Analysis of tourism spaces in Ardabil with emphasis on health tourism indicators

Today, due to the expansion of urban life as well as the industrial development of cities, we are witnessing the occurrence of various physical and mental illnesses. Accordingly, the significant importance of tourism, especially in the physical and mental sector at the global level and from various aspects, especially health tourism, has been revealed to everyone. Health tourism is a type of tourism that is done to maintain, improve and regain physical and mental health. Factors such as changes in consumer values, construction changes, aging population and the needs of the health care system can be considered as the main factors in the emergence of health tourism. The combination of these factors has made health tourism one of the most growing types of tourism. In general, health tourism is divided into three categories: health tourism; Medical tourism and medical tourism are divided. In the meantime, medical tourism is a type of health tourism, the patient may need to use medical tourism spaces and services after treatment. Medical tourism is linked through hotels, airlines and transportation, leisure activities, and all infrastructure related to the tourism industry, and is coordinated with other institutions such as hospitals, insurance companies, and travel agencies. Finds. Medical tourism includes not only essential and elective medical treatments (surgical and non-surgical), but also health treatments with services for accommodation, entertainment, hospitality, tours or attractions. According to global statistics, Iran does not have a special place among the top countries attracting medical tourists, but in terms of value in medical tourism is reported as the tenth top country. The city of Ardabil is no exception to this rule. Because this city has a special position in the country and has countless potentials and tourist attractions and has numerous capacities and potentials of national and international tourism. Today, medical tourism in Ardabil has become one of the growing sectors in the tourism industry. This city, due to its limitations in various dimensions, has a very high potential in the development of tourism, especially medical tourism for Azeri citizens. This city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the field of health tourism in the country and even in the region in terms of geographical and climatic conditions, access to natural resources and attractions, proximity to hot and mineral waters that are known as paradise springs. The river and the market worth 400 billion tomans per year indicate the large presence of tourists in this city. But achieving these benefits will be possible only with proper and focused planning. Therefore, what is needed is to first review and analyze the current situation and, in fact, the analysis of health (medical) tourism spaces, in order to provide a basis for future planning by determining the distribution pattern of tourism spaces. It should be noted that each of these tourism services occupy a specific space of society, especially cities. Urban tourism space is a space in which there are tourism resources and the pattern of behavior of tourists is a function of its tourism resources such as attractions, accommodation, facilities and services. Also, scattering patterns can be classified into four groups: 1- point pattern 2- network or linear pattern 2- surface pattern and 2- regional pattern. In this regard, the present study has been conducted with the aim of answering the question: What model does health tourism (medical) spaces in Ardabil follow?

The present study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature. The method of data collection and information has been done in two ways: library / documentary and field (observation). In the field section, spatial data were updated during field visits and observations. In this regard, to analyze the tourism spaces of Ardabil city, the Vicor multivariate decision model in the form of Arc GIS software has been used. It should be noted that in order to weigh the indicators, the opinions of 10 experts were used by the snowball method and the network analysis model (ANP) in the form of Super Decision software.

One of the stages related to the research was the stage of weighting the indicators, in which the network analysis model (ANP) was used in the form of Super Decision software, which is more scientific than other models. In this regard, the opinions of experts were used and the results showed that the distance from clinics, hospitals and clinics, the distance from the water spaces (Lake Shurabil and Balghli Chay river) are the most important and the distance from the amusement park, respectively. They are the least important in terms of weight. The results also showed that the central core of Ardabil and the areas adjacent to the Balgholi River, due to the concentration of recreational and service tourist attractions in these areas, is very desirable. By moving away from the central core of the city and approaching the surrounding areas, the degree of desirability of areas in terms of health tourist attractions decreases. In fact, the central areas of Ardabil, with the focus on the Balghili River, tea and the dispersion of medical and accommodation centers can be named as the health tourism space of Ardabil. A space marked by the extraordinary focus of these attractions. In fact, it can be said that the health tourism environment of Ardabil city and areas with high ability to attract tourists is a function of the central and historical core of Ardabil city and Balghalychai river and then Shurabil lake.

Tourism is one of the industries that can have a special distribution, i.e., some areas and urban areas have a high potential and actual potential for tourism. Like the central part of Ardabil city, where both service and recreational indicators have been established in this part of the city and around the Balighli Chay River to provide the ground for the formation of Ardabil health tourism core as a regional model. In other words, health tourism services are more easily available in the central areas of Ardabil. And the farther we go from this area, the less desirable other urban areas become.