The Policy-Making the Strategy of the Hajj Ritualin the Islamic Republic of Iran Based on the SWOT Technique

To analyze the management and planning of the Hajj pilgrimage in the Islamic Republic of Iran and to provide a strategic analysis of the opportunities, threats, weaknesses, and strengths of the policy-making of the Hajj rituals in the Islamic Republic of Iran, this research used the SWOT technique to provide the appropriate strategies for making the policy of the Hajj ritual. The statistical population in this research included the experts, pundits, senior officials, and experts of the Hajj and pilgrimage. The data were collected by the interviews and then the questionnaires to prioritize the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Finally, the collected data were analyzed by the SWOT technique. Based on the results of the research in the evaluation matrix of the internal factors (weaknesses and strengths), the total score was 2.226 which reveals fewer strengths than weaknesses. This means that the policy-making, management, and cultural and executive activities of the Hajj rituals are weak in terms of the internal factors. The evaluation matrix of the external factors (threats and opportunities) with the total score of 2,724 indicates the possibility of an appropriate strategic reaction to the threats and weaknesses by the use of the opportunities and strengths. The most effective competitive or offensive strategy (SO) is the best one to move towards the optimal development of the Hajj rituals.