An Analysis of Regional Natural Potentials in Achieving Sustainable Tourism in Plain Cities in the Postmodern Era (Case Study: Sari City)

Reza Vafadar Soraki ¹ ( PhD Student, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Noor Branch, Islamic Azad University, Noor, Iran. )
Sadroddin Motevalli ² ( Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Noor Branch, Islamic Azad University, Noor, Iran. )
Jalal Azimi Amoli ³ ( Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Noor Branch, Islamic Azad University, Noor, Iran. )
Gholamreza Janbaz Ghobadi ⁴ ( Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Noor Branch, Islamic Azad University, Noor, Iran. )

تاریخ ارسال : 1404/06/09 تاریخ تایید : 1404/06/14

کلید واژه: regional natural potentials, sustainable tourism, plain cities, postmodern era, Sari,

چکیده مقاله :

Sustainable tourism, as a modern approach, contributes to preserving the environment, local culture, and enhancing the quality of life for local communities. The aim of this research is to examine regional natural capacities in achieving sustainable tourism in Sari during the postmodern era. The research method was descriptive-analytical, with data collected through library and field studies. The main tools included interviews and questionnaires. The statistical population comprised citizens of Sari and experts. A sample of 380 citizens was selected using Cochran's method based on the 2016 census, and 30 experts were sampled through random sampling. The data were analyzed using SPSS software with descriptive, inferential, and VIKOR methods, and GIS software was employed for map analysis. The research findings showed that regional natural capacities have a significant impact on achieving sustainable tourism in the lowland city of Sari. In districts 2 and 4, averages above 3 and low significance levels indicate the high potential of these regions for attracting tourists and sustainable development. In region 1, districts 1 to 3 did not show a significant effect from natural capacities, while district 4 had a positive impact. Furthermore, districts 2 and 3 in region 2 and districts 1 and 2 in region 3, with the highest scores, demonstrated strong water resources, natural attractions, and favorable infrastructure. Therefore, the results emphasize the importance of economic, social, cultural, environmental, and infrastructural factors in strengthening sustainable tourism and show that sustainable development requires comprehensive and participatory attention to all these factors.

 

چکیده انگلیسی :

Sustainable tourism, as a modern approach, contributes to preserving the environment, local culture, and enhancing the quality of life for local communities. The aim of this research is to examine regional natural capacities in achieving sustainable tourism in Sari during the postmodern era. The research method was descriptive-analytical, with data collected through library and field studies. The main tools included interviews and questionnaires. The statistical population comprised citizens of Sari and experts. A sample of 380 citizens was selected using Cochran's method based on the 2016 census, and 30 experts were sampled through random sampling. The data were analyzed using SPSS software with descriptive, inferential, and VIKOR methods, and GIS software was employed for map analysis. The research findings showed that regional natural capacities have a significant impact on achieving sustainable tourism in the lowland city of Sari. In districts 2 and 4, averages above 3 and low significance levels indicate the high potential of these regions for attracting tourists and sustainable development. In region 1, districts 1 to 3 did not show a significant effect from natural capacities, while district 4 had a positive impact. Furthermore, districts 2 and 3 in region 2 and districts 1 and 2 in region 3, with the highest scores, demonstrated strong water resources, natural attractions, and favorable infrastructure. Therefore, the results emphasize the importance of economic, social, cultural, environmental, and infrastructural factors in strengthening sustainable tourism and show that sustainable development requires comprehensive and participatory attention to all these factors.

 

منابع و مأخذ:

Arbolino, R., Boffardi, R., de Simone, L., & Ioppolo, G. (2021). Multi-objective optimization technique: A novel approach in tourism sustainability planning. Journal of Environmental Management, 285(4), 112016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112016
Benites-Lazaro, L. L., & Mello-Théry, N. A. (2019). Empowering communities? Local stakeholders’ participation in the Clean Development Mechanism in Latin America. World Development, 114, 254–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.10.005
Dehghan Banadkouki, F., Apra Joonqani, E., & Moradi, G. (2022). Investigating the economic effects of tourism using regional input-output model: A case study of Dowlat Abad garden, Yazd. Tourism and Development Quarterly, 12(4), 1–14. (in Persian) https://doi.org/10.22034/jtd.2023.370288.2692
Ghanbari, A., Karami, F., & Bakhshalipour, B. (2021). Evaluating the effects of rural tourism on regional development: A case study of Ghadamgah Azarshahr. New Perspectives in Human Geography Quarterly, 14(3), 97–123. (in Persian) https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.66972251.1401.14.3.5.5
Huang, Y. C., Backman, K. F., Backman, S. J., & Chang, L. L. (2016). Exploring the implications of virtual reality technology in tourism marketing: An integrated research framework. International Journal of Tourism Research, 18(2), 116–128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2038
Jahantighmand, S., Zeynavand, Y., & Mousavi Nadoushan, S. M. (2023). Spatial organization of urban river margins with a tourism development approach (Case study: Poldokhtar County). Journal of Applied Geographical Sciences Research, 23(68), 43–60. (in Persian) http://dx.doi.org/10.52547/jgs.23.68.43
Jin, C., Cheng, J., Xu, J., & Huang, Z. (2018). Self-driving tourism induced carbon emission flows and its determinants in well-developed regions: A case study of Jiangsu province, China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 186, 191–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.03.128
Jovicic, D. Z. (2019). From the traditional understanding of tourism destination to the smart tourism destination. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(3), 276–282. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2017.1313203
Kazemian Shiran, G., Ziaei, M., Yavari Gohar, F., & Babaei, Y. (2022). Complementary tourism development: A novel approach in regional development. Journal of Geography and Planning, 26(79), 307–335. (in Persian) https://doi.org/10.22034/gp.2021.45143.2808
Khalid, S., Ahmad, M. S., Ramayah, T., Hwang, J., & Kim, I. (2019). Community empowerment and sustainable tourism development: The mediating role of community support for tourism. Sustainability, 11(22), 6248. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11226248
Khanzadi, A., Falahati, A., & Heirani, Z. (2018). Investigating and analyzing the role and effects of tourism development on income distribution in the provinces of Iran. Journal of Tourism and Development, 7(1), 84–100. http://www.itsairanj.ir/article_63613.html
Lee, T. H., Jan, F.-H., & Liu, J.-T. (2021). Developing an indicator framework for assessing sustainable tourism: Evidence from a Taiwan ecological resort. Ecological Indicators, 125, 107596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107596
Makooi Talatapeh, M., Mousavi, M., & Javan, K. (2022). Analysis and evaluation of regional competitiveness in tourism development planning (Case study: Jolfa County). Human Geography Research, 54(3), 1125–1142. (in Persian) https://doi.org/10.22059/jhgr.2021.312426.1008197
Marinello, S., Butturi, M. A., Gamberini, R., & Martini, U. (2023). Indicators for sustainable touristic destinations: A critical review. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 66(1), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2021.1978407
Mazand Tarh Consulting Engineers. (2015) (in Persian) https://rasmio.com/company/10760237390
Motevalli, S. (2023). An analysis of the role of natural factors in sustainable tourism development of southern Mazandaran (Case study: Bandpey section, Babol County). Natural Geography Quarterly, 15(59), 75–85. (in Persian) https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.20085656.1402.16.1.5.6
Nisar, T. M., Prabhakar, G., & Strakova, L. (2019). Social media information benefits, knowledge management, and smart organizations. Journal of Business Research, 94, 264–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.05.005
Pinillos, R., Marcos, S., Feliz, R., Zalama, E., & Gómez-García-Bermejo, J. (2016). Long-term assessment of a service robot in a hotel environment. Robotics and Autonomous Systems, 79, 40–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.robot.2016.01.014
Rajabi, A. (2021). Developing strategies for tourism development in Tehran metropolis based on regional competitiveness identity using the METASWAT method. Urban Ecology Research Quarterly, 12(1), 105–120. (in Persian) https://doi.org/10.30473/grup.2021.8246
Rajabi, A., Motevalli, S., & Rasouli, S. H. (2022). Elucidating sustainable urban tourism in plain areas with emphasis on environmental resilience: A case study of Sari city. First Iran Crisis Management Conference Qavi 1401, Tehran, 1–28. (in Persian) https://civilica.com/doc/1758571/
Rasouli, S. H., Qaranjik, A., & Rajaei, M. (2015). Evaluation of strategic and executive plans for economic industry and tourism development in Sari County. 2nd International Conference on Innovative Research in Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Planning, Istanbul, Turkey, 1–25. (in Persian) https://civilica.com/doc/509578
Rasouli, S. H., Rajabi, A., & Motevalli, S. (2024). Defining a tourism model with a regional development focus (Case study: Sari city). Journal of Geography and Regional Development, 139–168. (in Persian) https://doi.org/10.22067/jgrd.2023.85239.1357