The strategic road map for the development of Iran's sports tourism under sanctions

The tourism industry is a dynamic industry with an explosive growth capacity that has made a significant and stunning contribution to the world economy. Sports tourism is also an important part of the tourism industry. The main purpose of the research was to design and formulate a strategic road map for the development of sports tourism of Iran under sanctions. The research methodology was mixed (qualitative and quantitative). In order to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats surrounding Iran's sports tourism, open and selective coding stages in the grounded theory method were used. In this research, in-depth interviews were conducted with 31 experts while reviewing all related domestic articles and the working group of experts was used to formulate and evaluate strategies. The findings showed that "marketing", "emphasis on active sport tourism", "providing essential services", "creating distinctive experiences", "circumventing sanctions", "attracting capital and developing infrastructure" and at the end stage "emphasis on holding domestic and international sports events according to Iran's international position in the world" are the most important strategies needed for the development of Iran's sports tourism, respectively. The first and biggest measures to develop sports tourism in Iran are marketing and development of active sports tourism or adventure tourism. Holding mega sports events in order to develop sustainable tourism in Iran is currently neither possible nor logical. Considering the geographical features of Iran and the existence of many mountains, deserts, seas and beaches in Iran and the high and growing demand that active sports tourism (mountaineering, rock climbing, desert tourism, surfing and other water-beach sports) has found among international tourists, the development and marketing of active sports tourism should be the priority of the country's tourism authorities. Establishing or cooperating with international travel and tourism agencies in Iran's allied and neighboring countries is one of the most important measures to circumvent sanctions in the field of tourism.