Ruholah Eslami; Farideh Amani keykanlo
Abstract
With the expansion of urbanization along with the growth of information technology and the development of communication networks, cities have become a center for the development of countries in a space of streams. In this space, cities enjoy sufficient power, influence and credibility to carry out diplomatic ...
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With the expansion of urbanization along with the growth of information technology and the development of communication networks, cities have become a center for the development of countries in a space of streams. In this space, cities enjoy sufficient power, influence and credibility to carry out diplomatic activities by improving their economic, political, technological, cultural and infrastructural status. They show a new form of diplomacy in their activities. Tourism should also be considered as one of the most important industries of sustainable development in any society that has high mobility in economic, political, social, urban and environmental changes. Focusing on different aspects of the tourism industry, together with the local and national management plans of each community can play a very important role in the international and national management processes of each community. The present study is based on a descriptive-analytical method in nature and analyzes the role of urban diplomacy in the development of tourism in North Khorasan province based on the SWOT analytical model. The question is what role does urban diplomacy play in attracting tourists in North Khorasan province? The hypothesis is that urban diplomacy has provided a new approach for infrastructure development and attracting tourists along with economic development, increasing communication, cultural and religious interactions in the province. The research findings show that North Khorasan province attracts many domestic and international tourists due to its numerous tourist attractions. Weaknesses and threats with the lack of basic transportation infrastructure to facilitate tourism and the lack of diversity in tourism facilities prevent the province's cooperation as a partner of urban network at the international level. Data analysis based on SWOT model shows that tourism and attracting tourists in the province has a high potential and covers its weak points to some extent. But the main problem, which is the lack of an extensive air, land, and rail network, still remains. it is required that the officials of the recreation centers and tourist complexes of the capital of the province and the cities should be suitably expanded the tourism facilities in order to improve the position of the province in the tourism industry. Especially urban diplomacy can help to improve strengths and reduce weaknesses.
Narges Vazin; Hossein Mokhtari Hashi; Mahdi Setayesh Manesh
Abstract
Extended abstract
Introduction
National power is a set of potential and actual capabilities of a country that is used to achieve national interests. Increasing national power is one of the most important goals of countries and efforts are always made to achieve it. National power plays an ...
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Extended abstract
Introduction
National power is a set of potential and actual capabilities of a country that is used to achieve national interests. Increasing national power is one of the most important goals of countries and efforts are always made to achieve it. National power plays an important role in the geopolitical weight of countries, which determines their position in the international system. Tourism can strengthen national power by strengthening the soft aspects of national power. This is why countries focus on tourism to achieve this goal. Iran is considered one of the ten largest countries in the world in terms of various historical, religious and natural tourist attractions, and it can use this opportunity to strengthen its national power. The present study aims to explain the importance and impact of tourism on national power components in Iran.
Review of Literature
National power has various origins and foundations that produce national power in a collective function. Economic, political, military, social, geographical and scientific factors are some of the main factors shaping the national power of countries. The impact of tourism on the economy is one of the direct and indirect methods of per capita income, as well as government revenues and increasing employment opportunities. Tourism also contributes to a fair distribution of income and directs money from the rich and middle classes to the poor, and can have a significant impact on improving the economies of less developed countries. Politically, tourism often helps increase political stability. With the increase in social interactions resulting from tourism, peace and understanding among nations will increase and in fact tourism is a tool of public diplomacy. Tourism can provide a positive and unmediated mental image of countries. Another effect of tourism is increasing security in the community. Socially and culturally, tourism helps to strengthen local values, traditions and culture, and also renews some customs and traditions. Tourism helps to raise public awareness and learn more about other cultures. Tourism protects historical monuments and buildings.
Methodology
A descriptive-analytical and survey research method was used in this study. The study subjects consists of 40 elites and academic specialists. Field research methods (5 pint likert scales questionnaire) were used for data collection purposes. The reliability of questionnaire with score of 0.7 confirmed. The collected data were analysed using SPSS software and GLM repeated measures analysis of variance test and one- sample t-test.
Findings and Discussion
Regarding the impact of tourism on national power dimensions, the one-sample T-test with an average value (3) indicated the mean values of 4, 3.85, and 3.91 for the economic, socio-cultural and political dimensions respectively. It was statistically significant at the alpha level of 0.05, indicating the impact of tourism on the national power of Iran. Regarding the impact of tourism on national power factors, the one-sample t-test showed that all factors of three economic, socio-cultural and political dimensions had mean values higher than average, and it was statistically significant at the alpha level of 0.05. Therefore, it can be concluded that tourism can strengthen the national power of Iran in all three economic, socio-cultural and political dimensions.
Conclusion
Today, the importance of tourism has attracted the attention of governments and nations, and countries are trying to develop tourism by adapting their national structures to these activities, not only to introduce their culture, country, land, nation, history and national identity to the world, but also they have good economic interests and a special place in the international trade of the tourism industry. Given the numerous and diverse capabilities and opportunities in the field of tourism that Iran has, the present study has explained the importance and the role of tourism in strengthening the national power of the country. The results of this study show that the development of tourism is effective in strengthening the national power of the country in macroeconomic, political and socio-cultural dimensions. Among these dimensions, tourism has the greatest impact on the economic dimension by strengthening the components of "increasing national income" and "strengthening the private sector." The overall results showed that tourism development both strengthens and develops the country's economic by increasing income, production, job creation, strengthening the private sector, trade development, increasing justice, strengthening domestic and foreign policy, increasing welfare, education, increasing national cohesion and solidarity and simultaneous cultural exchanges at the national and international levels, as well as it strengthens the country's domestic and foreign policies, and ultimately, strengthens the national power, the country's geopolitical position at the regional and global levels. Along with the above results, the following suggestions are provided:
To increase the awareness of legislators, policymakers and planners of the country with the position of tourism in strengthening national power;
To develop an integrated policy and planning system between policy makers and tourism planning agencies;
To create expert interactions between the foreign policy apparatus and policy makers and executives of the country's tourism industry;
To familiarize diplomats and experts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the capabilities and potentials of tourism;
To expand relations with international tourism-related organizations such as the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the World Travel and Tourism Council, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Hamdollah Sojasi Ghidari; Hamideh Mahmoodi; Hurieh Havaei
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction
The sense of security in rural areas is associated with many factors, including the presence of foreigners and strangers from outside the village. As rural security is one of the most important factors in expanding tourism in rural areas, sometimes tourism in a village ...
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Extended Abstract
Introduction
The sense of security in rural areas is associated with many factors, including the presence of foreigners and strangers from outside the village. As rural security is one of the most important factors in expanding tourism in rural areas, sometimes tourism in a village plays a significant role in improved sense of security of local people. Therefore, villages as a biological location that includes a dense population of diverse individuals and unique attractions will be able to perform their special functions only if the residents have an acceptable level of sense of security. For this reason, in this study, we tried to measure the sense of security among the villagers living in rural tourism destinations. Neyshabur County attracts many tourists thanks to its geographical and historical situation, as well as proximity to main roads. In addition, as the villages in this county are situated on the slope of the mountains, they are surrounded by numerous springs, waterfalls, and other natural attractions which attract many local and non-local tourists, which can serve as an important source of increased income for the villagers. Nevertheless, one of the important factors in development of tourism in the villages is the satisfaction of the villagers with the presence of tourists and the sense of security of the local people. Therefore, this research analyzes and evaluates the sense of security of local people in tourism villages.
Review of Literature
Security in tourism destinations is one of the main factors of tourism development. Security is one of the fundamental principles in the development of tourism strategy, because the long-term sustainability of tourism industry depends on provision of security, and the disruption of its mechanism makes way for insecurity of that tourism destination. Security and tourism are the parameters of an equation which are directly co-related. Today, security is the most important and fundamental principle in formulating the tourism development strategies. There is a mutual relationship between tourism, stability, development and security. Thus, tourism and security are interdependent and they mutually interact with each other, as they can have a decreasing or increasing effect on each other. Following are some studies on the subject of research: (Heydarnejad et al, 2015: Investigating the role of security feeling in the development of border tourism (case study: Chabahar border town)), (Golshiri Esfahani et al, 2013: Spatial Analysis of Health Tourists Security in the Rural Areas of Iran), (Karami Dehkordi et al, 2013: Identification and Prioritization of Security Obstacles in Rural Tourism Development by using Delphi Technique (Research Area: Chehar-Mahal & Bakhtiary)), (Hezar Jaribi, 2011: Feeling Social Security from the Viewpoint of Tourism Expansion), (Khosravi, 2009: Security is the most important component in attracting tourists), (Choon Chiang, 2000: Strategies for Safety and Security in Tourism: A conceptual framework for the Singapore Hotel Industry), (Ghaderia et al, 2017: Does security matter in tourism demand?), (Prashyanusorn et al, 2010: Surveillance system for sustainable tourism with safety and privacy protection) & (Fan et al, 2013: AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) and Computer Analysis Software Used in Tourism Safety).
Method
This study was an applied one conducted in a descriptive-analytical method. Five security dimensions (human life, cultural, social, economic and environmental incentives) have been used to measure the sense of security among the locals in tourism villages. The data were collected using a questionnaire containing questions about security dimensions. In total, 39 items were designed and questioned in 5 dimensions. The statistical sample of this study consists of 10 tourism villages in Fazl and Mazol rural districts of Neyshabur County which in 2016 had a population of 2417 households. Therefore, according to Cochran formula and with a 0.1% error rate for households in sample villages, the sample size was 95, after some modifications it was raised to 117.
Findings and Discussion
The results of the t-test indicate that the local community has a low sense of security. Besides, according to the results of the independent two sample t-test, women feel more secure than men. However, it's worth noting that men feel less secure than women because they are much more in contact with the tourists than women do. According to the results of the factor analysis for the items of ‘dealing with intruders’, ‘the sense of security while leaving the house unguarded during the day’ and ‘the tourists following the ethical standards’ had the highest factor loads. This reveals that villagers in rural tourism destinations believe that the above items have the highest impact on the security of the area. The results of spatial analysis of the differences in the sense of security in sample villages showed that the village of Bojabad with the score of 0.371 and the village of Ghar with the score of 0.291 respectively have demonstrated the highest and lowest levels of the sense of security, as these villages have numerous attractions which attract tourists from different cultures and tastes and usually favor the youth.
Conclusion
In general, the presence of tourists in the rural tourism destinations of the region has led to decreased level of the sense of security among local people. Accordingly, local people feel that crimes have increased in villages due to the presence of tourists. Therefore, as the presence of tourists makes villagers feel less secure, the following suggestions are made to improve tourism security in the region:
- To make promotional programs for development of tourism culture
- To develop and improve security services
- To encourage the family tourism
- To establish NGOs in the region
