ارزیابی توسعه و آمایش گردشگری خانواده محور (موردمطالعه: شهر یزد)

"Evaluation of the Development and Spatial Planning of Family-Oriented Tourism (Case Study: Yazd City)"

Destination tourism development—conceptualized as the integrated coordination of land-use planning, experience design, infrastructure management, and community-centered governance—has long faced complex operational and strategic challenges that shape the trajectory of tourism success. Within this broad framework, family-oriented tourism has emerged as a vital dimension of sustainable destination development, particularly in culturally rich heritage cities such as Yazd. The family unit, as a central institution in social organization, plays a decisive role in shaping contemporary household consumption patterns, with tourism representing a significant share of family expenditures. As a result, scholarly attention has increasingly focused on the design of meaningful, safe, and culturally compatible family travel experiences. These evolving expectations underscore the necessity of establishing rigorous and comprehensive evaluation mechanisms to ensure that tourism planning aligns with family needs and contributes to long-term sustainability. In heritage environments where cultural preservation, community well-being, and economic vitality are tightly interconnected, such evaluation frameworks become indispensable.



The present study seeks to explore, classify, and analyze the key methods and components involved in evaluating family-oriented tourism planning in the global heritage city of Yazd. The research adopts an applied orientation, aiming to generate operationally relevant insights, and employs a qualitative methodology consistent with the exploratory nature of the subject. A descriptive case study framework has been utilized to reflect the distinctive socio-cultural and spatial characteristics of Yazd’s tourism landscape. Data were collected between October 2019 and February 2020 through a triangulated qualitative process consisting of an extensive review of academic and policy literature, systematic field observations of family-centered tourism spaces, and semi-structured, in-depth interviews with expert informants. Experts were selected using purposeful snowball sampling based on a minimum requirement of five years of professional or academic experience in tourism development, urban planning, destination management, or sustainability studies. The collected materials were analyzed using MAXQDA 2020, ensuring analytical reliability, thematic saturation, and methodological rigor throughout the coding and interpretation process.



The findings reveal a comprehensive set of interconnected evaluation mechanisms necessary for establishing a robust performance management cycle in family-oriented tourism planning. The first major component identified is stakeholder identification and engagement analysis, which examines the degree, quality, and inclusivity of participation among residents, municipal decision-makers, private tourism operators, and family tourist groups. Structured surveys, focus group discussions, and participatory workshops are highlighted as key tools for capturing diverse perspectives, identifying conflicts, and ensuring collaborative planning. This dimension is particularly important in heritage destinations, where local cultural values must be carefully balanced with visitor expectations.



The second major evaluation method involves field-based assessments and accessibility audits. These assessments include on-site inspections to evaluate physical accessibility, ease of movement, spatial orientation, safety conditions, and the presence of family-friendly facilities. Heritage cities such as Yazd often present physical constraints due to conservation requirements, traditional urban morphology, and climate-related conditions; therefore, evaluating accessibility becomes essential for ensuring comfort and safety for families with children, elderly family members, or individuals with mobility limitations.



امینی گردشگری, [2025-11-26 10:45 AM]

A third category of evaluation centers on standardized criteria and data-driven benchmarks. This includes the analysis of visitor numbers, monitoring of family attendance trends across different seasons, and measuring satisfaction through structured surveys and digital feedback systems. These indicators support evidence-based decision-making and reveal underlying patterns that might not be visible through qualitative observation alone. Complementing this is comparative benchmarking, which evaluates Yazd’s performance in relation to domestic heritage destinations such as Isfahan and Shiraz, as well as international family-oriented heritage cities. Benchmarking identifies best practices, exposes service gaps, and guides targeted interventions.



Another important dimension is infrastructure quality assessment, focusing on the operational standards of facilities, the adequacy of services, the condition of public amenities, and adherence to safety and hygiene protocols. Given that families typically require higher levels of safety, predictability, and comfort, infrastructure evaluation becomes one of the foundational pillars of family tourism development.



The study also underscores the significance of community feedback and participatory mechanisms, such as neighborhood consultations, local surveys, and public forums. These tools ensure that tourism development does not impose socio-cultural burdens on residents and instead fosters positive community–tourist interaction. Community participation enhances local support for tourism and strengthens the socio-cultural authenticity of family travel experiences.



Another integral component is holistic impact assessment, which evaluates the environmental, cultural, economic, and social impacts of family-oriented tourism. This includes the examination of ecological pressures on historic districts, economic benefits for local households and small businesses, the role of tourism in cultural revitalization, and its effect on social cohesion and public space dynamics.



Finally, the study highlights continuous monitoring and adaptive management as a critical component of any effective evaluation system. This involves the periodic review of goals, regular updating of performance indicators, and the incorporation of new data, stakeholder feedback, and emerging challenges into the planning cycle. This adaptive approach supports resilience, flexibility, and long-term sustainability.



Overall, the results demonstrate that evaluating family-oriented tourism planning in Yazd requires a multi-layered, mixed-method, and adaptive framework. By integrating stakeholder engagement, field audits, performance indicators, benchmarking, infrastructure assessment, community participation, impact evaluation, and continuous monitoring, Yazd can significantly enhance the quality, safety, and cultural richness of its family tourism offerings. The study concludes that rigorous evaluation is essential for strategic alignment, operational effectiveness, and the sustainable development of family-oriented tourism in heritage cities.