The importance of the number of incoming tourists to a country in tourism development prompts planners to measure tourism demand to identify and prioritize related factors. Despite Iran's low contribution to the tourism industry, it's essential to investigate the agents affecting the industry’s growth and determine the factors affecting the increase of tourists entering the country. For this purpose, the dynamic econometric model of international tourism demand has been investigated in this research, and the determination of factors in the arrival of international tourists to Iran has been analyzed. In this regard, the tourists entering Iran from 50 different countries from 2008 to 2016 were examined; The effect of economic factors such as the Gross Domestic Product of origin countries, Consumer price index (relative price of tourism) and crude oil price, and non-economic factors such as the number of rooms, political stability and the effect of the boycott were measured as dummy variable on the demand of incoming tourists. For this purpose, the demand of incoming tourists was estimated using three models, including economic, non-economic, and hybrid models using the GMM estimator for the dynamic panel data model and EViews10 software. The research findings indicate that in addition to economic variables, non-economic factors also affect the amount of Inbound tourism demand in Iran. Gross Domestic Product among economic variables and political stability among non-economic variables have had a more profound impact.

Urban tourism development is a common strategy towards urban regeneration and residents’ welfare. However, sustainable tourism strategies aim not only to meet the needs of the local host community in terms of improved living standards and quality of life, but also to satisfy the demands of tourists and tourism industry. The Green tourism Association, which promotes urban green tourism to tourists, residents and businesses in Toronto, defines urban green tourism by four attributes: environmental responsibility, local economic vitality, cultural sensitivity, and finally experiential richness. The latter attribute, i.e. experiential richness, is considered with providing tourists with satisfying experiences through active, personal and meaningful participation with nature, people, places and cultures. Therefore, tourists’ satisfaction with a destination’s tourism product is a significant dimension of sustainable tourism development.Having adopted Jansen-Verbeke’s (1986) model of urban tourism product, this paper aims to evaluate Inbound tourists’ satisfaction with various elements of urban tourism product of Tehran, Iran. To this end, IPA (importance-performance analysis) & EPI (expectation-perception-importance) techniques have been employed. The data is obtained from a survey applied to a convenience sample of 146 Inbound tourists visiting Tehran from January to May 2010. A structured questionnaire was designed, pilot tested and used to collect data. The questionnaire was designed based on the theoretical model of the research and its validity and variability were verified. The respondents were asked about the importance of each element of urban tourism product and their expectations and perceptions of those elements in Tehran on a 5-point Likert scale. Then an IPA matrix was formed, using the mean value of each axis. Unlike the traditional IPA, the performance axis of the grid was calculated from the gap between the expectations and perceptions of each element, according to EPI model.The findings indicate that the shortcomings of Tehran’s tourism product are mainly due to poor additional elements (infrastructure). Therefore, in order to improve tourists’ satisfaction with this destination, the enhancement of these elements takes priority over primary and secondary elements. Thus, the finite resources of the destination can be purposefully managed and consumed.

Choosing a tourist destination is a complex process and could be affected by various factors. Some of these factors depend on the destination and its characteristics. Recognizing the characteristics of the destination can guide stakeholders in the tourism industry to have a better view of the target markets and plan according to the tastes of the target market tourists. The present field study aimed at identifying the factors influencing the choice of Iran as a tourist destination from the perspective of French tourists who traveled to Iran in 2018. From this population, 385 tourists were selected using Cochran's formula. Their viewpoints were gathered using an online questionnaire. The results of the t-test showed that French tourists were more willing to communicate with the local community. It has also been shown that exchange rates and reasonable costs have played a major role alongside attractive Iranian hospitality. On the other hand, international problems arising from obtaining Iranian visas, inadequate roadside services, and cultural and religious restrictions were among the repulsive factors. Finally, using the Kendall test, we showed that the change in the attitude of tourists after the trip and encouraging their friends to travel to Iran have a significant correlation. Methodology The statistical population of this study was French tourists who traveled to Iran in 2018 for the purpose of cultural tourism. According to the statistical data of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, tourism, and Handicrafts (MCTH), the number of these tourists in that year was 43, 216. To determine the sample size, Cochran's formula with an error coefficient of 0. 05 was used. Then, 385 tourists were selected as the sample size. Some support has also been received from two travel agencies, Clio and Intermed in France, which are active in the field of cultural tourism. Contact with French cultural tourists was not difficult since one of the researchers was a French-language cultural tourism guide. Due to his 10-years of experience with French cultural tourists, he has been in contact with many tourists who have traveled to Iran for cultural purposes. For this reason, the researcher had contact with around 100 tourists who had traveled to Iran in 2018. The rest of the sample members were introduced to the researcher through the two above-mentioned agencies. To collect the data for this study, a survey method was used. As shown in the theoretical foundations of the research, the motivation for traveling to Iran as a tourist destination was considered. In addition, the metrics of contextual variables including characteristics such as age, gender, education, occupation, religion, and the destination image were considered as the potential factors affecting tourists’ behaviors. All these measures have been studied through a research questionnaire. It was used to collect the data online. Discussion French tourists incoming to Iran have some difficulties in terms of obeying religious laws and observing the hijab. Therefore, the factor of religion is a strong repulsive factor for young tourists and less repulsive for older tourists because older tourists have accepted it as an Islamic norm. More than half of the tourists were women. Thus, gender also acted as a repulsive factor in terms of observing the hijab, especially for younger women. On the other hand, the high average age of tourists necessitates the improvement of infrastructures and facilities for older tourists. For example, the welfare services around the attractions roads were considered a repulsive factor, which caused many problems for the tourists of any age. For this reason, service complexes of high quality should be provided around all tourist attractions. Most of the tourists surveyed also stated that they earn more than 25, 000 euros a year. Most of them have stayed in 4-or 5-star hotels and showed a high degree of satisfaction, which is partially in line with international standards. Conclusion In summary, the results showed that despite the negative effect of sanctions, hotels have been able to provide services to tourists with high quality in Iran's tourist destinations. In addition, tourists tend to communicate with the local community and enjoy cultural diversity. Indeed, by providing some training courses to the Iranian local communities, they can be prepared for better interaction with tourists. Working on their language level is also a determining factor. Another repulsive factor was inactivity in the field of advertising. This issue, which has different types and forms, can be less expensive, easier, and more effective to improve today than in the past. One of the advertising types that can be easily done today is awareness through websites and virtual networks. Most tourists use websites for gathering relevant information. However, Iran has not been able to have a standard tourism database. Social media can also attract and reassure many tourists by shortening the relationship between consumers and suppliers of various goods and services and eliminating negative images such as insecurity. The mental image of tourists towards the destination before the trip was not very clear and desirable, while they have stated that their mental image of Iran after the trip has changed dramatically.

Nowadays, medical tourism has become one of the most important types of tourism, to carry out its effective activity, research in this field is necessary. This research has been done to declare the Inbound medical tourism market of Tehran as much as possible. Since one of the convenient tools for identifying and studying the market is segmentation, the basis of this research is segmentation using tourist clustering. For this purpose, 151 questionnaires were completed by foreign patients in selected hospitals of Tehran (Moheb, Mehr, Pars, Asia, Laleh and Royan Institute). The results of the questionnaires were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and finally, four different clusters of medical tourists were identified with the names of totalitarians, quality-seeker individuals, people with banned treatment, and people seeking treatment.

Effectively designing and managing tourist experiences requires a comprehensive understanding of touchpoints throughout the customer journey. In the pre-travel stage, these touchpoints play a critical role in shaping tourists' destination choices, making them particularly important from a marketing and advertising perspective. This study aimed to identify the various types of touchpoints present during the pre-travel stage and provide a diagnostic analysis of these interactions. To achieve this, in-depth interviews were conducted with Inbound tourists to the country and the resulting data were analyzed using thematic analysis. A total of 45 sub-themes were identified and subsequently categorized into 7 main themes. The findings revealed that touchpoints experienced by Inbound tourists could be classified based on 2 key criteria: control and nature. Touchpoints directly controlled by the destination brand and its partners were limited, demonstrating a weak online and offline presence. In contrast, social touchpoints significantly influenced the decision-making processes of potential tourists considering travel to Iran. Both mass media warnings about travel to Iran and social media recommendations from experienced travelers had a considerable impact on travel decisions. Furthermore, regarding the nature of touchpoints, there was a notable demand for physical and human interactions, with direct engagement with Iranian individuals serving as a positive catalyst for encouraging tourism. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers and destination managers in designing optimized customer journeys and creating memorable tourist experiences. IntroductionIn today's world, customers seek more than mere functionality from products and services; they desire emotional and memorable experiences. This is especially true in the tourism industry, where the essence of the offering is the "experience" itself. Designing these experiences is complex, particularly when considering the myriad tourist touchpoints during the pre-travel phase. Touchpoints encompass all interactions between customers and service providers throughout the customer journey, including the pre-purchase, purchase, and post-purchase stages. The pre-travel phase is critical in shaping tourists' perceptions and decisions as it is during this time that they first learn about a destination and begin gathering information. These interactions—through media, advertisements, and digital content—can significantly influence tourist intentions. Effectively managing touchpoints is essential for creating a positive tourist experience; however, the unpredictable nature of many touchpoints complicates this process. Various frameworks classify touchpoints by stage, nature (digital, human, physical), and control. In countries like Iran, rich in historical and cultural assets, managing pre-travel touchpoints becomes particularly crucial. This study aimed to develop a typology of pre-travel touchpoints, focusing on the interactions of foreign tourists, who had visited Iran. It sought to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in tourism marketing efforts. Materials & MethodsThis study employed in-depth interviews as a qualitative research method to gather data, allowing researchers to capture the voices of tourists directly. Participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling to ensure a diverse range of perspectives. Initially, individuals with sufficient English language skills were invited to participate and the interviews were conducted via online platforms. These interviews took place in 2022 in English and were subsequently translated into Persian. Each interview typically lasted between 45 to 60 min, during which participants shared their experiences from the pre-travel stage. A total of 19 interviews were conducted, comprising 10 men and 9 women. Data analysis followed Braun and Clarke's 6-phase approach: familiarizing with the data, generating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and producing the final report. The aim of this process was to extract and analyze the main and sub-themes related to the tourists' experiences with the findings contextualized within the existing literature. Research FindingsAfter reviewing the interviews, codes were extracted and categorized, leading to the identification of sub-themes that illuminated the touchpoints experienced by tourists. A total of 45 sub-themes were classified into 7 main themes: destination brand-controlled touchpoints, partner-controlled touchpoints, customer-controlled touchpoints, external/socially controlled touchpoints, human touchpoints, digital touchpoints, and physical touchpoints. This study categorized the touchpoints for incoming tourists to Iran based on control, nature, and stage, highlighting both prominent and overlooked interactions in the pre-trip phase. In the control category, destination brand-controlled touchpoints included official tourism websites, embassies, and staff behavior. Partner-controlled touchpoints encompassed information from online travel agencies, social media content, and customer reviews. Customer-controlled touchpoints involved activities, such as searching on Google, contacting travel agencies, reviewing social media, consulting with travelers or friends, watching YouTube videos, reading guidebooks, and checking news or media coverage. External/socially controlled touchpoints included negative media reports, family warnings, travel advisories, and negative perception of Iran, alongside positive content from travel influencers, educational videos on YouTube, and tourist reviews. Human touchpoints involved interactions with Iranians, embassy staff, and travel agency employees. Digital touchpoints comprised social media, emails, review sites, YouTube, and websites like Wikipedia. Lastly, physical touchpoints included Iranian restaurants, educational materials abroad, travel guidebooks, and embassy environments. Discussion of Results & ConclusionThe findings indicated that destination brand-controlled touchpoints were limited with many potential promotional materials—such as billboards, films, and social media ads—not recalled by participants. Therefore, it is essential to capitalize on these opportunities to attract foreign tourists. Additionally, touchpoints provided by both government and private organizations can play a crucial role in informing tourists about safety and legal matters. Successful platforms in other countries have effectively addressed tourists' questions, enhancing their travel experiences. Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) have demonstrated that direct communication with tourists enhances awareness, facilitates interaction, and enables personalized services. The embassies and consulates of Iran also play a vital role by offering brochures and educational materials to inform potential visitors. Participating in international events, such as exhibitions and festivals, provides opportunities for direct interaction, helping to showcase Iran’s culture and attractions. Social media platforms serve as critical pre-travel touchpoints, allowing tourists to consult others and gather information. They also enable tourism companies to communicate directly with customers, aiding in decision-making. Experiences shared by past tourists on platforms like Instagram and Facebook can significantly influence prospective travelers. Finally, a major challenge beyond the brand's control is the negative image perpetuated by media coverage and travel warnings, which often portray Iran as unsafe. Overcoming these negative perceptions through targeted marketing and diplomatic efforts could help attract more tourists.

tourism development can bring about economic growth and job creation at destinations. Tourist arrival at a destination increases the final demand for product, therefore tourism and non-tourism economic sectors increase their production in order to meet the final and intermediate demands, respectively. Thus economic growth is brought about and demand for labor increases. Using the social accounting matrix of 2011, this paper studied the impact of Inbound tourism development on the output of economic sectors and its job creation potential. The social accounting matrix is modified so as to incorporate tourism as a single comprehensive sector. Moreover, using structural path analysis approach, the paths through which tourism development affects the output level of other sectors are identified. Findings indicate that compared to other sectors, Inbound tourism has the greatest effect on the production level. The results show the manufacturing, transportation and services sectors have the most output increase as a result of Inbound tourism development. The highest direct impact is experienced in the transportation sector, while the highest indirect impact is imposed via intermediate demand of transportation from manufacturing sector. The highest induced effect is witnessed when the labor income of the middle-income urban households which is earned from tourism transportation is spent on services. Finally, job creation potential of Inbound tourism is revealed to be at the fourth place, after agriculture, construction and transportation sectors, respectively. Therefore, developing Inbound tourism can enhance production and employment.

Income generation potential of tourism is a feature that has attracted the support of policymakers and host communities. The injection of Inbound tourists’ expenditures to the destinations increases the income of households and institutions. Using the social accounting matrix of 2011, this paper evaluates the impact of the development of Inbound tourism sector on the income of the households and institutions, as well as its distribution. The social accounting matrix has been altered so that it can incorporate tourism sector as one single sector next to other sectors in the production account. Moreover, the channels through which this development affects the income of households and institutions have been identified adopting structural path analysis approach. The findings show that institutions, urban households and rural households enjoy the most income increase, respectively. The four-fold share of the urban households compared to that of the rurals indicates an increase in the income gap as a result of Inbound tourism development. Transportation sector has the greatest share in transferring the income-generating effects of the Inbound tourism development to the households and institutions. Labor and capital are the most important factors of production in transferring Inbound tourism development income to the households and institutions respectively.