The Role of Border Cities in the Geopolitics Development of Tourism

Subject Areas : Sustainable urban development

Maryam Shabani ¹ , Hasan Bavir ² , Hojat Mahkouii ³

1 - Assistant Professor of Political Science, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran
2 - PhD in Political Geography, Islamic Republic Broadcasting Organization, Lorestan, Iran
3 - Tourism Research Center, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.

Received: 2021-12-31 Accepted : 2022-01-25 Published : 2022-03-21

Keywords: border cities, development, Tourism, geopolitical tourism,

Abstract :

          Today, one of the important factors for achieving development is the revenue role of tourism and attracting tourists within the country, which is always dependent on having a cohesive national and territorial space and optimally functioning cities. Success in the field of tourism depends on having historical and scenic monuments, beautiful and developed cities, people with high culture, knowledge and awareness, statesmen free from the induction of personal thoughts, efficient planning system, and so on. In the meantime, it can be said that the role of cities in attracting tourists has higher degrees. Border cities can be successful in attracting tourists due to their security role and the gateway for goods and people. Establishment of border markets, the existence of rivers and natural factors, the existence of historical monuments such as castles or the type of border in such cities, are among the factors attracting tourism. This article descriptively-analytically and using library resources and tables and websites, seeks to investigate the role and position of border cities in the geopolitical development of tourism and tourist attraction. The main question of this article is whether border cities can be successful in attracting tourism and developing tourism by using tourism geopolitics? And the hypothesis of the article is that border cities with the potential to attract tourism and the geopolitical position they have in a country, can be successful in developing and attracting tourism. The results show that border cities, due to their location, have the ability to develop geopolitical tourism and attract tourists.Extended AbstractIntroduction:         Today, one of the important factors for achieving development is the revenue role of tourism and attracting tourists within the country, which is always dependent on having a cohesive national and territorial space and optimally functioning cities. Success in the field of tourism depends on having historical and scenic monuments, beautiful and developed cities, people with high culture, knowledge and awareness, statesmen free from the induction of personal thoughts, efficient planning system, and so on. In the meantime, it can be said that the role of cities in attracting tourists has higher degrees. Border cities can be successful in attracting tourists due to their security role and the gateway for goods and people. Establishment of border markets, the existence of rivers and natural factors, the existence of historical monuments such as castles or the type of border in such cities, are among the factors attracting tourism.Methodology:        This article descriptively-analytically and using library resources and tables and websites, seeks to investigate the role and position of border cities in the geopolitical development of tourism and tourist attraction. The main question of this article is whether border cities can be successful in attracting tourism and developing tourism by using tourism geopolitics? And the hypothesis of the article is that border cities with the potential to attract tourism and the geopolitical position they have in a country, can be successful in developing and attracting tourism.Results and discussion:       The role and function that border cities can play today in attracting tourism and developing tourism is obvious. Border cities with an important position in the geopolitical position of a country and according to the geopolitics of tourism can be successful in terms of economic development and income in terms of tourism. Among the potentials that border cities have in attracting tourism, we can mention the existence of historical monuments, the type of border, border markets. Within cities, the presence of buildings and historical sites are among the factors that are effective in attracting tourism. Existence of historical monuments such as castles, houses of important historical figures and leaders, baths, citadels, etc. with a special type of architecture, can be successful in attracting tourism. In border cities, which have long had more security functions, the existence of buildings such as castles, forts and citadels leads to the development of tourism. Such cities are always considered because of their security position and their influential role in the geopolitical situation and the promotion of the geopolitical level for a country. Today, due to the trend of globalization and the income role of tourism in the economies of countries, border cities with historical monuments can be successful in planning in the field of tourism.         Borders have different functions and functions and are different in terms of type. Therefore, with the passage of time and changes in the borders between the two countries, some borders can become tourist attractions. If we want to talk about new borders in the age of globalization, we must talk about the borders that have become a barrier between the two regions like a wall. For example, the wall of racism, the wall of two spheres, the wall of explosion, the wall of poverty, the wall of technology and the US-Mexico border fence. Which can be attractive from a tourist point of view. In addition, what can help economic development and attract population and tourism in border cities are border markets in the periphery of countries; Border markets are enclosed areas located at the zero point of the border and adjacent to customs are allowed to carry out clearance procedures and residents on both sides of the border can offer the goods and products they need in accordance with export and import regulations in these markets. The least effect of having a border market is to increase the retention rate of border residents in border areas and increase the security factor for countries.Since tourism and tourism development are considered as a way of economic income for countries today, the existence of historical monuments and factors such as border markets and the type of borders in border and peripheral cities of countries can be effective in developing tourism for countries. The presence of historical monuments, including historical castles in border cities, attracts tourists interested in seeing ancient monuments. Existence of such buildings that were built in the past for the protection and security of cities, today, by losing their security function, can be used for tourism purposes, which is probably the case, and castles such as Hasanlu Castle are tourist destinations. Is in Iran. In fact, marginal areas in some countries, due to their distance from the capital in some developing countries and the Third World, are sometimes forgotten in the decision-making process and their role in management is diminished, while border cities are in a position to The geopolitics of a country play an important role and play a key role in providing security for the borders of countries. Border markets due to economic prosperity and the expansion of relations between the two countries on both sides of the border can help indicators such as job creation, migration, solving security problems.Conclusion:       The city, as one of the areas of human environment, plays an important role in development and national security. Man has always needed security and throughout history, the protection of his life and property has been one of his main concerns. You can not live without security. Having security depends on having a healthy and developed environment that are complementary to each other, that is, security leads to development and development creates security, and the urban environment is considered as the foundation of these two categories. Border cities, due to their location and role in the national security of a country, and due to their position in a country, have the ability to play a role in attracting tourism and developing tourism. Therefore, according to the model of Western European countries in attracting tourism, it can be said that the geopolitics of tourism can act as a factor for the development of tourism in border cities. The fixed and variable factors mentioned in the geopolitical development of tourism in Tan can be effective in developing the role of border cities to attract tourists. Within such cities, the existence of historical monuments, the type of border, the creation of border markets, are among the potentials that are effective for the development of tourism. Therefore, border cities have the ability to be successful in tourism development, given the existing factors and potentials. Inevitably, border cities, due to their location, have the ability to develop the geopolitics of tourism and attract tourists.

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