bahram imani; alireza ghane
Abstract
Tourism is recognized as a significant source of income and a crucial factor in the development of nations. Ecotourism lodges play a pivotal role in tourism development and sustainable rural development. Therefore, understanding the inhibiting and facilitating factors in the development of these lodges ...
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Tourism is recognized as a significant source of income and a crucial factor in the development of nations. Ecotourism lodges play a pivotal role in tourism development and sustainable rural development. Therefore, understanding the inhibiting and facilitating factors in the development of these lodges is essential. This research aims to identify and explain the inhibiting and facilitating factors in the development of ecotourism lodges from the perspective of experts in the villages of Ardabil Township (specifically, Vakilabad and Sham Asbi villages). This study employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing a sequential exploratory design conducted in two phases, qualitative and quantitative. In the qualitative phase, the range of variables and key indicators were identified through a scoping review. Subsequently, in the quantitative phase, a survey method using questionnaires was administered to a sample of 100 professionals, experts in ecotourism lodges, and local managers from the selected villages. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were assessed using Cronbach's alpha, which yielded a value of 0.937, indicating an acceptable level of reliability. Structural equation modeling (SEM) in Smart PLS3 software was used for data analysis. The findings revealed that economic factors (effect coefficient 0.817) and socio-cultural factors (effect coefficient 0.802) were significant inhibiting factors, while socio-cultural factors (effect coefficient 0.904) and economic factors (effect coefficient 0.816) were significant facilitating factors for the development of ecotourism lodges in the studied areas.
Seyyed Mahdi Mousakazemi; Zeynab Farraji Chanzab
Abstract
Urban green space is one of the land uses that its distribution across the city is crucially important. Ardabil can be considered as a city with an inappropriate distribution of green space. The allocated green space per capita in Ardabil is 7.3 square meters. This figure is quite far from the indices ...
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Urban green space is one of the land uses that its distribution across the city is crucially important. Ardabil can be considered as a city with an inappropriate distribution of green space. The allocated green space per capita in Ardabil is 7.3 square meters. This figure is quite far from the indices determined by the United Nations Environment Organization which considers 20 to 25 square meters for each person. The present study was aimed at analyzing 44 neighborhoods of Ardabil city based on 11 selected indicators of green space availability set by experts. Based on type, the present study is an applied research with a descriptive-analytical method. The required data was obtained from the parks and green space organization of Ardabil in 2015 as well as through a field study. Then, in order to rank all 44 neighborhoods of Ardabil city according to their existing green spaces we have applied the Copeland model to integrate several multi-criteria decision-making models including TOPSIS, VIKOR, ELECTERE, and SAW. As a result, all neighborhoods of Ardabil were grouped into four categories namely: enjoyed, semi-enjoyed, deprived, and very deprived. As seven neighborhoods of the city lacked any kinds of green space, and most of the other neighborhoods fall in the deprived category, it can be said that the distribution of urban green space in Ardabil is an unbalanced distribution.
Alireza Mohammadi; Sepideh Noori; Elahe Pishgar
Abstract
The aim of the present study is to analyze the spatial distribution and to show the spatial patterns of advanced producer services (APS) in Ardabil; one of the middle-sized cities in Iran. Sample of the study comprises 2100 activity units in four groups of advanced services, including banking and financial ...
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The aim of the present study is to analyze the spatial distribution and to show the spatial patterns of advanced producer services (APS) in Ardabil; one of the middle-sized cities in Iran. Sample of the study comprises 2100 activity units in four groups of advanced services, including banking and financial services, healthcare and remedial, real estate, and insurance services. Documentary and field methods are applied for collecting and processing the data. Spatial statistical techniques such as Kernel Density, Average Nearest Neighbor, the local Moran statistics, Cluster and Outlier spatial analysis, Hot Spots and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) methods have been used in GIS environment for data analysis, density estimation, distribution pattern analysis and conceptualization of spatial relationships. The results show that, insurance and real estate consulting services are enjoying the highest levels of coverage around the city. The highest densities of ASPs belong to center and south parts of the city. The spatial pattern of the advanced services is spread in type. Spatial pattern and spatial distribution of insurance services and real estate consulting are dispersed around the city, but the spatial pattern of banking, health and remedial services are clustered. The gravity or central point of advanced services locates at the geographical center of the city and the movement path of the advanced services follows a north-south route. There is a significant relationship between population density and some kinds of advanced services. Finally, some recommendations are presented based on the findings of the study.
