The impact of the tangible - artifact dimension of urban public open space on the mental image of tourists from that space: a qualitative study

Tourism has a positive effect on the economic, cultural and political development of a country by increasing income, reducing the socio-psychological distance between nations and peoples, creating friendship, maintaining stability and strengthening the national image. Various factors contribute to the development of tourism. Among these factors, especially in the urban tourism sector, is the role of open urban spaces in attracting tourists. One of the most important factors affecting the perception and behavior of tourists in urban destinations is their mental image of those destinations. Few studies have addressed the mental image of tourists of open urban spaces. In this study, the role of the tangible dimension-artifact of open urban urban spaces in the mental image of tourists of these spaces was investigated by interviewing 24 domestic, repetitive and young tourists in Isfahan. In this qualitative study, content analysis was used and also purposeful sampling method was used to achieve data saturation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and field observations. Inductive content analysis was then used to analyze the collected data. The results show: 5 main categories were obtained from this study: functional richness, visual richness, uniqueness of physical elements, furniture and space elements and access and communication with Space. This study showed that various tangible-artifact factors affect the mental image of tourists of open urban spaces. Based on the findings of this study, more research is needed on the mental image of tourists of open urban space.