Identifying and Prioritizing the Optimal Governance Indicators of Sustainable Tourism in Khuzestān Province

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

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

10.22124/gscaj.2025.29317.1336

Abstract

Through effective policymaking, meticulous planning, and comprehensive collaboration, urban governance can foster sustainable tourism, simultaneously delivering economic, social, and environmental benefits. However, achieving this requires identifying and prioritizing key indicators of good governance for sustainable tourism. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the indicators of good governance for sustainable tourism in Khuzestān Province. Methodologically, it was descriptive research in terms of data collection and an applied-developmental study in terms of purpose. The statistical population comprises two groups: delphi panel of 50 experts in tourism and urban management. The target population, included urban planning managers, specialists, and university professors. Data was collected using a DEMATEL questionnaire, designed through a three-round Delphi technique. To analyze the data, establish cause-effect relationships, and determine the weight of each indicator, the hybrid DANP (DEMATEL-ANP) technique was employed. The study revealed that institutional and economic indicators hold greater significance in Khuzestān Province. This implies that appropriate laws and regulations, robust economic infrastructure, and government support for the tourism industry are essential for the province’s sustainable tourism development. Conversely, while social and environmental indicators were relatively less prioritized, they remain critically important. Coastal and marine areas, as integral components of Khuzestān’s tourism potential, play a key role in attracting tourists and advancing sustainable tourism. However, environmental considerations, particularly the protection of coastal and marine ecosystems, must be rigorously addressed alongside tourism development. These findings emphasize the importance of urban governance in the development of sustainable tourism and the need to pay attention to various indicators, including institutional, economic, social, and environmental indicators. They also highlight the role of beaches and the sea in the development of sustainable tourism and the need to pay attention to environmental protection in this regard. The results of this study can be a useful guide for policymakers and urban planners of Khuzestān province in developing sustainable tourism and optimally utilizing the capacities of beaches and the sea.

Highlights

-   Good governance forms the foundation of sustainable tourism development.

-  in Khuzestān Province, institutional and economic indicators hold greater priority, while social and environmental dimensions also play a significant role.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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