Authors
1 Ph.D. student in sport management, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
Abstract
Background and Aim:
Some sports tourism activities are closely linked to specific sports and regions characterized by unique geographical features and stable local conditions. The distribution of sports tourism resources is uneven and varies across regions, each with its own distinctive local attributes. For example, winter sports are prevalent in northern areas, water sports dominate coastal regions, mountain climbing takes place in mountainous zones, and exploratory tours occur in desert areas. Desert tourism has developed globally by leveraging symbolic values such as natural beauty, tranquility, and freshness to meet the growing demands of travelers. According to Atkinson, desert tourism involves individuals visiting rare and unique locations that offer special attractions or activities. Likewise, Ling and colleagues define desert tourism as traveling to places that are geographically and socio-culturally marginal or beyond common human experiences. Natural features such as scenic landscapes, pleasant climates, lakes, mountains, deserts, forests, coasts, and rural areas serve as spiritual resources for valuable tourism destinations and products. Deserts, a type of arid land, include sand dunes, rocky plateaus, salt flats, dry valleys, mountain ranges, volcanoes, rivers, springs, oases, pastures, shrubs, and sometimes even towns. One of Iran’s desert strengths is its unique tourist attractions, with sports tourism being a notable type. This form of tourism not only stimulates domestic tourism but also has the potential to attract many international tourists. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of research on sports tourism in desert areas. The research method was qualitative, applied in purpose, and systematic in approach.
Research Method:
This study aimed to systematically review published research on sports tourism in desert regions. The population consisted of valid articles related to this topic sourced from databases including the Scientific Information Database of Jahad Daneshgahi, Noormagz specialized journals, and the Persian-language search engine Elmnet. Keywords used in the search included desert sports, sports tourism in deserts, desert tourism, sports tourism in arid lands, and desert sports, covering articles published from the beginning of 2014 (1393) to the end of 2023 (1402). Inclusion criteria were studies with scientific and research purposes that were review or comparative in nature, written in Persian with full-text access and a clear methodology, and published in reputable journals indexed in databases such as ISC. The PRISMA framework was applied for selecting key terms. Exclusion criteria consisted of papers with evident contradictions between research objectives and findings, clear methodological errors in sampling or statistical analysis, or unsuitable study populations. For thorough evaluation, data were extracted based on four dimensions—cognitive, structural, functional, and citation-related—guided by research questions and the systematic review model. The study’s validity was confirmed through expert opinions, and reliability was ensured with a corrected reliability coefficient of 95%.
Findings:
The cognitive status of published articles on sports tourism in deserts from 2014 to 2023 showed that 36 papers appeared in national scholarly journals. The fewest articles were published in 2015 (one article) and the most in 2023 (six articles), indicating an upward trend in publication frequency. Twenty-two journals featured relevant articles, with the "Geographical Studies of Arid Regions" journal publishing the highest number. Following it, journals like "Desert Geographical Explorations" and "Regional Planning" ranked next. Structurally, 50% of the articles lacked a conclusion in their abstracts, 30% missed an English abstract, and 66% did not include a theoretical framework. Regarding author demographics, 72.8% were male and 27.2% female. Most researchers (59.2%) specialized in geography, while only 7.7% had a background in sports management. The University of Tehran contributed the most authors (14.5%). Citation analysis revealed 1281 sources cited across articles, with 47.6% in Persian and 52.4% in English. The number of Persian sources ranged from zero to 44 and English sources from one to 70 per article. On average, each article cited 35 sources, a satisfactory figure, with 87% of these from scholarly research articles. Functionally, the most influential factors in desert sports tourism were identified as infrastructural and managerial elements, followed by economic, security, and cultural factors.
Discussion and Conclusion:
Sports tourism in Iran’s deserts, given its exceptional natural attractions and potential capacities, can play a vital role in economic, cultural, and employment development in arid regions. The systematic review demonstrated that infrastructural and managerial factors are among the most critical components influencing the growth of this tourism type. Moreover, structural and content-related deficiencies in reviewed articles highlight the need for improved theoretical foundations, precise abstract writing, inclusion of English abstracts, and greater diversity in research methodologies, especially qualitative approaches. Additionally, coordination between government agencies and the private sector along with the provision of suitable infrastructure—such as facilities for hosting sports events and enhancing access to desert areas—can accelerate the sector’s development. Advancing sports tourism in deserts requires leveraging the scientific capacity of the research community while prioritizing environmental conservation and utilizing local resources. This emerging field should be supported by policymakers, academics, and investors to foster scientific and practical progress, thereby creating suitable opportunities for introducing the culture and attractions of desert regions to both domestic and international tourists.
Keywords
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