Religious Tourism: Requirements, Strategies, and Consequences مقاله

چکیده:

Religious tourism is one of the forms of tourism that has received more attention than ever before and its development is on the agenda. The present research was conducted qualitatively using the grounded theory method with the aim of providing a theoretical model for the development of religious tourism in Iran. To collect information, in-depth and unstructured interviews were used with 18 experts familiar with the subject (who were selected until theoretical saturation was reached). The results of these interviews were analyzed through the process of open, axial, and selective coding. From within the set of initial concepts collected in this stage, categories were extracted. Subsequently, these categories were classified under the headings: causal factors, core phenomenon, context conditions, intervening factors, strategies, and consequences of religious tourism development. The causal factors affecting the development of religious tourism in the country were identified as "management of attractions and events," "advertising management," and "development of necessary infrastructure and services appropriate to the needs of incoming religious tourists," while the intervening factors included "laws and regulations" and "formulation of macro policies for religious tourism." Contextual conditions included "cultural conditions" and "economic conditions," and strategies included "marketing," "improving environmental conditions," "human resources and training," "interaction between the public and private sectors for the development of religious tourism," "having a systemic view," and "attracting investors." The identified consequences are "increasing the duration of stay of religious tourists," "strengthening the primary motivation of religious tourists," "increasing the number of religious tourists," and "increasing the income generated from the arrival of religious tourists to the country."