Identification and Prioritization of Factors Influencing the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Coastal Sports Tourism

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Sports Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University,Tehran, Iran

3 Full Profesor of Management, School of Economics and Business, Ljubljana University. Ljubljana. Slovenia

Abstract

Abstract
Purpose: The objective of this study was to identify and prioritize the factors influencing the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in coastal sports tourism on Kish Island. This applied research adopted a descriptive–analytical approach to data collection.
Methodology: The statistical population comprised fifteen experts in sports management, executive managers, and entrepreneurs active in coastal sports tourism, selected through purposive sampling. In the first phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts, and a thematic analysis approach based on Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step framework was employed to identify the key factors affecting SME development. In the second phase, the identified factors were ranked and prioritised using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Saaty’s (1980) pairwise comparison matrix.
Findings: The findings revealed five main factors and seventeen subcategories. The economic and financial dimension ranked first, followed by multi-level governance and cross-sectoral synergy, marketing and value chain, risk, safety and resilience, and finally, environmental aspects.
Originality: As th first specialized study focusing on the development of SMEs in coastal sports tourism, this research proposes a strategic framework for creating a dynamic environment that fosters employment generation and entrepreneurial growth.

Keywords

Journal of Sustainable Development in Sport Management
Volume 6, Issue 15
January 2026

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