Identification and Analysis of Key Factors in the Development of Tourism in Coastal Cities, Case Study: Bushehr

Urban tourism is an important economic activity that contributes significantly to the global economy. Coastal areas have made a significant contribution to this growth by attracting hundreds of millions of tourists each year and have had a considerable impact on the flow of visitors. But concerning the coastal city of Bushehr, this city is not one of the most popular tourist destinations. Given that the most productive ecosystems on Earth that have created many opportunities for recreation and tourism are water-coastal areas, the purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the factors affecting the development of tourism in the coastal city of Bushehr with a future studies approach. Various factors were first identified in this process by reviewing the research literature and interviewing experts in future research. Then, using the structural analysis method with Mick Mac software, the main factors affecting the future of tourism in Bushehr were extracted. The study of the distribution of variables affecting the city's tourism showed the system's instability. The factors were classified into four independent, dependent, two-dimensional and influential variables. Finally, by evaluating all the identified factors, the eight critical factors of the comprehensive tourism plan, ecotourism resorts, systematic and efficient planning, rules and powers of decision-making organizations, urban branding, beach recreation, globalization of culture, and its impact on the identity of tourism and the quality of the city's beaches, were identified as key factors affecting the development of tourism in Bushehr.