Important Factors in Sport Tourism Development in West Azerbaijan with the Emphasis on Natural-Sport Attractions

*Robab Mokhtari and Omid Fattollahi Parvaneh

Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Khalkhal Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khalkhal, Iran.

*Corresponding author : Robab Mokhtari , [email protected]

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was the survey of problems and effective factors on sport tourism development in west Azerbaijan with the emphasis on natural-sport attractions. The subjects of this research were 103 experts’. The current research was survey type and performed as a kind of field-research. Data were collected by using a researcher- made questionnaire based on Likert scale ( =0.93). Collected data were analyzed by using Factor Analysis method. Results of the study showed that: Attractions related to the aquatic- coastal and summary sports, and attractions respect to the woodland and desert-running, respectively had the highest and lowest amount. So, effective management and comprehensive planning with strong belief toward investment considering geysers attractions and nature therapy can be helpful to the development of this industry. Therefore, in order to improve sport tourism infrastructure, special budget must be devoted for sports facilities. Moreover, residential and welfare equipments must be created regarding the geographical and regional conditions of each area.

Keywords: sport tourism, natural-sport attractions, development

Introduction

Iran with potential natural, cultural and tourism attractions, and having a so-called four-season climate can be considered as a capable country for preparing the conditions for those interested to the foreign travel, in general tourism industry, and in particular in sports tourism. In many countries, this dynamic industry is known as the main source of income, employment growth, private sector development and infrastructure. (Gaye, Chuck Woe (2003)) Also sport as one of the most motivating factors for the tourists and the "sport tourism" is a combination of "tourism" industry and "sport" industry has emerged (Hingham, J &Hinch, T (2002) ). In other words, sport is one of the major tourist activities during the tourism and travel and tourism is also associated with different types of sports (Gaye, Chuck Woe (2003)). Iran, in according to the studies carried out, is one of the first ten countries in world, in view of the tourist attractions (Gammon, S. & Robinson, T. (1997) ). However, our tourism industry's share of world tourism's share is too small, because of GDP about 0/1 percent (Fatollahi,Omid, Muharram zadeh, Mehrdad.(2007) ). Given that West Azerbaijan province among the provinces is rich due to have good climate, abundant rainfall in the region-specific ecosystem and four -season precipitation and having wetlands and rivers, beautiful mountains, vegetation and grasslands, lake and the islands, hunting and caves, springs and spa ( Parviz, Sabzi Poor (2007)), can to provide the context for their presence in this province, by investment and planning of natural areas for domestic and international sport competitions, sporting events - regional, national and international teams and training camps and other programs to recognize of this attractions, to attract and to develop sport tourists. One of the indicators of West Azerbaijan province than other country provinces, due to have common border with three foreign countries in terms of customs and culture has many similarities with the Province ( Parviz, Sabzi Poor Intl. Res. J. Appl. Basic. Sci. Vol., 3 (3), 537-544, 2012

(2007)) that can be strategically important in sport and sport tourism, certainly in the growth and prosperity of sport tourism, can be effective to collect exchange and economic benefits for the province.

Other reasons for the necessity of conducting research on sports tourism reveals as follows: 1 - Youth and enthusiasts to sport and Tourism 2 - The role of sports tourism to make permanent and seasonal jobs. 3 - Investment of countries and governments in this regard for income. 4 - The role of sport tourism to identify the city or the host country to the tourists. 5 - The role of sports tourism in the preservation and development of sport sites and places in high level. 6-to pay more attention to sports and to host sport different events.

To better understand the concept of sport tourism, the definitions and scope of investigative works done by researchers and experts are presented. Gammon and Robinson (1997) have defined the sports tourists: Individuals or groups of people, who travel or reside in the Local out of their living environment, to participate actively or passively in the recreational or sport competitions (the first goal to travel is sport) (Gammon, S. & Robinson, T. (1997) ). Hall (1992) has introduced two categories of sport tourism: A) sport spectators b) sport participants. Sport spectators are the interested people to watch sport events like Olympics and World Cup. Sport participants are sport lovers interested to exercise and sport and to participate in non-competitive sports as actively ( Hall, C (1992) ). Hudson (2003) cites two adventured sport tourism: hard and easy, the hard part will attract the "risk seekers", including "extraordinary physical activity is associated with risk to life and body" like rock climbing, wild skiing and jumping from heights with the supported rope (Banjy). The easy part includes discovering glaciers, cave climbing, etc. (Hudson, S (2003) ). Mottaghitalab(2007), in a study by examining ways to develop sports tourism in Gilan concluded that, there is significant correlation between the amount of information on tourist attractions and destinations and interested to it again. But there isn't meaningful relationship between demographic characteristics such as income, education, occupation, marital status and distance to the destination location. The main reason to visit natural and cultural attractions for non-passive participants was to join in sport teams and to visit the natural attractions. The economic problems were the main deterrent to travel in view of the subjects (Mottaghitalab, Mohammad.(2007)). Qiamizadeh and Muharram zadeh (2008) study on the relationship between athletic directors and administrators of Tourism and Sports Tourism in Iran, to realize the importance of attracting visitors and leading and inhibiting factors in the development of sport tourism (Qiamizadeh, Muharram zadeh (2008) ). Honarvar and Ghafouri (2007) in research as important factors in the tourism sport marketing in Iran concluded, there are archaeological sites and cultural needs and requirements of tourists, sport tourist agency services, night recreations in the host country are the fundamental factors in the sport tourism marketing (Honarvar and Ghafouri (2007).

Honarvar and Javadi (2005) in another study found that leading factors are the important factors for motivating tourists to participate in international sporting events (Honarvar and MosharrafJavadi (2005).

Naseri (1996) during the study to identify barriers to effective tourism development in the country find that lack of marketing and advertising techniques prevents to attract tourists to Iran. The obstacles of tourism development in the country are "parallel organizations in the country's tourism industry," "weakness in the country's transportation system," "lack of residential facilities"," failure to provide appropriate services in residential facilities," "academic problems, training human resources needed in the tourism sector" and "propaganda problems." (Nasseri, S. M. (1996)). Cave (2003) in a study of sports tourism in Africa found that, where sport kinds are the main purpose for tourist, they are considerable. North African countries like Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt obtain substantial revenues from water sports on the shores of their country (Cave, P & Leader, C (2003) ). Ritchie (2005) report the development of sport tourism in Belarus as different sport sources are used for tourism development. Islands with great beauty, spa therapy, territories for hunting and shooting (hunting of animals such as deer, wild birds, etc.) and the rivers with fish for fishing are their characteristics. The sport tourism purpose for tourists can be a beautiful island for walking, equestrian, rowing and sailing (B. Ritchie & D. Adair (2002) ). Kosasi (2005) in a study in India as named sports tourism found that natural attractions in India are most important aspect, winter sports like skiing and skating in the Kashmir Golmarj region, hill climbing, residential boat in the Dal Lake, cart rides and golfing will be noted (Kosasi. V (2005) ). Miranda and Andueza (2005) in a study of sport tourism in Spain found that natural attractions with 78/3 percent and water sports 36 /84percent are the most important factors for attracting tourists to Spain. (Andueza&

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Miranda (2005) )Zeithamal and Bitner (2002) in examining the problems of tourism found that key factors include inefficient management, lack of human resources and poorly designed policies and services (Zeithamal, V.A & Bittner, M.J (2002).

Research methodology

This is a descriptive -survey study that has been conducted as field. Statistical society set into three groups:1- Physical Education Department experts of west Azerbaijan (35person) 2 - Cultural Heritage and Tourism office experts and managers of travel and tourism agencies (30person) 3 - Heads of sports board (38person). The study sample is equal with 103 people.

Measurement tool of research: The researcher-made questionnaire has been used to collect data with five value Likert scale about 45 questions with closed-responses. The first part is related to attractions and in seven subscales has 25 questions. The second part is related to the problems of tourism in the three subscales with 20 questions. In this section, whether the data on the natural attractions of sport are suitable for factor analysis, the KMO test was used. KMO checks to be adequate the samples, it indicates always a number between 0 and 1. . Data over 0/ 7 are suitable for factor analysis, the lower number of 0/ 5 would be inappropriate. KMO test value for the subscale related to the natural attractions of the sport, with 7/6 showed that these data are suitable for factor analysis. KMO value obtained for the problems was equal with 0/8, and indicates that the data are suitable for factor analysis. The content validity of questionnaires by university professors and experienced specialists were confirmed and the reliability coefficient after the preliminary study was obtained to 93% value by the Cronbach's coefficient. After determining the validity and reliability, to collect data the questionnaires were distributed among the study populations. Then collected the questionnaires and subsequent steps were carried out.

Statistical methods of research: In this research, factor analysis was used to analyze data. All operations in this study were performed using SPSS software version 14.

Results and Findings

*To determine the natural - sport attractions affecting on the sport tourism development in the Viewpoint of physical education office experts in West Azerbaijan. In view of these experts, the attractions of beach ,water, and summer sports with 72% and the attractions related to range climbing and ecotourism with 50% had respectively highest and lowest load factor among the natural and sport attractions. * To determine the natural - sport attractions affecting on the sport tourism development from the Viewpoint of the sport boards chiefs in West Azerbaijan. In view of these experts , attractions related to Hot -water therapy and natural attractions, with 80% and climbing to the forest and plains with 0/48 had respectively highest and lowest load factor among the natural and sport attractions. * To determine the natural - sport attractions affecting on the sport tourism development from the Viewpoint of the tourism organization experts and traveling agency managers in West Azerbaijan.

In view of these experts, the attractions of beach water, and summer sports with 86% and the attractions related to winter sports with 61% had respectively highest and lowest load factor among the natural and sport attractions. * To determine the natural - sport attractions affecting on the sport tourism development from the Viewpoint of all experts. In view of these experts, the attractions of beach, water, and summer sports with 78% and the attractions related to forest climbing and ecotourism with 57% had respectively highest and lowest load factor among the natural and sport attractions. In the table and Chart 1, you can see the factor load of all the natural attractions from the Viewpoint of the experts.

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Table 1, the factor load of sport- natural attractions affecting on the development of sport tourism from the Viewpoint of experts:

All experts Tourism heads of the experts of Organization sport Boards Physical experts and Education The natural- sport attractions agencies office managers

factor load factor load factor load factor load 1-the attractions of beach water, 78% 86% 69% 72% and summer sports 2-Hot -water therapy and natural 76% 80% 80% 65% attractions 3-The attractions of mountain 70% 77% 62% 69% climbing and cave-climbing 4-Attractions of range climbing 66% 69% 75% 50% and ecotourism 5-Attractions related to hunting 64% 73% 60% 55% and fishing 6-the attractions of winter sports 59% 61% 54% 62% 7- attractions of forest and plain 57% 66% 48% 58% climbing

Chart 1, the factor load of sport- natural attractions affecting on the development of sport tourism from the viewpoint of experts:

* To determine the present problems in the sector of the sport tourism by attention to the natural - sport attractions.

The table and graph (2), can be seen from the perspective of experts problems related to infrastructure and cultural informing by 83% and 60% have respectively highest and lowest load factor in the part of the sport tourism problems.

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The table (2), Load factor of the sport tourism problems from the viewpoint of experts:

All experts Tourism heads of the experts of Physical Organization sport Boards Education office The natural- sport experts and attractions agencies managers factor load factor load factor load factor load 1-problems related to 78% 86% 69% 72% infrastructures 2- problems related to 76% 80% 80% 65% managing 3- problems related to 70% 77% 62% 69% cultural informing

The table (2), Load factor of the sport tourism problems from the viewpoint of experts: As in Table No. 3 shows the view of experts on the problems of management, sub factors of lack of expertise and trained manpower in the tourism sector of sport "and" differences in policy, investments, procedures, and lack clear strategy on sport tourism are ", respectively, with load factor 82% and 80% of the major problems in the management of sport tourism. Among the problems related to information systems and culture, sub factors of "low and insufficient knowledge of sport tourists, about natural attractions and present resources in the province "and" incomplete information systems and poor public relations with tourists", both with 72% of the factor load are the most important problems in this area. And the infrastructural sub factors "lack of recreational facilities and sports facilities and good standards in prone areas" and "lack of residential facilities and international standard residential hotels for tourists", respectively 86% and 84% are of the main infrastructural problems of the sport tourism.

Conclusion and discussion

Obviously, investment on the natural attractions for attracting tourists has more importance, in view of experts, is essential and necessary. According to the results about natural attractions affecting on development of sport tourism, from the Viewpoint of experts showed that "The natural attractions of the beach, water and summer sports" with 78% factor load, " the hot water therapy», with factor load 76% have the highest degree of importance in the development of sport tourism. About natural attractions of beach sports, water and summer sports, this was recognized as the most important natural attraction has conformity with research results of the (Qiamizadeh, Muharram zadeh (2008) ) about to attract sport tourists, and abroad with the results of (Andueza& Miranda (2005) ) and (Cave, P & Leader, C (2003) ) on the importance of water sport. From their main reasons in comparison to other attractions is that:

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1 - Wide variety of activities related to sports, beach sports, water and summer sports with a vitality and freshness, such as volleyball, football, beach handball, swimming, water skiing and sailing in lakes, rivers and dams are performing for tourists and recently national team rowing and the Beach Volleyball tournament was held in the province. 2 - Potential and natural attractions associated with sports in the province and skills needed in hosting of sport teams and various national and international camps and national and international competitions. 3 – To have Uremia Lake and swampy plains on the coasts and islands, the hot water and mineral water, that in vision of the experts were lower categories. Such as "winter sports attractions, with" factor load 59% and "attractions of climbing in the forest and plain," with factor load 57% which results in (Kosasi. V (2005) ) in winter sports and (B. Ritchie & D. Adair (2002) ) in the hill-climbing, hunting was inconsistent. The probable reason for their winter sports was: 1 - Changes related to atmospheric conditions and reduced snow rainfall in recent years. 2 - Lack of infrastructure development related to winter sports. 3 - Number of low pests and lack of adequate welfare and residential facilities. 4 - Not enough familiarity of people with the problem of access to the slope and winter sports in winter. The reasons for the low importance of this exercise is to attract sports tourism, the last part is related to the attractions of the forests and plains, climbing, possibly due to low coverage of forest (3%), Sparse and scattered, and its unique in the province and to remove the plains and forests of the province for machinery and industrial use are other less important causes of the natural attractions of this sport in the view of experts. Problems in the area of sports tourism as well as problems related to the "infrastructure" with a load factor of 83% in view of the experts are the most difficult part of Sport Tourism in the province. Among its sub factors the "lack of recreational facilities and high standards sports facilities in the prone areas with" factor load 86% and "lack of residential facilities and international standard hotels for tourists" with factor load below 84% are of the major structural problems, that it has conformity with the results of (Nasseri, S. M. (1996)) about weakness of infrastructure and (Honarvar and Ghafouri (2007) ) about recreational and residential facilities.it appears that the problems is due to lack of proper sporting and residential facilities in the prone places of province. This problem is directly related to management problems with a close relationship that relates to lack of accurate planning for the development of sports tourism by managers, and problems in public and private investments sector and differences in government policies, lack of clear strategy and management in the sport tourism sector.

The second problem of the sport tourism was related to "management" with the factor load 81% that among its sub factors that problems related to "lack of expertise and trained manpower in the sector of sport tourism", with factor load 82%, and "differences in policy, investments, procedures and lack of clear strategy in sport tourism", with factor load 80% were the most important problems related to the management in view of experts' that it has conformity with results of ( Naseri (1996)) in the case of the lack of skilled and trained manpower and (Zeithamal, V.A & Bittner, M.J (2002) ) in the case of inefficient management and lack of appropriate policies in this area.

The third problem relates to the problems of "cultural and informing system" with the factor load of 60% that the most important sub factors in this group of small problems are "low and insufficient knowledge about the sport tourist attractions and natural resources in the province" and "incomplete information systems and poor public relations with tourists" that both with the same factor load 72% are of the main problems in this sector, it indicates the weakness in information systems, advertising and marketing of managers and provincial officials in relevant government agencies that it means that progress in this area needs to prepared facilities, information, advertising and strong electronic systems, in the national and international level. The results of (Nasseri, S. M. (1996)) about the effective barriers in tourism development in the country and (Mottaghitalab, Mohammad.(2007)) about exact information system about the natural attractions have conformity. Finally a comprehensive management plan with the necessity of forming the public sport activities can be helpful for us. Firstly, you should talk with other officials for not considering this fact that sport is not only as a recreational activity but also the personal and social health and community economic development, and with appropriate funding to make sports facilities and infrastructure consistent with the geographical and climatic conditions of each region. In addition to the cultural context and to familiarize people with the necessary facilities, to use all of these possibilities is important supplement for the development of sports tourism. In other sector, in order to sport exercises are introduced travel and tourism services, because to hold the national and international sports competitions require entering of the tourism sectors. Here the link between sport and tourism

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sectors will be appeared fully. Finally, although we ask for holding the sport tourism activities in the province must to do the following cases: The first case requires the hardware sector, the construction of residential and service centers, airports, roads, communication, and thousands of other travel agents and then the next step, requires the construction of sports centers, equipped with comprehensive and professional possibilities. Besides these two factors, attention to the media and domestic and foreign knowledge is important and necessary. In the absence of timely information and updates, none of the programs were expected to be implemented.

Table (3) shows load factor of internal components sub-factors related to the problems of sport tourism from the perspective of experts.

The present problems of province sport tourism Factor load A-management difficulties 81% 1-lake of right, strict and scientific planning for sport tourism development 79% 2- The existence of parallel and unclear institutions not to determine the duties of the 72% responsible departments in this area 3 - Lack of expertise and trained manpower in the sector of sport tourism 82% 4 - the difference between investments, policies, procedures and lack of clear strategy in sport tourism 80% 5- Lack of adequate coordination between agencies and ministries involved in sport tourism 67% 6 - problems in investment (public and private sectors) in the sports tourism sector 65% 7 - Lack of control and supervision on tourism and sports tourism units 78% B-cultural and informing problems 60% 8- the negative attitudes and propaganda about Iran 55% 9- False and negative attitudes towards foreign tourists in the country. 68% 10- Low and insufficient knowledge the sport tourist about natural attractions and present 72% resources in the province. 11-Incomplete information systems and poor public relations with tourists 72% 12-ideological bottlenecks and lack of conformity with the culture of the tourists 58% 13-Lack of information about the needs and demands of tourists 62% 14– Improper contact with tourists and lack of security in some areas of the province with tourists 45% C) problems related to infrastructure: 83% 15-Weakness in the air and land transport systems 79% 16-Lack of residential facilities and international standard hotels for tourists 84% 17-Lack of recreational facilities and good and standard sport facilities in prone areas 86% 18- cumbersome rules on visa, customs, and length of stay duration of tourists 74% 19-Failure to provide adequate welfare facilities and services to tourists during their 80% residence 20-Theoretical and practical weaknesses of the technology and knowledge in sport tourism 71%

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