Strategies For Developing Of Cultural Tourism In Iran's Economic Recession

Tourism is an interdisciplinary activity and industry relying on Iran's rich culture and potential ancient, historical, natural, and cultural capabilities. It can bring significant economic benefits to the country and is one of the essential components of economic development. This research aims to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of cultural tourism; also provide solutions for the development of cultural tourism during Iran's economic recession. The research method is descriptive-analytical. The applied research model combines the SWOT strategic analysis and QSPM quantitative strategic planning model. At first, the required information was collected by questionary from the experts. In the analysis process, internal factors evaluation matrices show the unfavorable situation of internal factors, and external factors evaluation matrices show the development of cultural tourism in Iran's economic recession; also, it has been able to take advantage of opportunities and avoid threats. Using the internal-external factors matrix, the best strategies of the SO group were identified. Finally, a quantitative strategic planning matrix was used, which prioritized the strategy of the SO group in the following order: involving local people in tourism programs, benefiting from tourism advantages and support development programs, increasing employment creation and economic exchanges to increase the quality level and the well-being of people's lives, benefiting from cultural diversity and the cheap travel to Iran as a competitive advantage to attract more tourists and benefit from significant investments in the field of employment for young people.