Identifying and Prioritizing Factors Affecting the Sustainable Development of Sports Tourism Destinations in Tehran

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The sustainable development of sports tourism destinations is recognized as one of the most important goals and aspirations for many countries. This development is indebted to the complex and multidimensional influences of economic, socio-cultural, and environmental factors. The primary objective of this research was to identify and prioritize the factors affecting the sustainable development of the sports tourism destination in the metropolis of Tehran. Method: The present study is applied in purpose and employs a mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) approach. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 experts, selected through purposive sampling. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, following the six-step framework proposed by Braun and Clarke. In the quantitative phase, a questionnaire, developed based on the qualitative findings, was distributed among 35 academic and executive experts using stratified sampling. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha, and its validity was verified by specialists. Finally, the quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS software. Findings: The analysis resulted in the identification of 6 main themes and 20 sub-themes. The results indicated that all six dimensions were statistically significant and rated above average. The dimension of "Development of New Technologies" emerged as the most critical factor, with the highest mean score (4.657) and the lowest standard deviation (0.398). In contrast, the dimension of "Smart Management and Sustainable Urban Development" had the lowest mean score (4.022) and the highest standard deviation (0.591), ranking last in importance. The Friedman test results further confirmed this prioritization. Conclusion: Accordingly, it can be concluded that for the sustainable development and strengthening of Tehran's sports tourism destination, these dimensions must be considered in a multidimensional and comprehensive manner. Such an approach not only brings the benefits of sustainable development but can also provide practical strategies and pathways to both create a foundation for sustainable development in Tehran and transform this metropolis into a model for other major cities.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Sustainable Development in Sport Management
Volume 6, Issue 15
January 2026
Pages 31-56

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