Identifying and Prioritizing Strategic Factors for Tourism Development in Sonqor

The city of Sonqor, with its unique tourist attractions, including; natural, cultural, historical, etc. can play an important role in the development of urban tourism, depending on its geographical location. In recent years, some measures have been taken in this regard, but the work done has not been satisfactory due to the city's variety of attractions and capabilities. The importance and necessity of expanding tourism activities in the city of Sonqor; accelerating development and carrying out targeted and planned projects, attracting more tourists to generate income for residents, and creating jobs are essential.The city of Sonqor, with its numerous springs and antiquities of the Islamic period, is one of the cities whose traditional texture has changed during the physical and spatial changes of the city. With the revitalization of springs, tourists visit water reservoirs, baths, springs, and Qantas with the aim of recognizing the historical and ancient identity of the city of Sonqor. Also, they are facing the local and indigenous culture of the city, and by attending neighbourhoods, traditional markets, mosques, religious tombs and the purchase of handicrafts and local food know the historical identity of the city of Sonqor. Identifying tourist capacities and anthropological capabilities of Sonqor city is a desirable capability for the development of tourism industry in Sonqor city, but achieving sustainable tourism, introducing and applying the desired tourism capabilities of Sonqor springs and constructive social relationship of tourists with Sonqor residents need to provide strategic plans. Strategic plans that identify the areas of tourism development well and show us the factors involved in the development of tourism in the city of Sonqor before carrying out any executive operations within a specific framework.

The study is part of applied and descriptive-analytical researches in terms of purpose and method, respectively. In this study, to collect data and information, field and library methods were used. The study's statistical population was experts and specialists, and the sample size was estimated to be 25 people using the snowball method. Meta-SWOT technique was used for analysis. Meta-SWOT is a new technique in strategic planning and, in a sense, an evolved example of the SWOT technique. Meta-SWOT analytical model was introduced, based on the internal-external approach and a kind of resource-based view.

According to the available resources and capabilities of Sonqor city, its competitive dimensions (for review in Meta-SWOT software) were classified into two categories: natural tourism and cultural tourism. Due to the fact that the nature of work is based on competition, then the cities in Kermanshah province that are in a superior position in terms of these capabilities and are considered competitors of the city of Sonqor, were identified. The five cities of Kangavar, Sahneh, Harsin, Kermanshah, and Javanroud are the main competitors in the region for the city of Sonqor. In the next stage of the research, the position of Sonqor city was examined based on the known capabilities compared to other competing cities. According to studies conducted, in terms of nature tourism, the city of Kermanshah is the largest competitor in the region for the city of Sonqor and the city of Javanrood, Harsin, Kangavar, and sahneh are the next competitors of this city. Kermanshah, Javanrood, Harsin, Sahneh, and Kangavar compete with the city of Sonqor in terms of cultural tourism. The following is a competitive map and the position of Songhor city compared to other competitors. The results of the strategic map show that the resources and capabilities of the city of Sonqor have different weights. So that the existence of pristine and beautiful natural attractions, the existence of markets, baths and traditional textures, temperate and semi-arid climate are the most important resources and capabilities of the city of Sonqor in order to develop tourism. Also, the orange bubbles' size, which indicates the degree of necessity of the proposed factors and strategies, shows that attracting and supporting domestic investors, employing and using powerful force, creating competitive markets, and constructing the Sonqor highway are the most critical factors.

Based on the capabilities and capabilities of the city of Sonqor, the competitive dimensions were divided into two categories: nature and cultural tourism. The results of implementing the Meta-SWOT model showed that in terms of weight, the competitive advantage of each city compared to the study area in terms of nature tourism, Kermanshah is the largest competitor in the region for the city of Sonqor and Javanrood, Harsin, Kangavar, and sahneh are the next competitors. In terms of cultural tourism, Kermanshah, Javanrood, Harsin, Sahneh, and Kangavar are compete with the city of Sonqor. Assessing the resources and capabilities of the targeted city of Sonqor based on a resource-based perspective indicated that the existence of new and beautiful natural attractions such as Qantas, reservoirs, etc., the existence of many springs and water resources, the existence of a market, baths and traditional textures, which are among the characteristics of attracting urban tourists, are in the first to third priorities. Then, based on the Meta-SWOT model, the external factors affecting the achievement of strategic planning in the city of Sonqor were discussed. The resources and capabilities of the city of Sonqor have different weights. So that the existence of pristine and beautiful natural attractions, the existence of markets, baths and traditional textures, temperate and semi-arid climate are the most important resources and capabilities of the city of Sonqor for tourism development, respectively. Also, the orange bubbles' size, which indicates the degree of necessity of the proposed factors and strategies, shows that attracting and supporting domestic investors, employing and using powerful force, creating competitive markets, etc., construction of the Sonqor highway are the most critical factors.