Evaluation of the Relationship between Cultural and Religious Tourism and Sustainable Urban Development (Case Study: Ray Town)

Subject Areas : Journal of Cultural Management

Zohreh Shahsavari ¹ , Abbasali Ghaiyoomi ² , Mojtaba Ataei ³

1 - M.A Department of Urban management, Electronic Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Management, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author) [e-mail]
3 - Assistant Professor in Management department of Saveh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Saveh, Iran

Received: 2017-01-19 Accepted : 2017-06-21 Published : 2017-05-22

Keywords: Religious-Pilgrimage tourism, Sustainable urban development, Rey city, Cultural-historical tourism,

Abstract :

Introduction & Research Goals: With plenty of cultural and religious attractions, Rey city has a great potential to develop cultural and religious tourism. Thus, this study aims to investigate the relation between cultural-religious tourism and sustainable development of Rey city. Research Method: Based on its purpose, the research method is applied and based on its implementation, is a descriptive correlation type. The study population consists of cultural and religious tourists of Rey in the first 6 months of the year 2016 which based on informal statistics contains about 8730000 peoples. The sample of study selected based on simple random method with the size of 385 suggested by Cochran formula. The data collecting tool was a researcher made questionnaire based on a 5 step Likert spectrum containing 35 questions which its validity was assured through consulting advisor and consultant and its reliability was obtained through calculating Cronbach's alpha (Alpha=0.811) Findings: The results of analyzing data confirmed a significant positive correlation between cultural tourism and cultural–social, economic and environmental sustainable development of Rey city. The results also confirmed a significant positive correlation between religious tourism and cultural–social and economic sustainable development of Rey city but there were no sufficient statistical evidences for a significant relationship between religious tourism and environmental sustainable development of Rey city. Conclusion: Capabilities of cultural and religious tourism can be used to ensure the sustainable development of the Rey city.