Investigating the development of sports tourism based on indigenous and local sports in Semnan province

Subject Areas : Innovation in Sports Management

elahe damavandi ¹ , sahar Taheri Hashjin ² , Hossein Poursoltani Zarandi ³

1 - PhD student in sports management, Damghan Azad University, Iran
2 - PhD student of sports management, Azad University, Qazvin, Iran
3 - Associate Professor of Sports Management, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2022-07-11 Accepted : 2023-11-20 Published : 2022-11-22

Keywords: Semnan province, sports tourism, Native and Local Sports,

Abstract :

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate the development of sports tourism based on indigenous and local sports in Semnan province.Research method: The current research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey type. The statistical population was all the sports experts of the Ministry of Sports and the selected youths, the heads of the selected sports teams, sports management professors and experts in the field of sports tourism, experts of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization and an unknown number. The non-random sampling method was available. The statistical sample size was considered to be 384 people using Cochran's formula and alpha 0.05. Data collection was done with a researcher-made questionnaire that included 4 components and 25 items, whose validity and reliability were confirmed. For data analysis, Kolmogorov Smirnov test was used to check the normality of data distribution, prioritization of variables using Friedman test and confirmatory factor analysis of variables using structural equation modeling.For data analysis, structural equation modeling was used by partial least squares method with the help of SPSS and PLS Smart statistical software.Findings: The validity analysis of model divergence, the square root of variance of optimal structures, social factor, infrastructural factor, cultural factor, managerial factor, was calculated and to confirm the reliability of the questionnaire, the value of Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability are above 0.7 and two criteria (coefficient Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability coefficient) were used.Conclusion: The results of the research showed that there is a significant difference between the priorities of factors affecting the tourism development of Semnan province. Based on this, the priority of factors affecting the tourism development of Semnan province included management factor (2.86), cultural factor (2.78), infrastructural factor (2.77) and social factor (1.60). The research model was appropriate.