Individual and Social Factors Affecting Desert Sports Tourism Acceptance (A case of Mazandaran University Students)

Subject Areas :

elahe kahdouei ^{1 *} , farzam farzan ² , mahbobe Abedi Samakosh ³

1 - Ph.D. student in Sport Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
3 - Assistant Professor, Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

Received: 2023-06-23 Accepted : 2023-07-31 Published : 2023-08-23

Keywords: Desert, Family, Tourist, desert tourism, pleasure and relaxation,

Abstract :

Given that a significant portion of Iran comprises desert landscapes, desertification presents an opportunity for local businesses and economic activities to thrive. Consequently, this research aims to investigate the individual and social factors influencing the adoption of desert sports tourism among students at Mazandaran University. The research employed the Alam Talab questionnaire (2014) as its primary tool, the validity of which was established through the input of sports tourism experts, and its reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.88. Statistical analysis was conducted using the SPSS version 26 and PLS version 4. The results indicated that the model, with a coefficient of determination (R-squared) value of 0.114, fits as a weak model, suggesting that individual and social factors do not significantly influence the adoption of desert sports tourism among Mazandaran University students. To enhance the appeal of desert sports tourism, it is recommended to engage in effective media advertising, improve safety and security measures, offer tours with suitable and affordable amenities, and enhance the overall attractiveness of desert sports tourism to potential participants.

References:

 

• شریفی پیچون، م.، قادری، م. 1401. ارزیابی قابلیت‌های زمین‌گردشگری سایت‌های ژئومورفولوژیکی کویری بر اساس روش کامنسکوی اصلاح شده (مطالعه موردی: کویرهای استان یزد).پژوهش­های ژئومورفولوژی کمّی، 11(3): 199- 180.


• شیرخدایی، م.، فرزان، ف.، عالم طلب، سعیده. 1396. بازاریابی ورزشی: تبیین نقش عوامل اجتماعی در پذیرش ورزش جدید (مورد مطالعه: ورزش جدید پینت‌بال). پژوهش­نامه مدیریت ورزشی و رفتار حرکتی، 2(26): 26- 15.


• هاشمی، م.، علی پور, ع.، یوسفی فشکی، م.، موسوی، ن. 1399. شناسایی و اولویت‌بندی قابلیت‌‏های گردشگری در مناطق کویری و بیابانی استان قم. پژوهش­های جغرافیای انسانی، 52 (1): 37- 17.


• Allan, M. 2016. Place attachment and tourist experience in the context of desert tourism–the case of Wadi Rum. Czech Journal of Tourism, 5(1): 35-52.


• Al-Makhadmah, I. M., Ababneh, S. F., & Alrababah, K. M. 2021. Challenges facing the of tourism sport activities in Jordan. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 37(3): 905-908.


• Benaissa, F. T., lahcen Hadj, H., Dehimi, S., & Allal, A. 2022. Desert tourism between the need for development and response to demand The case of the city of Béni Abbés-Algeria. Technium. Social Sciences Journal, 38(1): 903-917.


• Dong, E., Fu, B., Li, Y., Jin, J., Hu, H., Ma, Y., & Cheng, Z. 2022. Hainan sport tourism development—a SWOT analysis. Sustainability, 14(19): 1- 23.


• Dorsch, T. E., Smith, A. L., Blazo, J. A., Coakley, J., Côté, J., Wagstaff, C. R., & King, M. Q. 2022. Toward an integrated understanding of the youth sport system. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 93(1): 105-119.


• Gjestvang, C., Abrahamsen, F., Stensrud, T., & Haakstad, L. A. 2020. Motives and barriers to initiation and sustained exercise adherence in a fitness club setting—A one‐year follow‐up study.Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 30(9): 1796-1805.


• Jetzke, M., & Mutz, M. 2020. Sport for pleasure, fitness, medals or slenderness? Differential effects of sports activities on well-being. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 15(1): 1519-1534.


• Jiménez-García, M., Ruiz-Chico, J., Peña-Sánchez, A. R., & López-Sánchez, J. A. 2020. A bibliometric analysis of sports tourism and sustainability (2002–2019). Sustainability, 12(7): 28- 40.


• Karim, Z. 2018. The impact of social media on tourism industry growth in Bangladesh. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 6(8): 463-482.


• Logan, K., Cuff, S., LaBella, C. R., Brooks, M. A., Canty, G., Diamond, A. B., & Stricker, P. R. 2019. Organized sports for children, preadolescents, and adolescents. Pediatrics, 143(6): 1- 20.


• Mainolfi, G., & Marino, V. 2020. Destination beliefs, event satisfaction and post-visit product receptivity in event marketing. Results from a tourism experience. Journal of Business Research, 116(1): 699-710.


• Malchrowicz-Mośko, E., & Poczta, J. 2019. Motivations for running in men: A comparative analysis of local runners and sports tourists, Tourism, 29(2): 69- 79.


• Michopoulou, E., Al-Qasmi, I., & Melpignano, C. 2021. Co-creating value in desert tourism experiences. Tourism Planning & Development, 18 (2): 245-265.


• Mirehie, M., Gibson, H. J., Buning, R. J., Coble, C., & Flaherty, M. 2021. Towards an understanding of family travel decision-making processes in the context of youth sport tourism. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 21(1): 1- 9.


• Morfoulaki, M., Myrovali, G., Kotoula, K. M., Karagiorgos, T., & Alexandris, K. 2023. Sport Tourism as Driving Force for Destinations’ Sustainability. Sustainability, 15(3): 24-45.


• Muhamadovich, M. A., Elmurodovna, M. I., & Davronovna, K. D. 2020. The Desert Tourism and Opportunities for Its Development (On the Example Of Bukhara Region). The American Journal of Interdisciplinary Innovations and Research, 2(12): 68-73.


• Murgante, B., Eskandari Sani, M., Pishgahi, S., Zarghamfard, M., & Kahaki, F. 2021. Factors affecting the Lut desert tourism in Iran: Developing an interpretive-structural model. Sustainability, 13(13): 1-16.


• Navalta, J. W., Bodell, N. G., Tanner, E. A., Aguilar, C. D., & Radzak, K. N. 2021. Effect of exercise in a desert environment on physiological and subjective measures. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 31(2): 121-131.


• Nusair, K., Butt, I., & Nikhashemi, S. R. 2019. A bibliometric analysis of social media in hospitality and tourism research. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 7(31): 2691- 2719.


• Schreier, M., Oberhauser, S., & Prügl, R. 2007. Lead users and the adoption and diffusion of new products: Insights from two extreme sports communities. Marketing Letters, 18 (1): 15-30.


• Swart, K., Cazorla Milla, A., & Mataruna-Dos-Santos, L. J. 2021. From the desert to the city: how is Dubai branding itself through sustainable sport events? Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 13(1): 34-48.


• Theodoropoulou, I., & Alos, J. 2020. Expect amazing! Branding Qatar as a sports tourism destination. Visual Communication, 19(1): 13-43.


• Wetzels, M., Odekerken-Schröder, G., & Van Oppen, C. 2009. Using PLS path modeling for assessing hierarchical construct models: Guidelines and empirical illustration. MIS quarterly, 1(33): 177-195.