Future Study of the Role of Smart Tourism in the Development of Sustainable Urban Tourism (Case study: Ahvaz city)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Postdoctoral Researcher in Geography and urban planning, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

2 Associate Professor of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

 
 
The purpose of the current research is analysis of the role of smart tourism in the development of sustainable tourism in Ahvaz. This research is based on a combination of library and survey methods and based on a future research approach. The research area is Ahvaz city. The statistical sample of this research is 50 experts in the fields of tourism, information and communication technology, and urban planning. To analyze the data, the Delphi method, the cross effects matrix (MICMAC) was used. The findings of the research showed that among the 17 main factors affecting the role of smart tourism in the development of sustainable tourism in Ahvaz, 8 variables are known as key and influential, and these variables are the most influential and the least influential on the future development of the role of tourism. Smart tourism has a role in the development of sustainable tourism in Ahvaz. Also, the results showed that in terms of the direct influence of variables such as the level of technology penetration, employment creation and smart guide signs with scores of 41, 39 and 37, respectively, and the variables that have an indirect effect on the role of smart tourism in the development of sustainable urban tourism are the level of technology penetration, creating employment and improving the experience of tourists with scores of 45946, 43576 and 41275 are located in the first to third positions, respectively. The results of this research can help policymakers, urban planners, private sector activists, and other stakeholders in the field of tourism to make more informed decisions towards developing smart and sustainable tourism in Ahvaz.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Ahvaz Municipality Planning Deputy (2017). Selected information on the regions, districts and neighborhoods of Ahvaz city. Third edition, Ahvaz: Ahvaz Municipality Public Relations and International Affairs Publications.
Alathamneh, F., & Al-Hawary, S (2023). Impact of digital transformation on sustainable performance. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 7(2), 911-920.
DOI: 10.5267/j.ijdns.2022.12.020.
Alojail, M., & Khan, S. B (2023). Impact of digital transformation toward sustainable development. Sustainability, 15(20), 14-29.
 https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014697.
Anshari, M., Hamdan, M., Ahmad, N., & Ali, E (2025). Public service delivery, artificial intelligence and the sustainable development goals: trends, evidence and complexities. Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, 16(1), 163-181.
https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTPM-07-2023-0123.
 
Baggio, R., Micera, R., & Del Chiappa, G (2020). Smart tourism destinations: a critical reflection. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 11(3), 407-423.
https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-01-2019-0011.
Balakrishnan, J., Dwivedi, Y. K., Malik, F. T., & Baabdullah, A. M (2023). Role of smart tourism technology in heritage tourism development. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(11), 2506-2525.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1995398.
Baloch, Q. B., Shah, S. N., Iqbal, N., Sheeraz, M., Asadullah, M., Mahar, S., & Khan, A. U (2023). Impact of tourism development upon environmental sustainability: a suggested framework for sustainable ecotourism. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(3), 30-59.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22496-w.
Behzadi, S., Rahnama, M. R. , Javan, J. & Anabestani, A. A (2022). Identifying key factors affecting tourism development with a foresight approach (Case Study: Yazd Province). Journal of Arid Regions Geographic Studies, 9(33), 37-52.
https://jargs.hsu.ac.ir/article_161475.html
Bhatt, S., Dani, R., Abdullah, K. H., & Singh, A. K (2024). Smart Tourism: Comprehensive Review of Big Data Analytics for Sustainable Tourism Development. Impact of AI and Tech-Driven Solutions in Hospitality and Tourism, 139-154.
DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-6755-1.ch008.
Bhuiyan, K. H., Jahan, I., Zayed, N. M., Islam, K. M. A., Suyaiya, S., Tkachenko, O., & Nitsenko, V (2022). Smart tourism ecosystem: a new dimension toward sustainable value co-creation. Sustainability, 14(22), 15043.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215043.
Bulchand-Gidumal, J (2022). Post-COVID-19 recovery of island tourism using a smart tourism destination framework. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 23, 100689.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2022.100689.
Cavalheiro, M. B., Joia, L. A., & Cavalheiro, G. M. D. C (2020). Towards a smart tourism destination development model: Promoting environmental, economic, socio-cultural and political values. Tourism Planning & Development, 17(3), 237-259.
https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2019.1597763.
Damanbagh, S. , sajadian, N. and Nemati, M (2021). Analyzing the Role of Local-Spatial Differences in the Sense of Happiness among the Citizens of Ahvaz. Geography and Urban Space Development, 8(1), 205-224.
doi: 10.22067/jgusd.2021.67749.1000
El Archi, Y., Benbba, B., Kabil, M., & Dávid, L. D (2023). Digital Technologies for Sustainable Tourism Destinations: State of the Art and Research Agenda. Administrative Sciences, 13(8), 184-200.
https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci13080184.
Ghaedi, S. , Maryanaji, Z. & Hosseini Siahgoli, M (2023). Identifying Key Drivers Effective on Sustainable Urban Tourism in Ahvaz Metropolis using Future Study. Journal of Geography and Regional Development, 21(4), 351-384.
doi: 10.22067/jgrd.2024.85923.1372.
Gorji-Karsami, A., Rahimi-Farahabadi, D., Motahari-Zadeh, M (2022). Investigating the role of information and communication technology in the development of the tourism industry: a case study of virtual tourism, 9th National Conference on Modern Studies and Research in the Field of Geography, Architecture and Urban Planning of Iran, Tehran.
https://civilica.com/doc/1510412.
Gretzel, U, Marianna S, Zheng X, & Chulmo K. (2015). "Smart tourism: foundations and developments." Electronic markets 25, 179-188.
 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-015-0196-8.
Ionescu, A. M., & Sârbu, F. A (2024). Exploring the Impact of Smart Technologies on the Tourism Industry. Sustainability, 16(8), 18-33.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083318.
Ivars-Baidal, J., Casado-Díaz, A. B., Navarro-Ruiz, S., & Fuster-Uguet, M (2024). Smart tourism city governance: exploring the impact on stakeholder networks. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 36(2), 582-601.
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-03-2022-0322.
Kaveh, K., Nekoizadeh, M., Ali-Mohammadlou, M (2024). Identifying factors affecting the implementation of the Internet of Things for smart tourism destinations with a futures research approach (case study: Fars Province), Social Studies of Tourism, 12(25), 72-31.
http://journalitor.ir/ar/Article/38331/FullText
Khademi, L., Izady, H. and soltani, A (2023). Presentation of Tourism Development Scenario with a Future Study Approach, Case Study: Khorramabad County. Journal of Tourism and Development, 12(1), 177-199.
doi: 10.22034/jtd.2022.336256.2594
Khan, N., Khan, W., Humayun, M., & Naz, A (2024). Unlocking the Potential: Artificial Intelligence Applications in Sustainable Tourism. The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Regenerative Tourism and Green Destinations, 303-316.
https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-746-420241020.
Kusumastuti, H., Pranita, D., Viendyasari, M., Rasul, M. S., & Sarjana, S (2024). Leveraging Local Value in a Post-Smart Tourism Village to Encourage Sustainable Tourism. Sustainability, 16(2), 873. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020873.
Liu, J., Hall, C. M., Zhu, C., & Ting Pong Cheng, V (2024). Redefining the concept of smart tourism in tourism and hospitality. Anatolia, 35(3), 566-578.
 https://doi.org/10.1080/13032917.2023.2282712.
Ma (2024). Smart tourism destination (STD): developing and validating an impact scale using residents’ overall life satisfaction. Current Issues in Tourism, 27(17), 2849-2872.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2023.2296587.
Maleki, S., Alizadeh, H., and Kamelifar, M (2019). An analysis of urban tourism sustainability patterns in Ahvaz city. Tourism Management Studies (Tourism Studies), 15(49), 181-201.
SID. https://sid.ir/paper/379741/fa.
Miller, G., & Torres-Delgado, A (2023). Measuring sustainable tourism: A state of the art review of sustainable tourism indicators. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(7), 1483-1496.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2213859.
Nadi, M. B. , & Rafieian, M (2022). Identifying the Key Drivers Affecting Tourism Development with the Foresight Approach (Case study: Golden Tourism Triangle of Isfahan, Fars, Yazd). Journal of Tourism Planning and Development, 11(43), 27-48.
doi: 10.22080/jtpd.2022.23314.3676
Nayal, K., Raut, R. D., Yadav, V. S., Priyadarshinee, P., & Narkhede, B. E (2022). The impact of sustainable development strategy on sustainable supply chain firm performance in the digital transformation era. Business Strategy and the Environment, 31(3), 845-859.
https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2921.
Pranita, D., Sarjana, S., & Musthofa, B. M (2022). Mediating Role of Sustainable Tourism and Creative Economy to Improve Community Wellbeing. Afr. J. Hosp. Tour. Leis, 11, 727-740.
https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.257.
Rahimi, A. Rezaei, M. R. and Pashapour, H (2024). Future Studies of trends affecting the development of tourism in Iran in the Post-Corona era. Human Geography Research, 56(1), 47-62.
doi: 10.22059/jhgr.2022.335020.1008421.
Ribes, J. F. P., & Baidal, J. I (2018). Smart sustainability: A new perspective in the sustainable tourism debate. Investigaciones Regionales-Journal of Regional Research, (42), 151-170.
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/289/28966251009/html/
Rocha, J (2021). Smart Tourism and Smart Destinations for a Sustainable Future. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A.M., Brandli, L., Lange Salvia, A., Wall, T. (eds) Decent Work and Economic Growth. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95867-5_88.
Santos-Júnior, A., Almeida-García, F., Morgado, P., & Mendes-Filho, L (2020). Residents’ quality of life in smart tourism destinations: A theoretical approach. Sustainability, 12(20), 45-58.
http://hdl.handle.net/10451/44832.
Shafiee, S. , Rajabzadeh Ghatari, A. , Hasanzadeh, A. and Jahanyan, S (2020). Smart Tourism Destinations:A Systematic Review of Research Using the Paradigm Funnel Approach. Tourism Management Studies, 15(49), 33-62.
doi: 10.22054/tms.2020.11045.
Shafiee, S. , Rajabzadeh Ghatari, A. , Hasanzadeh, A. and Jahanyan, S (2019). Studying the Effect of IT on Sustainable Development of Tourism Destinations toward Developing Smart Tourism Destinations (Based on the Meta Synthetize Approach). New Marketing Research Journal, 7(4), 95-116.
doi: 10.22108/nmrj.2017.103939.1247.
Shafiee, S., Jahanyan, S., Ghatari, A. R., & Hasanzadeh, A (2023). Developing sustainable tourism destinations through smart technologies: A system dynamics approach. Journal of Simulation, 17(4), 477-498.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17477778.2022.2030656.
Sheikhi, H. & Dinarundnejad, S (2024). Identification and Analysis of Effective Factors on the Development of Tourism with a Future Research Approach (Case Study: Shush City). Geography and Territorial Spatial Arrangement, 14(50), 123-148.
doi: 10.22111/gaij.2024.44864.3097.
Tran, H. M., Huertas, A., & Moreno, A (2017). A new framework for the analysis of smart tourism destinations. A comparative case study of two Spanish destinations. 190-214.
doi:10.14198/Destinos-Turisticos-Inteligentes.2017.09.
Wei, W., Önder, I., & Uysal, M (2024). Smart tourism destination (STD): developing and validating an impact scale using residents’ overall life satisfaction. Current Issues in Tourism, 27(17), 2849-2872.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2023.2296587.
Zangoui, F., Kharrazi Mohammadvandi Azar, Z., Salehi Sedqiani, J (2022). Smartizing Iran's Tourism Industry: Emphasis on Social and Cultural Empowerment. Social Studies of Tourism, 10(19), 335-368.
 https://sid.ir/paper/1004956/fa.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Geography and Development
Volume 23, Issue 80 - Serial Number 80
September 2025
Pages 129-158

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 05 November 2024
  • Revise Date: 18 January 2025
  • Accept Date: 08 March 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics