All other Geographic fields of studies , Interdisciplinary
manijeh lalehpour; Hooshang Sarvar; zahra musavy
Abstract
Advancements in technological infrastructure have transformed the tourism sector into a promising driver of economic growth for countries. However, the connection between tourism development and environmental impacts cannot be ignored, and environmental efficiency is one of the most critical components ...
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Advancements in technological infrastructure have transformed the tourism sector into a promising driver of economic growth for countries. However, the connection between tourism development and environmental impacts cannot be ignored, and environmental efficiency is one of the most critical components in tourism policymaking. In this regard, preventing the negative effects of tourism is essential for preserving the environmental, cultural, and social resources of tourist destinations. The present study aims to examine this issue in the city of Maragheh.
This research is applied in terms of purpose and employs a descriptive-analytical method. The required information and data have been collected through library research and field studies (survey) using a researcher-made questionnaire. The statistical population of the study includes citizens, officials, and experts. The statistical population includes citizens, officials, and experts. To collect the data, random sampling was employed for citizens (382 participants), while non-probability purposive sampling was used for officials and experts (50 participants each). The SPSS software and statistical tests such as T-test, Tukey, and Kruskal-Wallis were utilized to analyze the questionnaire data.
The research findings indicate a convergence of views among all three groups (citizens, officials, and experts) regarding urban environmental sustainability with a tourism-oriented approach in the city of Maragheh. The scores fluctuated between 2.41 and 2.74. However, the overall results show an unfavorable status of the studied indicators and components in Maragheh. The Pillai's Trace test and multivariate analysis of variance further revealed significant differences between urban groups concerning the indicators of traffic networks, tourism services and facilities, urban landscape, social connections, local culture, and environmental preservation. However, there was no significant difference in the indicator of urban management performance.
