Analysis of obstacles to the economic development of sports tourism in Iran

The qualitative methodology based on grounded theory was used in this study. The participants included experts in sports management majors as well as tourism experts. Theoretical sampling was performed, and 17 people were selected until theoretical saturation. The interview measurement tool was semi-structured, and interviews continued until theoretical saturation. A peer review was carried out for the validation process. Data reliability was verified by monitoring the decision path of researchers and giving all raw and analyzed data, codes, categories, study process, primary objective, and questions to the academics to be investigated precisely. Qualitative data were analyzed in open, axial, and selective coding stages.

Results: Based on the results of the three-stage coding of the model of barriers to economic development of Iranian sports tourism, categories were identified in the form of 26 categories and 182 conceptual codes and were placed in the six dimensions of the paradigm model as follows: causal conditions (7 categories), pivotal phenomenon (4 categories), contextual factors (4 categories), intervening factors (5 categories), and consequences (6 categories).

Conclusion: The findings inevitably insisted on appointing a trustee in this area and synergistic interactions among different units of the tourism industry and sports tourism.