Structural Analysis of Factors and Strategies for Addressing Dark Tourism in Iran
Keywords:
Tourism, Dark Tourism, Interpretive Structural Modeling, Exploratory Factor Analysis, IranAbstract
This study was conducted with the aim of stratifying and analyzing the relationships among the influencing factors and strategies for addressing the negative aspects of dark tourism in Iran, using a quantitative approach and the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) method. The statistical population consisted of experts and specialists in the field of dark tourism, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a closed-ended questionnaire and pairwise comparison of factors. The KMO index in all sections was higher than 0.6, and the Bartlett’s test was significant, confirming sampling adequacy and the suitability of data for exploratory factor analysis. The results indicated that among the influencing factors of dark tourism, “psychological characteristics of tourists,” “personality traits of tourists,” and “government cultural measures” were the most influential and fundamental factors, while “limited attractiveness of dark tourism,” “low public awareness,” and “existence of development potentials” were identified as the least influential factors. Furthermore, in terms of coping strategies, “prohibition of entry into dangerous war zones” was identified as the most fundamental and influential strategy, while “focusing on historical and educational aspects” was the most affected strategy. The stratified model presented in this research, while identifying direct and indirect relationships among factors, provides a practical framework for policymakers and tourism managers to reduce the negative consequences of this type of tourism and to create the conditions for its sustainable and responsible development by focusing on key factors and implementing prioritized strategies.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Elham Adibinia (Author); Shahnaz Nayebzadeh (Corresponding author); Seyyed Hassan Hataminasab (Author)
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