Journal of Tourism and Development

Journal of Tourism and Development

Modeling obstacles to the favorable governance of sustainable tourism in Khuzestan province

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Postdoctoral researcher of geography and urban planning, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
2 Associate Professor of Geography and Urban Planning, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
10.22034/jtd.2025.490193.2987
Abstract
Introduction: Good governance in tourism is the key to the sustainable and successful development of the tourism industry.
Research Objectives and Methods: The aim of this study is to explain the structural barriers to implementing good governance in sustainable tourism in Khuzestan Province. This study was conducted with an applied approach using a descriptive-analytical method and collecting the opinions of 30 tourism experts through the Delphi method, and using interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and MicMac software.
Research findings: In this study, 18 main barriers were identified that affect the optimal governance of sustainable tourism in Khuzestan Province. Next, using the network analysis method, the complex and reciprocal relationships of these barriers were examined to determine which of these barriers have the greatest impact on other barriers and ultimately on optimal governance of tourism.
Results: It showed that institutional-structural barriers are among the most influential barriers and environmental and economic barriers are among the most influential factors in implementing sustainable tourism governance in Khuzestan Province. Also, using the MiqMaq software, it was determined that 16 of the 18 identified barriers, as linked variables, play a key role in creating complex and intertwined barriers to implementing desirable sustainable tourism governance in Khuzestan Province. Which have high influence and dependency and require special attention from Khuzestan Province officials.
Keywords

 
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