Designing a Model of Factors Affecting the Development of Adventure Sports Tourism and the Accidents Caused by it in the Health of Athletes in the West of the Country

This study aims to create a model that identifies the factors that influence the growth of adventure sports tourism and the potential risks it poses to the health of athletes in the country's northwest region. Therefore, this research seeks to investigate the impact of adventure sports tourism on health and the accidents that may result from it.

This research aimed to gather information from experts in different fields, such as university professors, cultural heritage experts, sports and youth managers, and tourism service agency managers in the northwest region of the country. The research used a Delphi interview with 16 participants to collect data, and a researcher-made questionnaire was distributed among the statistical community in the area. Descriptive survey statistics were used to analyze the data and determine the importance of each variable.

The research findings indicate that the model has been successfully validated through participant and non-participant expert reviews, with suitable Cronbach's alpha numbers and combined reliability of the variables. The structural model was evaluated using a criterion that measures the effect of independent variables on dependent variables, with a higher value indicating a better fit. Additionally, the model's ability to predict was evaluated and found to have strong predictive power for independent variables based on the value obtained for the dependent variables.

The research findings indicate that nature tourism is the top priority for developing adventure sports attractions. Participants in the study, including people with doctorate degrees and academic staff, preferred nature tourism due to its lower health risks. Water attractions were also prioritized for their diversity. Through factor analysis, the priority level of each attraction was determined. The study also revealed a strong relationship between adventure sports tourism and health tourism, as indicated by structural equations.