Geography and Regional Planning

Geography and Regional Planning

A Model for Measuring the Impact of Physical Structures on Tourism Destination Competitiveness (Case Study: Sarein City)

Authors
Hossein Asadi 1
Masoud Haghlesan 2
Mostafa Basiri 3
Arash Saghafi Asl 4
1 PhD Candidate of in Urban Planning, Department of Urban Planning, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Ilk.C., Islamic Azad University, Ilkhchi, Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Ilk.C., Islamic Azad University, Ilkhchi, Iran.
4 Associate Professor Department of Architecture & Urban Planning, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.
10.22034/jgeoq.2026.584123.4468
Abstract
In today's global economy, the tourism industry plays a vital role as an engine for economic and social development. Consequently, the competitiveness of tourism destinations has become a decisive strategic advantage. A destination's success in attracting tourists and creating a memorable experience is heavily influenced by the quality and efficiency of its physical structures. This study aimed to provide a model for measuring the impact of physical structures on the tourism destination competitiveness of Sarein city. The research method was descriptive-survey. The statistical population consisted of tourism experts and stakeholders in Sarein; sampling was conducted among 423 individuals. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS and Smart PLS software. Findings indicated that all four components of physical structure (economic, socio-cultural, environmental, and services) had a positive, direct, and significant impact on Sarein's competitiveness. Based on the final model, the services component with an impact factor of (number) had the highest share, and the economic component with a factor of 0.790 had the lowest share. Furthermore, ranking the indicators within each component showed that attracting investment, human resource training, preserving natural habitats, and designing pedestrian pathways were the most important items in each dimension, respectively. The research model confirms that balanced and planned development of physical structures, particularly the services and infrastructure sector, is the primary factor in enhancing Sarein's competitiveness as a tourism destination. It is suggested that managers and planners focus their resource allocation and policymaking based on the priorities identified by this model.
Keywords
Physical Structures
Competitiveness
Tourism
Sarein City
Abdollahpour, J., & Heydari, G. R. (2023). Examining general energy policies and the application of a social approach in upstream documents. Strategic and Macro Policies, 11(43), 477–518. https://doi.org/10.30507/jmsp.2023.354524.2467 (In Persian)
Amiri, M., & Alizadeh Moghadam, A. A. (2025). Identifying effective drivers of cultural tourism development with an emphasis on performing arts using a futures studies approach: Case study of Tehran metropolis. Future Cities Vision Quarterly, 6(2), 155–169. http://jvfc.ir/article-1-439-fa.html (In Persian)
Andrades, L., & Dimanche, F. (2017). Destination competitiveness and tourism development in Russia: Issues and challenges. Tourism management, 62, 360-376.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.05.008.
Barbosa, A. D. P. A., Fischmann, A. A., & Costa, B. K. (2024). Tourism competitiveness and social progress: A systematic literature review. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 59, 309-323. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1447677024000548.
Bellato, L., & Pollock, A. (2025). Regenerative tourism: A state-of-the-art review. Tourism Geographies, 27(3-4), 558-567.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2023.2294366
Carmona, M. (2021). Public places urban spaces: The dimensions of urban design. Routledge.‏ https://www.routledge.com/Public-Places-Urban-Spaces-The-Dimensions-of-Urban- Design/Carmona/p/book/9781138067783
Crouch, G. I. (2011). Destination competitiveness: An analysis of determinant attributes. Journal of travel research, 50(1), 27-45.‏  https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287510362776. 
Delshad, A. (2021). Analysis of the competitiveness of urban tourism destinations in Iran. Urban Tourism, 11(38), 63–90. https://doi.org/10.22111/gaij.2021.6040 (In Persian)
Delshad, A. (2021). The impact of smartness on the competitiveness of Yazd tourism destination. Geographical Explorations of Desert Regions, 9(1), 106–129. https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/1792693 (In Persian)
Dwyer, L., & Kim, C. (2003). Destination competitiveness: determinants and indicators. Current issues in tourism, 6(5), 369-414.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500308667962.
Ekonomou, G., & Halkos, G. (2024). Exploring the concept of tourism competitiveness across the OECD countries. Current Issues in Tourism, 1-20.‏ DOI: 10.1080/13683500.2024.2388803
Gursoy, D., Li, Y., & Song, H. (2023). ChatGPT and the hospitality and tourism industry: an overview of current trends and future research directions. Journal of hospitality marketing & management, 32(5), 579-592.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2023.2211993.  
Hall, C. M., & Page, S. J. (2014). The geography of tourism and recreation: Environment, place and space. Routledge.‏ https://www.routledge.com/The-Geography-of-Tourism-and-Recreation-Environment-Place-and-Space/Hall-Page/p/book/9780415833998. 
Harris, M., Shariatpanahi, M., Danaei, F., & Sousanpour, A. (2024). Factors affecting the formation process of the physical structure of villages in Shemiranat County. Spatial Pattern Research Quarterly, 3(9), 339–345. http://georesearch.ir/article-1-1642-fa.html (In Persian)
Hart, P. F., & Rodgers, W. (2024). Competition, competitiveness, and competitive advantage in higher education institutions: a systematic literature review. Studies in Higher Education, 49(11), 2153-2177. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2023.2293926
Hazeri Niri, H., Nezafat Takleh, B., & Jami, M. (2025). Estimating the tourism capability of Sarein County based on a sustainability-oriented model. Tourism, 14(15), 76–93. https://doi.org/10.71740/ges.2025.1220489 (In Persian)
Hemmati Golian, S. E., Nasimi, M. A., & Asgari, M. H. (2024). Designing and structurally explaining a sustainable competitive advantage model for maritime tourism in the Ports and Maritime Organization. Marine Management Science Studies, 5(3), 123–149. https://www.sid.ir/paper/1507577/fa (In Persian)
Hosseinabadi, S., Zarei, A., & Mahmoudi-Nasab, A. A. (2024). Investigation of the formation of the historical market of Birjand and identification of its physical elements and structure. Greater Khorasan Research Journal, e205229. https://doi.org/10.22034/jgk.2024.429313.1181 (In Persian)
Javedan, M., Tolouei, S., & Mehraban, F. (2021). Analysis of the impact of organizational capacity on the competitiveness of spa tourism destinations: The case of Sarein city. Tourism Management Studies Quarterly, 16(56), 83–129. https://doi.org/10.22054/tms.2021.63304.2603 (In Persian)
Jing, X., Huang, J., Wei, X., & Wang, W. (2025). Green Finance, Business Environment Optimization, and the Integrated Development of the Culture–Tourism Industry. Finance Research Letters, 109268. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612325025176
Khani, G., Ghafourian Shagerdi, A., & Sanaei, M. (2025). Presenting a model of entrepreneurial opportunities in the tourism industry: The case of Taybad County. Social Business, 2(2), 174–194. https://doi.org/10.22059/jsbu.2025.397773.1039 (In Persian)
Khanzadeh, H., Rahnavard, F., Bamdad, N., & Mahmoudzadeh, M. (2021). An explanatory model of tourism competitiveness in tourist cities of Iran. Modern Marketing Research, 11(2), 45–68. https://sid.ir/paper/1045449/fa (In Persian)
Lynch, K. (2023, November). The image of the city (1960). In Anthologie zum Städtebau. Band III: Vom Wiederaufbau nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg bis zur zeitgenössischen Stadt (pp. 481-488). Gebr. Mann Verlag.‏ https://cus.ubt-uni.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kevin-Lynch-The-Image-of-the-City.pdf.
Mior Shariffuddin, N. S., Azinuddin, M., Hanafiah, M. H., & Wan Mohd Zain, W. M. A. (2023). A comprehensive review on tourism destination competitiveness (TDC) literature. Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal, 33(4), 787-819.‏ https://doi.org/10.1108/CR-04-2021-0054.
Mira, M. R., Moura, A., & Breda, Z. (2016). Destination competitiveness and competitiveness indicators: Illustration of the Portuguese reality. TÉKHNE - Review of Applied Management Studies, 14(2), 90–103.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1645991116300068
Mohammadi, R., & Sazmand, B. (2024). ASEAN and the competition between China and the United States in Southeast Asia. Strategic Studies of International Policy, 7(13), 49074. https://doi.org/10.22080/jpir.2024.25885.1343 (In Persian)
Momenian, A., Mirgholami, M., Bilali Eskoui, A., & Maleki, A. (2022). Evaluation of the physical condition of the city toward energy consumption optimization: The case of Roshdieh neighborhood, Tabriz. Journal of Geographic Spatial Planning, 12(3), 89–104. https://doi.org/10.30488/gps.2022.351226.3561 (In Persian)
Moradi, E., Ehsani, M., Saffari, M., & Hosseini, R. N. S. (2022). Developing an integrated model for the competitiveness of sports tourism destinations. Journal of destination marketing & management, 26, 100743.‏ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212571X22000555
Nasr Esfahani, A., Bagheri Moghadam, N., Nazemi, A., & Maleki, A. (2021). Scenario planning for the future of Iran's energy using an integrated framework and morphological analysis. Rahyaft, 31(3), 35–56. https://doi.org/10.22034/rahyaft.2022.10930.1276 (In Persian)
Olalere, F. E., & Shuaib, A. A. (2015). Starting small but getting big: The new shape of small and medium industries. International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, 6(2), 144-147. https://doi.org/10.7763/IJIMT.2015.V6.592
Parizadi, T., Saeidi, O., Razavi, S. M., & Hajian, M. (2024). Analysis of tourism impacts on the economic development of small-scale cities based on a futures studies approach: The case of Izeh city. Geography and Planning, 28(88), 257–282. https://doi.org/10.22034/gp.2023.54761.3080 (In Persian)
Rheeders, T. (2022). A review of the determinants of tourism destination competitiveness. Journal of Contemporary Management, 19(2), 238-268.‏ https//doi.org/10.35683/jcman1008.166. 
Ritchie, J. B., & Crouch, G. I. (2003). The competitive destination: A sustainable tourism perspective. Cabi.‏https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Competitive_Destination.html?id=yvydAwAAQBAJ
Seydaei, S. E., Vazin, N., & Mirbagheri, N. (2024). Evaluation of the sustainability of the physical structure of rural housing in Lenjan County against earthquakes. Regional Geography and Planning, 14(57), 547–559. https://doi.org/10.22034/jgeoq.2025.430948.4081 (In Persian)
Tiantian, G., Wang, J., Tao, R., Yang, L., & Lan, X. (2025). Effects of environmental regulation on tourism industry development: Evidence from China. Economic Analysis and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2025.10.012
Wang, M., Liu, J., Zhang, S., Zhu, H., & Zhang, X. (2022). Spatial pattern and micro-location rules of tourism businesses in historic towns: A case study of Pingyao, China. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 25, 100721.‏https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.jdmm.2022.100721
Yang, J., Li, J., Xu, F., Li, S., Zheng, M., & Gong, J. (2022). Urban development wave: Understanding physical spatial processes of urban expansion from density gradient of new urban land. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 97, 101867.  https://doi.org/:10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2022.101867. 
Zhang, T., Yin, P., & Peng, Y. (2021). Effect of commercialization on tourists’ perceived authenticity and satisfaction in the cultural heritage tourism context: Case study of Langzhong ancient city. Sustainability, 13(12), 6847. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126847. 
Zeynali Azim, A., Salji, N., & Honarjoo, M. (2025). Assessing the factors affecting the development of a sustainable smart city in Tabriz from the perspective of sense of place. Urban Environment Planning and Development, 5(18), 79–98. https://doi.org/10.30495/JUEP.2050.910177