International journal of Tourism, Culture and Spirituality

This research explores the challenges and opportunities facing Iran’s hospitality industry from a cultural and historical perspective, with a particular focus on creative tourism. Given the nature of the subject, the study employs a descriptive research method. In terms of data collection, a qualitative approach was adopted. The statistical population comprises managers and deputies within the hospitality industry in Isfahan province. To determine the appropriate number of participants, the saturation rule was applied, ultimately resulting in a sample of 20 individuals selected through purposive sampling. Data collection was conducted using field methods and a semi-structured interview process. The collected data were then analyzed using MaxQDA software. The findings highlight several key strategies for enhancing creative tourism in Isfahan’s hospitality sector. These include developing local experiences, improving the quality of creative services, diversifying tour offerings, establishing local collaboration networks, leveraging technological marketing, and supporting local businesses. 

In recent decades, tourism has played a significant role in the economies of many countries. One of the crucial elements in tourism is souvenir shopping. However, there is no research exploring Afghan souvenir shopping behavior. In addition, there is no research analysis of legal and illegal shoppers. The main objective of the present study is to identify the factors influencing Afghan immigrants’ selection of souvenirs, as well as to compare and analyze the purchasing behavior of legal and illegal Afghan immigrants. The research method employed in the current study is a qualitative approach with a semi-structured interview technique. Interviews were conducted with 45 individuals, including legal and illegal Afghan immigrants, comprising tourists, traders, students, and workers traveling to Iran. The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method. According to the research findings, the influential factors on souvenir selection by legal immigrants include: "Tourism-Centric Nature of Souvenirs", "Needs and Expectations", "Diverse Shopping Styles", "Cultural and Ethnic Lenses", "Ethical Considerations", and "Real and Virtual Worlds”. Additionally, the influential factors of souvenir selection by illegal immigrants include: "Economic Conditions", "Purchase Motivation", "Affordability", "Collective Shopping Style", "Cultural and Ethnic Lenses", "Ethical Considerations", and "Real World Influence". Finally, it offers a comparison of purchasing behavior between legal and illegal societies. This study adds to the current body of knowledge by exploring a novel context.

Entrepreneurship serves as a pivotal solution to address the economic challenges faced by nations. Given the positive impacts of tourism activities in rural areas, experts recognize it as a cultural instrument for fostering entrepreneurship in villages. This study aims to develop a strategic entrepreneurship model for the rural tourism industry through a cultural lens. Employing a mixed-methods approach (qualitative and quantitative) with grounded theory, the research gathered quantitative data from a statistical population of 384 participants, while qualitative insights were derived from 20 semi-structured interviews. Data analysis utilized SPSS25 for structural exploration and AMOS for composite reliability (CR) assessment via structural equation modeling. Key findings identified causal factors (e.g., value creation in rural tourism, effective rural tourism promotion, risk-taking, self-efficacy, and innovation among villagers and farmers), contextual factors (e.g., cultural interactions, awareness of cultural heritage, cultural development, and cultural education), intervening factors (e.g., environmental-regional infrastructure, social dynamics, and motivational drivers), and strategic pillars (e.g., essential R&D, organizational support, and management planning). The implementation of these strategies yielded outcomes such as rural income diversification, enhanced competitiveness of small businesses, employment generation, and increased productivity and revenue growth. This study concludes that a culturally informed approach to rural tourism entrepreneurship offers a novel strategy for rural economic development, effectively diversifying income sources and fostering sustainable progress.

In recent decades, the tourism industry has emerged as one of the most significant catalysts for economic growth and social development worldwide. Given its rich cultural and natural endowments, Iran possesses the potential to become a premier destination for halal tourism. Halal tourism appeals not only to Muslim travelers but also to those seeking a healthy and ethically oriented lifestyle. This study aims to investigate the opportunities and challenges of developing halal tourism in the Makran region, employing an applied, descriptive, and analytical research design. Data were gathered through simple random sampling and analyzed using factor analysis. The findings reveal that the current framework for halal tourism in Makran lacks the requisite efficiency. Widening gaps in legal, economic, social, environmental, and institutional domains pose significant barriers. Key challenges include inadequate infrastructure, insufficient training of human resources, poor resource management, and a lack of coordination among relevant institutions. Moreover, water scarcity and non-compliance with environmental conservation principles further impede the progress of halal tourism in the region. This research proposes that sustainable development of halal tourism in Makran can be achieved by enhancing infrastructure, improving human resource training, increasing transparency and accountability, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. Such an approach would not only drive economic growth in the region but also facilitate greater cultural and social exchange. Ultimately, adopting innovative tourism models and leveraging the region’s unique assets could enhance the efficacy of tourism management.

Tourism is regarded as a complementary activity that contributes to the sustainability of nomads' livelihoods and raises welfare and living standards, as well as the economic growth of nomadic areas, through the capabilities and attractions of the Shahsavan nomads. The present study tries to identify the scenarios of nomadic tourism in Shahsavan, Ardabil province. The research strategy is a case study through a qualitative study using a multi-faceted method and a cross-sectional time horizon. In data collection, in the first step, key experts were used to collect data to extract the factors affecting nomadic tourism development (NTD) and to examine the impact of these variables on each other. The influential factors were divided into 12, seven promoting and five inhibiting factors. The mutual influence matrix was used to determine the effect of variables on one another, and scenarios were created using propulsions extracted from the influencing factors. After collecting the questionnaires, the scenario was conducted using Scenario Wizard software. The scenarios in the current research were divided into three groups: favourable, intermediate, and unfavourable. According to experts, access to favourable scenarios is accompanied by many limitations and obstacles. Its occurrence requires coherent planning, commitment, and participation from all stakeholders, and the occurrence of unfavourable and catastrophic scenarios also looks pretty pessimistic. According to current trends, the vast majority of experts believe that a slight improvement in the current situation is possible in the future of this type of tourism.

Spiritual experiences are essential to individual well-being, offering profound emotional, psychological, and religious benefits. Pilgrimage sites, especially sacred spaces, provide a unique environment for pilgrims to experience personal renewal and spiritual transformation. This study investigates the spiritual experiences of young pilgrims at the Razavi Holy Shrine in Mashhad, Iran, a key pilgrimage site for Shia Muslims. Using an exploratory-descriptive qualitative approach and thematic analysis, the research identifies three main themes: Spiritual Well-being, Connectedness, and Consciousness, each with several subthemes. Spiritual Well-being encompasses positive emotions, energy, happiness, purification, and peace and tranquility, emphasizing the emotional uplift and inner peace experienced by pilgrims. Connectedness includes pilgrims’ connection with God, expressing needs and seeking divine favor, receiving blessings and assistance, and fostering ties with religion and holy leaders. This highlights the shrine’s role in deepening spiritual bonds and providing divine support. Consciousness involves experiences of detachment from routine life, timelessness, self-reflection, and religious awareness, illustrating how the pilgrimage fosters introspection and spiritual enlightenment. These findings contribute to the understanding of religious pilgrimage and spiritual transformation, offering valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and pilgrimage site administrators. Recognizing the dimensions of spiritual experiences can enhance spiritual tourism and guide future research on spiritual psychology and the transformative power of sacred spaces.

Historic houses are among the key tourist attractions in arid regions. Kashan, a city located in the arid zones of Iran, is home to numerous historic houses. This study aims to assess the potential of Kashan’s historic houses to attract tourists using the Pralong model. The tourism grade for each house was determined based on several indicators, including physical beauty, scientific value, historical-cultural significance, and socio-economic impact. Data collection involved library research, documentary analysis, and surveys. The results indicate that, in terms of tourism standards, Borujerdi House ranks first. According to statistics from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism, as well as the Pralong model, Borujerdi House holds the top position in attracting tourists, followed by Sharifian House, Ameri House, Tabatabaei House, and Abbasian House. Borujerdi House received the highest score in aesthetic value, while Ameri House ranked first in scientific value.

Takht-e Foulad in Isfahan stands as a significant tourist destination, embodying Iran’s rich spiritual, cultural, religious, and historical heritage. While primarily recognized as a cemetery, its diverse tourism aspects position it as a prominent cultural complex with the potential to serve as a “cultural tourism theme park.” This study examines the complex’s role in Isfahan’s tourism development through a spiritual lens, based on quantitative research conducted from autumn 2021 to summer 2022. Data collection methods included documentary research, library resources, and questionnaires. Analytical findings highlight an inherent spirituality within the Takht-e Foulad Complex, necessitating a holistic approach that integrates the perspectives of tourists, the site, and the local community. The study categorizes the complex’s tourism dimensions into heritage, religious, and event tourism, aiming to craft a spiritually-oriented tourism strategy that contributes to Isfahan’s broader tourism development. The final model presents practical recommendations and strategies to promote spirituality while advancing tourism within the Takht-e Foulad Complex.

In order to improve the quality of women's personal, professional and family lives while addressing financial concerns, it is essential to consider the improvement of women's working conditions from multiple perspectives. In this regard, the research objective was to investigate the impact of working background conditions on the economic welfare of women employed in handicrafts in less developed rural areas. The statistical population includes all female workers in less developed rural areas of Iran in 2025 who are employed in handicrafts sector. The sampling method used was random cluster with a total of 380 samples selected according to Morgan's table. In order to collect the required data, a questionnaire prepared by the researcher was used, which included two sections to assess economic welfare and working background conditions. The results of the study systematically show that the dimensions of "unbiased behavior in work”, "balance between work and life”, and "social support" have the most significant impact on the economic welfare of women engaged in handicrafts. The findings of this study underscore the necessity of implementing targeted support policies to enhance equitable organizational practices, fortify work-life balance, and broaden social support networks as pivotal strategies for enhancing the economic welfare of rural women.

This study investigates the developmental outcomes of Van Life as an emerging form of child-centered tourism in Iran. Van Life, defined as short-term, vehicle-based travel involving family participation and nature immersion, offers educational and emotional benefits for children. Despite its growing global appeal, this model remains largely unexamined in the Iranian context. Using a qualitative, exploratory-descriptive design, the study collected data from 15 families and 25 children aged 6–12 years who had engaged in Van Life-style travel. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and children’s drawings and were analyzed thematically. The findings indicate that Van Life positively contributes to children’s development in four domains: emotional (increased self-confidence and emotional regulation), cognitive (hands-on problem-solving and nature-based learning), social (strengthened family bonds and cultural openness), and environmental (awareness of sustainability and responsible behavior). Nonetheless, key barriers were identified, including inadequate infrastructure, cultural conservatism, and limited parental preparedness to support experiential learning during the travel. The study concludes that Van Life holds potential as a sustainable, inclusive, and educational tourism model for families in Iran. To address these limitations, this study recommends promoting environmental education, expanding support services, and designing policies that recognize the developmental value of child-centered tourism experiences.

Intentionality is a form of received and perceptual awareness through which humans relate to their geographical lifeworld. This awareness is acquired both objectively and, at times, subjectively, and is shaped through various mediating factors. In the context of urban tourism, the structure of such intentionality is grounded in phenomenological and post-phenomenological approaches, emerging from the relational dynamics between humans and tourism elements. The present study aims to explore the manner and conditions of tourists' intentional perception—tourists being positioned as the observer (subject) toward tourism artifacts and sites—considered as the observed (object). The research methodology is qualitative, based on phenomenological and post-phenomenological perspectives, and employs semi-structured interviews conducted with tourists in the city of Zanjan.Data were analyzed using the grounded theory model, involving open, axial, and selective coding. The resulting categories were interpreted and classified within the contextual framework of factors, mediators, and symbols of intentionality. Findings indicate that tourists’ awareness and understanding differ between initial (prior) and subsequent (posterior) stages of intentionality and follow a developmental trajectory. Categories such as attractions, religion, handicrafts, traditional markets, contemporary history, and mummification—which characterized the initial stage—give way in the subsequent stage to religion, culture and beliefs, architecture and identity, history and civilization, diversity of heritage, and heritage preservation, reflecting a shift in the mental structure of perception. As a result, touristic intentionality is influenced by direct observation, length of stay, and various intermediating factors (such as services, support systems, interpretation, and guidance). Ultimately, it is a function of the volume and quality of information received from the objects (tourism elements) through the mediating role of the subjects (tourists).

One of the emerging fields in tourism is family tourism, which has recently garnered the attention of researchers. Among the various topics explored in this field are the role of children in decision-making, their experiences related to tourism and travel, and the impact of tourism on their mental health and social adaptation. In this context, the present study aims to examine the relationship between family tourism and the social adaptation of children aged 6 to 10 in Tehran. This research follows a descriptive-analytical approach based on quantitative data. The statistical population consists of all children aged 6 to 10 in Tehran, with a sample size of 384, estimated using Cochran's formula. Sampling was conducted using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data was collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software, employing Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistical tests, Pearson correlation tests, and both bivariate and multivariate regression analyses. The findings indicate a significant positive relationship between family tourism and children's social adaptation. Additionally, the study reveals that key components such as reducing aggressive and antisocial behaviors, improving physical well-being, enhancing general responsibility, and strengthening social performance exhibit the strongest correlations with the family tourism variable.