The Impact of Environmental Quality on the Attraction of Tourism to the Purposes of Tourism in Small Cities "A Case Study of Chlor City

Authors

• ESMAEL NASIRI HENDEH KHALEH ¹
• elham eftkhari ²
• negar taravati ³

¹ associat profesor in geo graphy and urban planning in payam noor university tehran iran

² asssociat profesoor geography and rural planning

³ Taught Noor University of Tehran, Iran

10.30495/jzpm.2022.4250

Abstract

Today, small towns are one of the tourist attractions. The level of environmental quality determines how much tourists are attracted in such tourist destinations. The small town of Color is one of the functions of Khalkhal city in Ardabil province, which is visited by many tourists due to its suitable climate and the existence of numerous natural attractions. But nowadays, this tourism potential is not used properly to attract the maximum number of tourists. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of environmental quality based on physical-environmental, functional-structural, socio-cultural and managerial components, and its relationship with tourist attraction in this small city.
Keywords: Environmental quality, tourist destination, small towns, color city
Extended Abstract
Introduction:
Today, one of the attractive destinations for tourists are small towns, which are taking the form of tourism development in various dimensions in such cities. Therefore, in order to achieve the goal of attracting tourists to tourism destinations in small cities, examining the quality of environmental services is of great importance in the process of attracting tourists. The quality of provided services has a direct impact on attracting tourists.
Strengthening infrastructure, preserving landscapes and the environment, and framework reconstruction improve the appearance and small towns’ image from the perspective of tourists and strengthen the quality of the environment to attract tourists.
Methodology:
This research’s approach is descriptive-analytical. Library method and field studies have been used to collect information. The main data collection tool is a researcher-made questionnaire. The tools for measuring and analyzing the data are statistical methods (parametric and non-parametric) and SPSS software. Cochran's formula was used to determine the number of samples and 200 people were interviewed as statistical samples. The variables used in this research are: environmental quality components (independent variable) which include physical-environmental, socio-cultural, structural-functional, managerial components and the dependent variable of this research is tourist attraction.     
Findings:
Since the attraction and loyalty of tourists to the tourism destinations is highly dependent on their satisfaction with environmental conditions and quality, through the T test, we examine the extent and intensity of the impact of the four components of environmental quality on tourist attraction. According to the average of numerical desirability in the studied components (number 3), the majority of the studied items have an average higher than the desirability. Due to the significant level at the alpha level of 0.05, all indicators have direct effects on tourist attraction and this point also has an effect on tourist satisfaction. Data analysis of Table shows that the physical-environmental component (with an average of 4.14) has the highest average percentage among the four components and social, cultural and managerial, functional-structural components are in the next ranks.
The greatest impact on the rate of tourist attraction in the study area is in the physical-environmental dimension, the second rank belongs to the socio-cultural component and the least impact on the tourist attraction belongs to the components of urban management.
The greatest impact on the rate of tourist attraction in the study area is in the physical-environmental dimension and the second rank belongs to the socio-cultural component and the lowest impact on the tourist attraction belongs to the components of urban management.
In order to measure the importance of dimensions and components of environmental quality, stepwise regression was used. The results of stepwise regression analysis show that the physical-environmental component with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.848 has the greatest impact on tourist attraction in the area.
Conclusion:
The choice of urban tourism destinations by tourists is influenced by various factors, one of the most important of which is the role of environmental quality factors that guide tourists in choosing a tourist destination to small towns.
In this study, an attempt was made to explain the role of environmental quality in attracting tourism to tourism destinations in the small town of Color in Ardabil province.
According to the obtained results, it can be said that the components of environmental quality are effective in introducing and attracting tourists, and the set of components of environmental quality provide the basis for tourists' satisfaction
The results showed that tourists in the level of alpha 0.05 have been satisfied with the environmental quality of tourism in the city in all areas and most of it is related to the physical-environmental component with an average of 4.14 and socio-cultural, managerial and functional-structural components are in the next ranks, Therefore, it can be said that the physical and environmental factors of the tourist destination, which have the components of quality of space and tourism facilities, weather conditions, green space, visual beauty, have had a significant impact on attracting tourists in the small town of Color. The physical components of the environment can provide a competitive environment for choosing a tourist destination in this city. Significant regression results also showed that the physical-environmental component with a beta coefficient of 0.183 is more effective in attracting tourists than other components. As a result, it has the necessary explanatory power over other variables.
percentage among the four components and social, cultural and managerial, functional-structural components are in the next ranks.
The greatest impact on the rate of tourist attraction in the study area is in the physical-environmental dimension, the second rank belongs to the socio-cultural component and the least impact on the tourist attraction belongs to the components of urban management.
The physical-environmental component has a significant effect on tourist attraction. This effect is also evi In order to measure the importance of dimensions and components of environmental quality, stepwise regression was used. The results of stepwise regression analysis show that the physical-environmental component with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.848 has the greatest impact on tourist attraction in the area. Has been studied. Dent in the value of the standardized beta coefficient.
Conclusion:
The choice of urban tourism destinations by tourists is influenced by various factors, one of the most important of which is the role of environmental quality factors that guide tourists in choosing a tourist destination to small towns.
In this study, an attempt was made to explain the role of environmental quality in attracting tourism to tourism destinations in the small town of Color in Ardabil province. According to the obtained results, it can be said that the components of environmental quality are effective in introducing and attracting tourists, and the set of components of environmental quality provide the basis for tourists' satisfaction.
The results showed that tourists at the level of alpha 0.05 have been satisfied with the environmental quality of tourism in the city of Color in all areas and most of it is related to the physical-environmental component with an average of 4.14 and socio-cultural, managerial and functional-structural components. Are in the next ranks. Therefore, it can be said that the physical and environmental factors of the tourist destination, which have the components of quality of space and tourism facilities, weather conditions, green space, visual beauty, have had a significant impact on attracting tourists in the small town of Chlorine. The physical components of the environment can provide a competitive environment for choosing a tourist destination in this city. Significant regression results also showed that the physical-environmental component with a beta coefficient of 0.183 is more effective in attracting tourists than other components. As a result, it has the necessary explanatory power over other variables.

Keywords

• Keywords: Environmental quality
• Tourism attraction
• Small cities
• Tourism destination

20.1001.1.22516735.1400.11.44.20.9

---

References

1-       Ahmadi, Manijeh. Khairollahi ,Aristotle. Cheraghi, Mehdi (2017) Evaluation of Factors Affecting the Satisfaction of Domestic and Foreign Tourists in Biston Tourism Complex, Bi-Quarterly Journal of Social Tourism Studies, Volume 5

2-       Baker, D.A. & Crompton, J.L. (2000) Quality, satisfaction and behavioral intentions, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol.27, No.3, pp.785-804

3-       Barzegar, Sadegh- "Measuring the level of satisfaction with the quality of the environment of tourist places Case study: Gorgan city - Journal of Urban Tourism - No. 4 - pp. 1-18

4-       Bluwstein, j. (2017) "creatingecotourism, geoforum83, pp. 101-113

5-       Butnaru, G.I., Stefanica, M. and Maxim, G.M., (2014), Alternative method of quality evaluation in tourism: Case study applied in tourist accommodation units, Procedia Economics and Finance, No. 15: 671 – 678

6-       Carlson J. 2009. Adaptation and validation of the quality-of-life scale: Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale by Baker and Intagliata, Comprehensive Psychiatry, Vol. 50, pp: 76–80.

7-       Caruntu, A.L. and Ditoiu, M.C. (2014). The perceptions of hospitality services of a tourism destination, Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 109, 231-235, DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.12.450

8-       De Carmen, R.  & Camarero, C. (2008) Visitorʼs experience, mood and satisfaction in a heritage context: evidence from an interpretation center, Tourism Management, Vol.29, pp.525-537.

9-       European Commission. (2000) "Towards Quality Coastal Tourism", Italy, Official Publications of the European Communities.

10-   Fainstein, SS. and Gladstone, D. (1997) Tourism and Urban Transformation: Interpretations of Urban Tourism, Cities in Transformation - Transformation in Cities: Social And Symbolic Change Of Urban Space, edited by O. Kalltorp, I. Elander, O. Ericsson, M. Franzen, Ashgate, Aldershot, England Brookfield, 119-136

11-   Farjam, Rasoul (2017), Analysis of Factors Affecting the Reduction of Environmental Quality in the Central Part of the Cities Case Study: The Central Part of the Complex of Shiraz, Regional Planning Quarterly, Volume 7, Number 2, pp: 161-176.

12-   Golkar, Kourosh, (2001), Components of Quality in Urban Design, Sefeh Magazine, No. 32, pp. 38-65

13-   Haghkhah, A., and et al. 2011. The impact of service quality on tourism industry, 2nd international conference on business and economic research proceeding, Langkawi Kedah, Malaysia

14-   Hoffman, K.D. & Kelley, S.W. & Chung, B.C. (2003) A CIT investigation of servicescape failures and associated recovery strategies, Journal of Services Marketing, Vol.17, No.4, pp.322-340

15-   Hong, T (2014) Network Behavior as Driving Forces Tourism Flow, Journal of Business, NO 46, PP 101- 1016.

16-   Hosseinieh Hashemzadeh, Davood (2009), A Study of Factors Affecting Customer Satisfaction of Bank Sanat va Ma'dan, Journal of Business Management, No. 2, pp. 63-82

17-   Kakavand Elham, Naseri Barati and Aminzadeh Bahram (2013), A Comparative Assessment of the Mental Image of Citizens and Urban Planners in the Concept of Urban Environment Quality (Case Study: The Texture of Qazvin), Bagh-e Nazar Quarterly, No. 25

18-   Kaze, Georges, (2002) Tourism Planning, translated by Salahuddin Mahallati, Shahid Beheshti University Press

19-   Kazemi, MostafaPour, Samira, SaadatYar, Fatemeh Sadat, Neutral, Fatemeh,(2011)The effect of tourists' mental image on the perceived value of Caspian coastal cities with emphasis on the mediating role of perceived factors, Quarterly Journal of Research Urban Planning,No.34,pp:6-9

20-   Lawley, M.A., and Spinks, W. 2003. Conceptualizing Service Performance of Tourist Attractions, A Celebration of Ehrenberg and Bass: Marketing Discoveries, Knowledge and Contribution, Conference Proceedings: pp. 2321-2327.

21-   Mahallati, Salahuddin (2001), Introduction to Tourism; Published by Shahid Beheshti University

22-   Mirabzadeh, Parasto (1375), Environmental Impact Assessment of Tourism Development, Environment Quarterly, No. 2, pp: 62-54.

23-   Moon, K (2011) The influence of consumer event equality on destination image. Managing servi Quality Journal, No 1, Vo 12, PP 211, 223.

24-   Moon, K. S. , Kim, M. , Ko, Y. J. , Connaughton, D. P. , Lee, J. H. (2011); The influence of consumer’s event quality perception on destination image; Journal of Managing Service Quality. 21(3), 287-303

25-   Nikpour, Amer, Ramezanzadeh Lesboui, Mehdi and Vahedi, Haidar (2015), Evaluation of social capital and its impact on improving the quality of urban environments, Quarterly Journal of Regional Planning, Fifth Year, No. 19, pp. 115-126

26-   Nowaki, m. (2005) "evaluating amusem as atourist product;musem management,vol20, pp. 235-250.

27-   Nunkoo, R. & Ramkissoon, H. (2008) "Small Island Urban Tourism: a Residents Perspective", Current Issues on Tourism, pp. 37-60

28-   Osman, A. (2008) Awareness and implementation of marketing mix, journal of economics and finance , No3, pp. 428-433

29-   Pourjafari, Mohammad Reza. Taghvaei, Ali Akbar. Sadeghi, Alireza (2009), Reading the effect of organizing visual axes on improving the quality of urban public spaces, Azadi St., Tehran, Urban Management Quarterly, No. 44, pp. 80-65.

30-   Rahimi and Pazand (2016), impacts of tourism promotion on city development with an approach to life quality (case study: Gachsaran city)- Journal of urban Studies, No. 2.pp,88

31-    Rezvani, Mohammad Reza .Faraji Sabakbar, Hassan Ali. Darbanastaneh, Alireza-Karim, Seyed Hadi (2017) "Analysis of the role of environmental quality factors and indicators affecting the branding of rural tourism destinations Of Tourism Planning and Development, Sixth Year, No. 22, pp. 136-105

32-   Sajasi Gheidari, Hamdollah Vesaghloo, Tahereh, (2016) Analysis and explanation of the role of environmental quality in attracting tourists to rural tourism destinations (Case study: Tourism villages of Lavasan Kouchak district) Geographical Research Quarterly No. 2, pp. 33-49.

33-   Seif O et al,(2010), quality measurement and urban tourism capacity of tourists based on the behavioral pattern of host host, and sample society: isfahan, city, number 71.

34-   Seif ol Dini et al . ( 2002 ) , measuring the quality and capacity of tourist urban tourism based on the behavioral pattern of the case host and sample society : isfahan , the journal of human resource research , No. 71 pp. 67-87

35-   Shia, Ismail and Alipour, Sajjad, (2010) Analysis of quality factors in the coastal tourism environment according to the criteria of sustainable tourism, a case study of Ramsar beaches; Armanshahr, No. 5, Fall and Winter, pp. 155-167

36-   Soltani and Sharif (2015) satisfaction of religious tourism services on the role of environmental factors, case study of the city of shiraz Journal of Urban Research and Planning No.23, pp. 35-54

37-   Statistics Center of Iran (2016), Yearbook of Ardabil Province, Khalkhal County

38-   TabatabaeeHenzaee and ikhwan,(2010). examining the relevance of internal marketing and service quality : Case study of the Agricultural Bank , National Conference of Management and Leadership Challenges in Iranian Organizations , Islamic Azad University of Isfahan.

39-   TabatabaeeHenzaee saydvali and Ikhwan,Nima (2017).the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between internal marketing and service quality : case study of agricultural bank , national conference on management and leadership challenges in islamic azad university , isfahan islamic azad university .

40-   Taleghani,Mohammed andFatahi, Sarah (2005) quality of tourism service and its importance in attracting tourist satisfaction, Management Journal, No. 99 - 100, pp:56 – 63

41-   Teymouri, Asghar, Asghari Zamani, Akbar, (2017) Evaluation of physical-spatial dimensions of the quality of urban environment in the middle context; Regional Planning Quarterly, Fifth Year, No. 20, pp. 163-176

42-   william, p. & soutar, g. (2005) "close to the edge, journal of tourism reserch,No3, pp. 247-261