فصلنامه پژوهش های جغرافیای انسانی
پیاپی 76 (تابستان 1390)

IntroductionUrban population growth as one of the main features of the 20th century is leading to concentration of resources, funds, facilities and urban services and utilities in major cities. Physical and social development of cities and their transformation to heterogeneous social, cultural, and population centers have led to the increased rate of abnormalities in cities particularly in central areas, and to quick growth of heterogeneous population, social problems and economic poverty causing the emergence of urban damage and anomalous and unbridled malignant growth of abnormalities in cities. The city of Yazd is the most populous city of Yazd Province due to having occupational and welfare attractions as well as administrative concentration. Considering the rapid spread of urbanization in recent years in Yazd, the city has faced with massive uncontrolled immigration, and these floods of immigrants have settled there. Consequently, factors such as cultural diversity, misidentification of the immigrants and their lack of sense of belongingness to the new environment and new community, and lack of commitment to values have caused social deviances, cultural disintegration and occurrence of social damage in Yazd.MethodologyThe study involves neighborhoods of Yazd. The population consists of all inmates (including criminals, convicts, and delinquents) in Yazd for the year 2007 and the sample consists of 127 inmates. The committed crimes consist of 15 crimes including murder, assault and battery, illegitimate relationship, embezzlement, theft, harassment, issuing bad checks, drinking alcohol, breaking traffic laws and driving violations, fraud, violation of municipal regulations, drug addiction and abuse, trafficking, kidnapping and family conflicts. The research is an applied one and its method is descriptive – analytical. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed among both male and female inmates in prisons of Yazd. The required information has been extracted from questionnaires to analyze the topic of the research. SPSS software has been used to analyze the research data qualitatively. It should be mentioned that in order to complete the data in some cases, the logs of daily reports in police stations were required, however, because of the huge volume of the job and inadequate cooperation on part of the police, only the questionnaire method is used. This research aims at studying the socio-economic status of the inmates, pathology of social damage factors and causes influencing it, and their distribution pattern in Yazd city. The research also suggests solutions and strategies to reduce negative effects of the damage on the ecological, social and economic structure of urban areas of Yazd.Results and Discussion There is quite a broad diversity among urban areas and neighborhoods of Yazd city in terms of peace and security (and conversely, abnormalities and crimes). In this regard, neighborhoods of Yazd were classified into three groups in terms of peace and security (and conversely, abnormalities and crimes), namely secure, semi-secure and insecure neighborhoods. Moreover, according to the statistical data, male inmates are more than females. Among various factors, bad friends and joblessness are the most influential ones in committing crimes and delinquencies. Regarding the relationship between the level of education and committing crime and delinquency it could be concluded that the higher the level of education, the lower the rate of committing crime. According to the study, Mahdiabād, Āzādshahr and Safā'eeyeh neighborhoods are the most unsafe and crime-prone neighborhood. Mahdiabād has the most female inmates mostly immigrants. Most of the criminals were not natives of Yazd either coming into Yazd from their childhood or entering this city since last year. Among the committed crimes the commonest ones include trafficking, theft and illegitimate relationship, and the least ones are property disputes, alcohol drinking, and violation of municipal regulations. Considering the committed crimes it could be stated that social harm and damage of Yazd city could be minimized through application of appropriate strategies like high-quality education, creation and development of TV programs on social harm and crime hazards particularly its ominous implications for women, creation of job opportunities and decrease of unemployment rate, and provision of greater security by police forces in crime-prone areas. ConclusionResults of the study show that 66.4% of the criminals are natives of Yazd, while 33.6% of them are nonnative residents. The commonest age groups among the criminals are 25-34 and 35-44 which are mostly the appropriate age for work and economic activities. Most crimes and delinquencies are perpetrated by self-employed and unemployed people and the lowest rate of crime and delinquency commitment belongs to the farmer class. Most of the perpetrators are poor and belong to low-income groups of people. The main factor causing crime commitment and delinquency are unemployment (39.9 %) and bad friends (34.6 %). Among the crimes, the most important and common ones include trafficking (38%), theft (20%) and illegitimate relationship (15%). According to the study, Mahdiabād neighborhood is the most unsafe and crime-prone neighborhood with 13.4% of the total crimes under study. The most common crime in this neighborhood involves trafficking including female prisoners, most of whom are nonnative people. Akramabād, Chāhar-Menār, Koochey-e Boyouk, Khoramshād, Yaqoobi and Molābāshi neighborhoods are considered as the safest neighborhoods or neighborhoods with the lowest level of crime and social deviance with less than 0.8% of total crimes. Neighborhoods of Yazd were thus classified into three categories in terms of peace and security, namely proper, semi-proper and low level neighborhoods.

IntroductionFrom long centuries, people have been following a good life and for this intention they have been trying to improve their lives as well as their environmental conditions, to become enable to receive the uppermost benefit. from their talents and abilities but the real problem have always been the quality of good life. The definitions, models, and subjective and objective different indicators were posed among a vast range of fields, but providing a global definition, identify appropriate indicators and also measuring quality of life have been remained as a problem. In this paper the authors were trying to answer this question, that what is the conditional quality of life from sampling view. In this framework they enable definition as well as of quality of life indicators and at the end they presented a conceptual model for electing indicators and assessment quality of life. MethodologyThe characteristics the method of the research a descriptive and analytic. In the present study, in order to recognize the qualiticaive indicators of life in rural areas, one hundred fifty persons were randomly selected among the mentioned rural society, associated with ten villages were randomly selected to fill out the prepared questionnaires. Then, by using SPSS software, one-sample T-Test and ANOVA were run to analyze the data. Result and DiscussionThe economic development literature advance three main approaches to development: the growth - centered, the state-centered, and the people-centered approach. Here, the people –centered (quality of life, QOL) approach is utilized to response to questions about QOL in study region. Currently, there is a great deal of interests in exploring policies and practices that enhance wellbeing rather than economic growth. Some authors argue that growth-centered and state-centered approaches are insufficient to assess human wellbeing. So they need to be complemented by nonmonetary indicators of quality of life. QOL is similar to wellbeing concept and is a function of people life circumstances, which of course have an economic dimension, but also includes their social networks, their health and their sense of worth as well as the sustainably of environment on which they depend. Based up on the mentioned approach, the results of the study show that education, housing quality, physical environment, income and employment conditions are below the average in the Dehestan Khaveh Shomali; but healthy, satisfy and physical conditions are in average. Also results show that the villages of dehestan Khaveh Shomali are two categorized in term of all dementions of quality of life. The first includes villages Kafraj, Sarab Ghazanfar and Iranshahi in which there is a high level of quality of life and satisfaction. The second cast includes in which have low level of quality of life and satisfaction.ConclusionThis paper examines the quality of life indicators in rural regions in a people-centered approach. The analysis utilizes data obtained from a survey questionnaire administered to a random sample of 150 residents in Dehestan Khaveh Shomali. Quality of life is measured by a four-point categorical measure of overall satisfaction includes economic, social, physical and environmental satisfaction. The empirical results show that the majority of indicators of quality of life such as education, healthy and safety, leisure, housing, infrastructures, employment, income and environmental quality are below the average in rural centers. So, the results suggest that economic, social, physical and environmental dimensions of quality of life are far from optimum conditions. In this regards, it is necessary to enhance wellbeing and economic growth in rural areas.

Introduction Agriculture is the basis of all 'human' wealth amongst nations, and without food no human community could really have function. The fall of civilizations have been attributed to degrading food producing systems. But there are people who have evolved sustainable agricultural practice. According to Agenda 21, the concept of sustainability is multidimensional. It includes ecological and social, as well as economic ones. Between these different elements, there is an interdependency. Research results indeed confirm that the relationships are strong, numerous and complex. Strengthening the economic viability of rural areas is a basis for providing the means of preserving their social and environmental functions. Economic, social and environmental objectives can to a certain degree develop synergies. However, they are not always mutually supportive; and they can even compete with each other. Where this is the case, the concept of sustainability refers to the need to strike the right balance between its three elements. Political choices concerning one out of these three elements must at least ensure that certain minimum standards with respect to the other two are observed. Mainly the structural, technical and commercial aspects of family farming have been investigated up to now, while the many natural points of communality family farming shares with the concept of sustainable rural development have not been extensively explored. Thus the emphasis on research in exploitation of agricultural systems, that mainly implement after land reform in Iran one of the key pillars of sustainable development studies in rural areas. The present article pays, the role of farming system - operating farm (family) in rural sustainable development Ghir & Karzin city in Fars province.MethodologyIn this study, at first step all of the villages of this province in which the agriculture is common, are classified with conventional development indicators. The studied villages are selected through samples. To determine the role of family farming system in sustainable development of rural areas first comparing with indicators relating to operating systems agriculture, rural development and sustainable development indicators were extracted from common indicators, and among the three indicators of food security, participation and use of native criteria established. Then, in addition to census data in the public, some items of information are collected through a field study and complement questionnaires, and finally the data were analyzed by using statistical methods. Results and Discussion The results show that family farming system has a direct relationship with rural sustainable development and in sustainable rural development in Ghir & Karzin, can play an important role. Social implications result from the provision of rural employment opportunities, the diversification of economic activities and the promotion of local products, services, craft activities and agri-tourism. Preserving environmental quality is also a precondition for developing a lasting economic potential in rural areas. The ecological integrity and the scenic value of rural landscapes are key ingredients for making rural areas attractive for enterprise settlements, as a place to live, and for the tourism and recreation business.ConclusionThere is a convergence between the notion and the implementation of sustainable rural development and some key features of the modern organic movement. Yet, in agricultural and rural studies, the active creation and reinforcement of a productivist / post-productivist dualism has emerged as a means of explaining the uneven development of rural areas. Process of development is functional of internal and external economic & ecological & social factors, (political &cultural) of any society. Because agricultural sector of any of rural societies is based on operating farming systems, so their changes in the impact of agricultural structures float. At the time being preparing food and producing agricultural products to meet the food needs of growing population and food security is considered as one of the requirements to achieve sustainable development. Therefore, accurate recognition of operation farming systems can be exploited in sustainable rural development and can play an important role.

IntroductionDuring the recent years, low-depth wells have found a special significance in the rural economy of Zahak Township. These wells have not already been used so much, due to abundance of surface waters; but in the recent years(1998-2009) more attention have been paid to low-depth wells because of discontinuous flow of Hirmand River. Digging low-depth wells is one of the techniques used by the people of this region in campaigning against drought and creating diversification in the agricultural products to which less attention has been paid in academic researches. The rate of humidity and rainfall in this township, because of its goographical situation, is less than other parts of the country. The annual rate of rainfall the township is about 60 mm. Lack of subsurface basins (excluding the subsurface flows and drain of irrigation water in agricultural consumptions) and the dependence of the economy of this region to the fluctuations of the water gained from Hirmand River, have continuously encountered the farmers of this region with many problems. Drilling low-depth wells not only is not considered as a threat for subsurface waters flowing in the region but also due to re-supply of subsurface basins by Hirmand River, the low-depth wells prevent from coming up of the drains of the agricultural lands; especially, in Autumn, when the water of Hirmand River reaches to its minimum while the need of agricultural lands for water (the dominant product of the region is wheat and barley) is the maximum.There fore the low-depth wells can compensate this defect and may provide assured water resources for economical operations. By digging low-depth wells and employing modern cultivation patterns such as green house cultivation and under-pressure irrigation in the recent droughts, the residents not only overcame this problem, but also could gain higher revenues. Considering the diversification principle in economical operations has promoted the optimal productivity of the natural, economical, social and educational facilities of the region through which the economical and social problems of the villagers will be solved and an appropriate ground will be prepared for protecting the population base of the region in order to preserve the financial and regional resources. The present research paper, while expressing the theoretical fundamentals of diversification in rural economical activities, describes the role of low-depth wells in sectors such as culturing aquatic animals, green house culture, and animal rearing, etc. In the section allocated to the theoretical fundamentals, the authors have studied the diversification approach and the position of low-depth well in the process of campaigning against drought. In the rural communities in which the villagers are faced with problems in meeting the objectives of their life due to lack of job opportunities for them to be attracted to activities such as agriculture and animal husbandry, the diversification approach prepares the ground for creating new capacities for employment in the village. Digging low-depth well, while being one of the approaches for campaigning against drought, has provided the ground for creating diversity in the agricultural products and income sources of the villagers. Ultimately, the research paper compares the diversity of agricultural products and changing the cultivation pattern of the region resulted from the water of low-depth well. Methodology The method used in this research is a combination of descriptive-analytical and case-field procedures, and sampling has been done through filling out the questionnaires and interviewing the experts. Opinion polling from the agricultural exploiters has been employed for appraising the costs of drilling low-depth wells and the income obtained from this project; although similar results are gained by using other economical evaluation methods such as economical analysis. The statistical methods and techniques as well as correlation analysis have been used for analyzing the data. Results & Discussion On the basis of findings of this research, the regions that have access to the water of low-depth well in the summer enjoy the diversity in agricultural products and relative high level of income. They are also very hopeful about their occupational future; while the villages that have less access to the water of low-depth well have only relied on cultivation of wheat and barley. The farmers who use low-depth well for cultivation in comparison with the ones who lack them, participate more in economical and social activities and their relations with the organizations such as Bank Keshavarzi, insurance organizations and research centers are broader too. They also have employed more the modern technologies such as green house cultivation, under-pressure irrigation, and so on. Drilling low-depth wells, while providing an appropriate ground for cultivating various crop products, makes the diversification of the rural economical operations and changing the cultivation pattern possible, the result of which is satisfaction of the people living and residing in the region when the crises resulted from water insufficiency occur. Conclusion Therefore, the low-depth wells have provided assured and durable water resources for campaigning against drought and diversification of economical and agricultural activities.

IntroductionRural poverty, as a result of pressure on natural resources, and unsustainable as well as non-standard use of these resources, leads to an intensification of environment destruction. Additionally, environmental crises intensify the villager's poverty through the exhaustion and destruction of resources used by them. In the present article the aim is considering the role of economic poverty of rural residents in destruction of environment in The Surveyed Pasture of Shoorrood In Shibab District of the Zabol Township.Methodology The method of this research is applied based on the objective. Data are collected via library searches and field study. In the study the means for collecting information is questionnaire and the statistic unit is the head of the family (rural exploiter). The Shib-ab district consisting of 8547.4 square kilometers is located in the north-west of Zabol Township in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran. The total area of Sistan’s rural regions is 547459 hectares, and the total area of Shibab’s ones is 369666 hectares which consist of 328526 hectares of surveyed pastures and 41140 hectares are non-surveyed pastures. The surveyed pastures of Shib-ab district in Zabol Township have 7 usage orders which have been studied using the simple accidental method of the Shoorrood surveyed pasture. The Shoorrood pasture with an expansion of 7500 hectares and a 475-meter altitude from sea level is one of the surveyed pastures of Zabol’s Shibab district.Results and Discussion For this reason the effect ion of both direct and indirect function of human on environment (pasture) destruction resulted from rural exploiter's social and economic poverty have been considered. On the formal report of statistic center of Iranian, the average of Iran familie's Per capita income in urban centers is 7000$ and in rural centers is 4800$, but the average of rural family’s per capita income in Sistan-Baluchestan province is 3100$. The average of rural familie's annual income in the Surveyed Pasture of Shoorrood (Shib-ab district) is 700$. Therefore, there is a distinct difference between the surveyed villages’ per capita income with other villages of Sistan and Baluchestan and the average of village’s per capita income the in the country. Pure dependence of rural exploiters and their families on the stockbreeding activities (non programming from government for creating job opportunities in the area resulted in none accessing of the exploiters and their families to the job opportunities), and none existing the variety of economic activities (because of periodical dryness in Sistan and Baluchestan and stagnation of agricultural activities) show that rural exploiters and their families are the poorest inhabitants in Iran in terms of economic.About 95% of rural households are illiterate and 5% are literate. Therefore, rural exploiters and their families have low level of literacy. Based on the formal report of statistic center of Iran the level of literacy’s average in country is more than 90%, but in Sistan and Baluchistan is just more than 70%. So there is a distinct deference between the literate level of surveyed rural families with the average of literate level of villages in Sistan and Baluchestan and the country. On the other hand the high dimension of households (6 persons) cause to high expenditures such as food (68%), health (20%) and the remained for other expenditures related to the educating children, clothing, fun, etc) and therefore the amount of saving is about zero. Data show that rural exploiters and their families are among the poorest people in Iran, also in terms of social.ConclusionDestruction of rural environments by human in the Surveyed Pasture of Shoorrood is carried out by cutting shrubs in order to secure fuel for firewood, cooking, heating, creating pens and selling it in order to provide necessary daily needs. Given to the total area of the Surveyed Pasture of Shoorrood which is about 7500 hectares, the amount of pasture destruction in a year (2009) by direct function of human has been calculated 1945350 Kg. So given to the fact that pasture shrubs are taken into account just for feeding legitimate livestock in the pasturage season, human with direct function causes to intensify the destruction of this divine source.Pasture exploiters cause to intensify the pasture destruction by keeping surplus livestock in an indirect form. In the Surveyed Pasture of Shoorrood in Shib-ab District, pasture's production capacity in a hectare is 750kg (legitimate for 0/9 livestock unit), and the annual production capacity in the total area of pasture is 5625000 kg (legitimate for 7oo7 livestock units). In spite of low pasture's output (about 750kg in a hectare), that is another factor for economic poverty in the area, inhabitants keep more livestock for providing necessary life's need; on the other hand because of the inhabitant's social poverty pastures are used irregular caused to pasture destruction, so that in the surveyed Pasture of Shoorrood, 35% of total livestock of rural exploiters are included surplus livestock (existing 0/5 surplus livestock unit in a hectare); and given to the daily need of any livestock unit to 2kg fodder, these number livestock units need about 2818932 kg fodder annually which its providing is more than the capacity of pasture's power. The results of research show that villager's social and economic poverty cause to environment (pasture) destruction with direct function (cutting shrubs to secure fuel, sale and creating pen), and indirect function (keeping livestock more than the capacity of pasture).

IntroductionJangaldeh neighborhood is one of the three rural cores of Ali-Abad Katool that according to expressed standards and indexes is recognized as an Informal Settlement, at now. This leads to numerous problems such as of social, economic, cultural, environmental, and physical ones, and therefore needs to Organizing and Empowerment. The aim of this research is prioritizing the factors in organizing and empowerment of Jangaldeh neighborhood of Ali-Abad Katool city. Main question of this research is: How the challenges of settlement are prioritized in this neighborhood and what challenges take high priority?Growth of population puts on odd load and tags changing in economic, social, and especially physical trends resulted in deterioration of texture and poverty. Of course, problems are not limited to these; and some issues come to the area that they need to work special practices and task. In many of texts and papers was cited about urban repairing and limited to physical interventions, less attention to human aspects. We tried to match some physical and human interventions to each other. We examined many approaches and reached to these results that Organizing and Empowerment have can express as the best strategies to combat with these phenomena.MethodologyStudied area had been in north-west of Ali-Abad Katool city and it is a part of a city at the time being. Method of studying is survey. Necessary data derived up with questionnaires.There are different ways for investigating and classifying the needs. Among manners, factor analysis technique is took account as the best ways. The authors used Exploratory Factor Analysis for analyzing the collected data. Factor Analysis decreases indexes and variables to several factors using hidden and complex mathematics functions.Results and DiscussionUsing 23 indexes, development of Jangaldeh of Ali-Abad Katool city was studied. These indexes reduced to these 7 factors: Recreational–Curative is the first preference, Participationary-Healthfully is the second one, Social is in third place, Satisfactoriality is forth, factor of Physical is fifth, Religious-Educational is sixth, and Economic is the seventh preference. They are categorized for planning to organize and the empowerment programme of Jangaldeh in Ali-Abad Katool city.ConclusionFinally, according to findings of research from this survey for improving living standards in this neighborhood and based on exiting approaches, there are suggestions in two directions such as: (1) Organizing composites improving physical condition, provisioning leisure and recreational spaces, and attempt environmental conservation; and (2) Empowerment composites unemployment and poverty, participation and using of social capital, as well as capacity-building and individual empowerment.

IntroductionArtificial Neural network (ANN) models are knowledge-based models and fit within the regression type models of land use changes. ANNs are powerful tools that use a machine learning approach to quantify and model complex behavior and patterns. ANNs were developed to model the brain's interconnected system of neurons so that computers could be made to imitate the brain’s ability to sort patterns and learn from trial and error, thus observing relationships in data. MethodologyLand transformation model (LTM), of artificial neural network models, which couples geographic information systems with artificial neural networks, is used for urban growth modeling in Gorgan city between the years 1987-2001. This model consists of 6 applicable programs MS-DOS. The LTM follows four sequential steps: (1) processing/coding of data to create spatial layers of predictor variables; (2) applying spatial rules that relate predictor variables to land use transitions for each location in an area; the resultant layers contain input variable values in grid format; (3) integrating all input grids using one of three techniques; and (4) temporally scaling the amount of transitions in the study area in order to create a time series of possible future land uses. In Step 1, processing of spatial data, inputs are generated from a series of basic layers that are stored and managed within a GIS. These base layers represent land uses (such as agriculture and urban areas) or features in the landscape (e.g. roads, rivers, etc.). For Step 2, applying spatial transition rules, inputs are developed using a set of spatial transition rules that quantify the spatial effects that predictor cells have on land use transitions. The authors used three classes of transition rules: (1) neighborhoods; (2) distance from the location of a predictor cell; and (3) site specific characteristics. Step 3, integration of predictor variables, one of three different integration methods are used: multi-criteria evaluation (MCE), ANNs, and logistic regression (LR). Each integration procedure requires a different type of data normalization. We only present information relevant to the ANN integration method here. In Step 4, temporal indexing, the amount of land that is expected to transition to urban over a given time period is determined. The GIS portion of the LTM is encoded in Idrisi Kilimanjaro Software. ANNs are used to learn the patterns of development in the region and test the predictive capacity of the model, while GIS is used to develop the spatial, predictor drivers and perform spatial analysis on the results. In this research, three groups of variables including economic-social, land use and biophysical variables were used. 10 effective variables on urban growth (Slope, Distance to major roads, Distance to urban clusters in 1987, Distance to economic centers, Distance to medical centers, Distance to education centers, Number of urban cells within a 3×3 window, Bare land, Cropland/grassland, Forest, Cultivated land) are input nodes and dependent variable urban growth is output node. The use of hidden node is for identifying non-linear relationships. Results and DiscussionRunning model in 3000 th cycle had the least root mean squared error, and thus this cycle was used for extracting future urban growth and model sensitivity. To assess success of the modeling approaches, probability image of this cycle was used, and Relative Operating Characteristic value was calculated. 075 that it result model validate. The ROC examines the agreement between a Boolean map of one category and a suitability map for that category. The ROC module offers a statistical analysis that answers to an important question: “How well is the category of interest concentrated at the locations of relatively high suitability for that category?” Using probability image, urban distribution patterns for 2010, 2020, 2030 and 2040 were created. Relative effects of the 10 predictor variables were evaluated through ROC, using 10 reduced-variable models and the full model. To do so, 11 different networks were created using the full and reduced-variable data set. The resultant network files were then used to create 11 different simulated images of urban change areas. Ranking and selecting the same number of pixels was done on each image to create the Boolean change image. The ROC was implemented using simulated and Boolean images. Using this method, the researchers found that removal of variables cultivated land and number of urban cells plus pasture land had the highest effect on ROC value and distance to education centers, forests and bare lands had the least impact on urban growth. ConclusionThe kind (or type) of land use leads to a decisive effect on urban growth in the studied area. In many cases where there is a non-linear relationship between the dependent variable and independent ones, the neural network method normally produces results superior to other methods. This method could also allow city managers to conduct an act play in the form of “What…. If?” scenarios and actually see the results of their decisions. This is of great importance as it can lead to setting aside of the plans that at the moment are thought to be useful but in the future produce more negative results.

IntroductionNowadays, tourism as a dynamic industry and with unique characteristics includes an important part of economic activities and productions in the developed countries, as well as developed ones. This industry covers all the phenomena and relationships resulting from the interaction of tourists, suppliers and vendors of tourism products, governments and host communities, in the process of attracting and welcoming the tourists. Results and achievements of the tourism industry involve considerable results such as aspects of employment and its impact on development and economic-social functions mentioned in a region or country. Today, the religious tourism is one of the most important kinds which currently has been spread all over the world, and has overcome to weather (climatic) obstacles. Available historical documents from the great civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt and other signs and evidences remained from the pre-historic age indicate that there were numerous religious trips of the thousands of people from past up to now. In fact, mankinds for thousands of years take long journeis in order to do religious practices. Nowadays, religious tourism with all its components and different species, due to specific structural and functional characteristics, has been able to be inside the global tourism, so that its sphere of influence has been spread all over the world. The religious tourists consist of two main groups: first, pilgrims or travelers that their motivation is only the religious affairs, that the time and duration of their station does not depend on their acts; and the second, multi-purpose religious tourists while doing pilgrimage and participate in religious ceremonies, visit other touristic places with a priority given to the pilgrimage in which increases the time and costs of the trip. There are numerous religious attractions and cultural, historical and natural potentials, in the Qom city and therefore that can easily lead to the development of tourism industry can be very helpful.MethodologyThis research is applied-developing in scope and the methodology is descriptive-analytical. For collecting information and data required, documentation and field studies such as interviews and using the data, the attractions, facilities, services and tourism situation in the region have been investigated. Then, the SWOT analysis matrix is used for data analysis and presentation of tourism development strategies in this religious city.Results and DiscussionIn recent decades, Qom city, because of religious and spiritual presence of Shiite clergies has become the world’s most important Shiite religious center. Qom is the second city in Iran after Mashhad as a pilgrimage center. The most important and significant tourist attractions of Qom that are visited every day by a large number of internal and external tourists and pilgrims are the holy shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh and the sacred mosque of Jamkaran. Meanwhile, the city of Qom with precious treasures of Islamic art and architecture such as Mirror ans Gold scenes of Hazrat Masoumeh holy shrine, the architecture of Qom Seminary, Qom General Mosque, Green Domes, Molla Sadra’s House, Ayatollah Boroujerdi’s House, These attractions have been completely affected the structure of city’s religious tourism structure and its functioning due to the importance and their role of religious-pilgrimage and the city glory and progress is owed to these places. In addition, there are more than 400 shrines and other pilgrimage places in Qom. Also domination of hot and dry climate in Qom province has provided individual natural attractions in this province that can be attractive for tourists (especially foreign ones) such as Kavir National Park with an area exceeding 600 hectares in northeast of Qom which is one of the Greatest ecologic areas of Iran and is unique due to its various types of plants and animals.In this paper, SWOT strategic planning process has been used for analyzing the functions of tourism in Qom. A four-stage process of strategic planning including: first, external (opportunities and threats) and internal (strengths and weaknesses) factors evaluation matrix; second, analysis of strategic factors; third, external and internal matrix and matrix of quantitative strategic planning; and finally, appropriate strategies for development of religious tourism in the city of Qom, has designed and presented. Moreover, after consideration of relevant information, the indentified major external and internal factors were in the matrix were evaluated. Number of external factors determined to be 23. Among them, 12 factors cause of religious tourism opportunity of Qom and 11 threatened it. First of all, the factors that led to the opportunity and then those that threatened of the Qom religious tourism sector are located in the matrix. Number of domestic factors also determined to be 24, including the strengths and weaknesses of tourism in Qom. So that, firstly 12 strength factors and then 12 weakness factors of religious tourism are placed in the matrix, then using the expert viewpoints and comments of those interviewed, individual affecting factors were weighted. Finally, by adjusting the strategic planning as well as the internal and external factors that act as the bases in the strategies planning, the SWOT matrix was extracted and accordingly, quantitative strategic planning, appropriate strategies and priorities matrices of religious tourism development are identified.ConclusionIn this research, the authors investigated the capabilities and functions of tourism, - especially the religious tourism – of the Qom city; and in order to develop this functionings, applied strategies to developed the mentioned type of tourism are presented. In this process, by assessment of the capabilities and opportunities of Qom religious tourism, the results show that conservative and aggressive strategies achieved the first and second places, respectively. For this purpose, firstly primary WO strategies and then SO strategies are invoked in the SWOT matrix. In fact, the WO2 conservative strategy with a score of 6.49 represents the best strategy for tourism development and therefore it is considered for the city. This important strategy can be achieved by strengthening the implementation and entertainment and recreational areas and also enhancing the natural attractions as a supplementary religious tourism throughout the year to prevent the seasonal tourism and to increase the tourist's residence time. However, the SO2 aggressive strategy, with the score of 7. 33 as the most effective strategy after the conservative strategy, is considered. To achieve the objectives of the tourism development using this strategy, on the one hand the development of Islamic sciences, and on the other hand development of advertisements for religious scholars and foreign cultural-religious tourists by introducing the real situation of the cultural-religious functioning of the city to other countries in order to attract more foreign tourists and create sustainable employment and income are recommended.