The Position of Traditional Clothing in the Development of Cultural Tourism in Iran

Tourism is one of the most dynamic economic activities of the current era, which plays an important role in sustainable local development. This industry, on the one hand, provides leisure time, and on the other hand, leads to the development and growth of less developed areas and the spread of culture and religion in different regions. Cultural tourism, as one of the types of tourism, plays a significant role in the dissemination of the indigenous and national cultures of different lands and cultures. One of the cultural attractions in the world is the traditional clothing of different nations, which reflects the national and cultural identity, rituals, and customs, and shows the ways they can be distinguished from those in other nations of the world. This article aims to examine the position of traditional clothing, which is one of the most important factors affecting the tourism industry. For this purpose, it analyzes the traditional clothing of Iranian ethnic groups and scrutinizes its cultural and artistic impact on attracting tourists. The present study seeks to answer the question of how the traditional clothing of Iranian ethnic groups can contribute to the development of cultural tourism in Iran? This research is applied and uses the descriptive-analytical-survey method. The data collection methods included library and field research. Data from the field was collected through interviews with 40 researchers and experts in the field of tourism. The validity and reliability of the study were established through Cronbach’s test and snowball sampling. The research hypothesis was based on the positive effect of traditional Iranian clothing in various dimensions and methods on cultural tourism. Analysis of the opinions of experts and researchers shows that the traditional clothing of Iranian ethnic groups is an important element in defining cultural identity in five sections: cultural relations, international tourism cooperation, introduction and supply of traditional clothing, advertising and dissemination of indigenous culture, can be identified and expanded as one of the most effective cultural attractions in the cultural tourism industry in Iran.