introduction Writer/Methodologist/Main Researcher (70%); Sanavi Fard R (second author), Assistant Researcher (20%);
Eyvazi Heshmat (third author), assistant Researcher (10%).
Funding: No issues have been reported by the authors.
The study investigates sustainable smart tourism development in Tehran’s travel agencies, aiming to identify and rank key factors contributing to the growth of this emerging field. The demand for smart tourism aligns with global digital advancements that emphasize innovation and sustainability.
Previous Studies
Tourism, a multifaceted and complex phenomenon, contributes significantly to foreign exchange, job creation, promotion of handicrafts, and transport infrastructure development. Sustainable tourism, defined as development without depleting resources for future generations, seeks a balance between ecosystems, society, and culture. Core attributes of sustainable tourism include environmental health, small-scale production, and equal consideration for all stakeholders, including future generations. Smart tourism, emerging as an essential model, integrates advanced ICT to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness in destinations, supporting applications from cultural tourism to environmental resource management [Buhalis & Low, 2008; Buhalis & Amaranggana, 2013; Park et al., 2022].
Aim(s)
This study aimed to determine and prioritize critical factors to the sustainable growth of smart tourism in Tehran’s travel agencies.
Research Type
The study was a mixed-method survey research combining quantitative and qualitative approaches.
Research Society
The target group consists of experts in Tehran’s travel agencies, tourism consultants, and university professors specializing in tourism.
Place and Time
The study was conducted in Tehran, Iran, in the year 2023.
Sampling Method and Number
A purposive and judgmental sampling method was used to select 50 experts from Tehran’s tourism industry. These experts were asked to complete a 42-item closed-ended questionnaire developed based on literature review and initial factor selection.
Used Devices & Materials
The main research tool was a 42-item Likert-scale questionnaire. Responses were analyzed using fuzzy Delphi and fuzzy network analysis methods to evaluate and rank the smart tourism development factors.
Findings by Text
Fifty of the experts were selected purposefully and based on judgment sampling (Table 1). Data analysis utilized the fuzzy Delphi and fuzzy network methods. In this study, triangular fuzzy numbers were used to fuzzify the experts' perspectives according to the Delphi method. Expert opinions on the importance of each indicator were gathered using a 9-level fuzzy scale (Table 2).
Table 1) Demographic Characteristics of Experts Studied
Table 2) 9-Level Fuzzy Scale for Indicator Valuation
In the Delphi analysis’s first round, 107 out of 150 variables were excluded as they did not meet the threshold mean value of 7. In the second round, a revised 43-item questionnaire was used to verify the remaining factors. The study employed Analytic Network Process (ANP) to determine the weights of criteria for smart sustainable tourism. The most significant indicator was the alignment of economic, social, political, and environmental goals (S56) with a normalized weight of 0.253, emphasizing tourism's role in balanced development. Other key indicators included smart experiences (S51) at 0.245, focusing on technology-enhanced travel, and cultural, managerial, and technological barriers (S12) at 0.243, highlighting the need to address cultural identity, management weaknesses, and technological adaptation. These findings underscore the importance of integrating various dimensions for enhancing tourism experiences and sustainability.
Main Comparisons to Similar Studies
The findings of this study align with previous research highlighting the importance of integrating multiple dimensions of sustainability in tourism development (Huang et al., 2023; Li et al., 2022). Similar studies have emphasized that effective tourism management requires balancing economic, social, and environmental goals to enhance community well-being while preserving cultural identities (Zhou et al., 2021). For instance, research on smart tourism destinations has shown that leveraging technology improves visitor experiences and promotes local engagement (Gretzel et al., 2020). Furthermore, the identification of barriers—cultural, managerial, and technological-echoes findings from other studies that underscore the challenges faced in implementing smart tourism strategies (Fuchs & Weiermair, 2004). Overall, these comparisons reinforce the notion that a holistic approach is essential for achieving sustainable tourism outcomes.
Suggestions
The study recommends that Tehran’s tourism agencies enhance smart tourism by investing in technology, policy alignment, environmental sustainability, and stakeholder engagement. Developing mobile apps, augmented reality experiences, and secure infrastructures is suggested to align with global trends and meet visitor expectations.
Conclusion
Smart tourism has the potential to significantly boost Tehran’s tourism sector by enhancing the visitor experience, supporting local culture, and contributing to sustainable development. Effective prioritization of the identified factors can foster a balanced tourism model that aligns with economic, social, and environmental goals.
Acknowledgments: The authors express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Rasool Sahnavi Fard and Dr. Ali Asghar Ayouzi Hesmat for their assistance in preparing this article.
Ethical Permission: No issues have been reported by the authors.
Conflict of Interests: No issues have been reported by the authors.
Author Contributions: Rahmati Kachomesghali M (first author), Introduction Writer/Methodologist/Main Researcher (70%); Sanavi Fard R (second author), Assistant Researcher (20%);
Eyvazi Heshmat (third author), assistant Researcher (10%).
Funding: No issues have been reported by the authors.
Keywords:
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