Evaluating of Urban Tourism Spaces with the Disability Attendance ApproachCase Study: Shiraz City

All societies are facing disability as a biological and social phenomenon, regardless of the level of development. According to the World Health Organization (2011), currently more than one billion people in the world suffer from disabilities due to various physical, psychological and social reasons, which constitute 15% of the world's population and 80% of these people live in third world countries.  Also, it is predicted that by 2050, about 20% of the world's population will be elderly and the significant relationship between old age and disability.Given the boom in global and domestic travel and tourism in recent years, most families are usually encouraged to do so, and of course the existence of disability can be an obstacle in this regard; therefore, the right to travel and access to tourism spaces should be considered as one of the key social rights for the disabled and their families.Shiraz city has been introduced as the most standard city in Iran in the field of planning and special design for the disabled in 2016, but the main tourist spaces of this city do not have a special space for the disabled.The main purpose of this study is to evaluate tourism spaces in order to increase the attendance of the disabled in Shiraz. This means that by observing the standards and laws of urban design, the needs of the disabled in recreational places and tourist attractions can be met.

This research has a qualitative basis and an applied nature and is descriptive-analytical in terms of method. Library resources and field surveys in the form of a questionnaire were used to collect information. The statistical population in this study includes the disabled visiting the tourism places of Shiraz and the responsible people and experts (planners and urban designers) in the whole city are considered as the second pillar of the statistical population in this study.To prepare the research questionnaire, first the Delphi decision-making method was used to examine the opinions of experts about the researcher-made questionnaire based on this systematic method. Twenty urban experts related to the research topic participated in this process, each of whom commented on the same questions at least twice, and finally the questions and questionnaire items were prepared based on the consensus of these people. Questionnaire items were designed in two sections as the situation of tourism spaces in Shiraz and the attendance of tourists with disabilities in the form of questions. In order to assess the validity of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used and 0.79 was obtained.For data analysis, the one-sample t-test and Pearson correlation statistical method as well as SOAR and QSPM techniques have been used. The SOAR model is a combination of the SWOT model and the positive view that Stavors has invented. In this model, the greatest strengths and opportunities in the community will be discovered through the participants and shareholders, and then the same group will suggest the ideals that they prefer to achieve in the future.

Using the results of the questionnaires and SPSS software, a one-sample t-test was performed for the data. The results of one-sample t-test indicate that the average obtained from the research items is higher than 2.5, i.e. the main average, and indicates that by creating better conditions for the disabled in tourism spaces, their presence in tourism environments can be increased. The significance level of the test was less than 0.50, which indicates the confirmation of the test.Pearson correlation test was used to measure the correlation between independent and dependent variables. The independent variable consisted of 8 questions and the dependent variable consisted of 3 questions which were aggregated. Considering the correlation coefficient of 0.68, which is more than 0.5, it can be said that there is a direct and somewhat appropriate relationship between items; this means that by adapting tourism spaces in Shiraz and improving the conditions in these spaces, we can better and faster see the presence of disabled tourists in Shiraz.

The results show that one of the most touristic cities in Iran does not yet have the necessary infrastructure to receive disabled tourists in all urban areas. Although the city of Shiraz has been somewhat successful in accepting and attracting disabled tourists compared to other cities in Iran, this city does not fully meet the needs of the disabled in tourism spaces. Also, the main reason for the absence of disabled tourists in tourism spaces is the lack of facilities and services. Officials also believe that special urban equipment for the disabled should be used more in Shiraz. Based on the results of SOAR matrix, the most important opportunities and strengths of Shiraz city include the possibility of optimal use of open spaces and barren lands in the city and suburbs; it is possible to create special tourism hubs for the disabled in the tourist areas of this city and the existence of active rail and air connections with different cities of the country.