Document Type : Origional Article
Authors
1
Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Department of Sport Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
2
M.A. in Sport Management, Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
3
Lecturer at Garmsar State University and Senior Expert in Physical Education, Garmsar County Department of Education, Semnan, Iran.
4
Instructor, Department of Sport Sciences, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.
Abstract
Purpose and Background: Sports tourism, as one of the dynamic economic and cultural sectors, plays a significant role in the sustainable development of regions with natural potential. Mazandaran Province, with its diverse water, mountainous, and coastal attractions, has considerable capacity for this type of tourism. Accordingly, the present study aimed to identify the factors affecting the sustainable development of sports tourism in Mazandaran city.
Methodology: The present study was applied research conducted using a qualitative approach through thematic analysis. The statistical population included professors and experts in sports management, tourism specialists, urban planning experts, tourism agency managers, and Ph.D. researchers in sports management and tourism. The research sample was selected through purposive and snowball sampling methods. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 experts until theoretical saturation was achieved. The validity of the study was confirmed by relevant specialists, and the reliability was obtained through the intra-subject agreement method with a coefficient of 87%.
Findings: The results indicated that the study identified 87 key points, 14 concepts, and 6 main categories. These main themes included: individual and communication characteristics of sports tourists, smart services and sustainable tourism safety, sports tourism destination marketing, sports tourism resource management, branding and credibility building in sports tourism, and sustainable tourism development requirements. Accordingly, the sustainable development of sports tourism requires coordinated interaction among human, infrastructural, managerial, and environmental factors. It is recommended that policymakers and tourism stakeholders in Mazandaran adopt an integrated approach, prioritize long-term planning based on local capacities, strengthen infrastructure, and provide training for specialized human resources.
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