Volume 21, Issue 81 (8-2021)
refahj 2021, 21(81): 241-286 |
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nazari S, Karoubi M, karazmoudeh L. (2021). The Role of Security on the Behavioral Intentions of Winter Sports Tourists (Case of Study: Tehran Ski Resorts). refahj. 21(81), 241-286.
URL: http://refahj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-3313-en.html
URL: http://refahj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-3313-en.html
Keywords: Psychological security, Economic security, Social security, Behavioral goals, Sports tourism
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Extended Abstract
Introduction: The geographical location of Tehran province is such that it is possible to develop various types of sports tourism, including winter sports tourism. However, winter sports have not been able to gain a foothold to attract tourists; this could happen due to some reasons, and one of them seems to be the issue of security in these areas. Feelings of fear of accidents and incidents that may occur as a crime against tourists on the ski slopes, and they can have a high negative psychological burden. Feelings of insecurity among tourists may be due to incidents and events that have occurred in these places in the past. For example, an accident that occurred at the Dizin ski resort in January 2016 for the cable car, during which 70 skiers were suspended in the air for some time. There is also evidence that some of the equipment installed on Tehran’s ski slopes is worn out or not standard. These unfortunate events and negative experiences can have negative effects on the mind of the sports tourists, which will result in a decrease in sports participation. Therefore, paying more attention to the security of sports tourists, including winter sports tourists on the ski slopes can attract more tourists to these areas. The present study aims to investigate the role of security in the behavioral intentions of winter sports tourists. The necessity of research can be examined from both scientific and practical aspects. From a scientific point of view, the research results can be used to complete the theoretical foundations of tourism, especially sports tourism, and this research can be used as a basis for other research studies in this field. In practice, managers of ski slopes in Tehran, managers and officials of the Ski Federation can benefit from the results of the research in order to attract more tourists and athletes, as well as their re-presence in these areas. Therefore, according to the issues raised and the existence of a gap in the research background, the current research study seeks to determine the extent to which security affects the behavioral intentions of winter sports tourists on the ski resorts of Tehran.
Method: This research study is applied in terms of purpose and data collection; it is a descriptive correlation based on the structural equation model, and it can be referred to as cross-sectional in terms of time. The population was all tourists of ski slopes in Tehran. Due to the fact that the exact number of tourists is not known considering the Cochran’s formula for an unlimited community, the sample size was consisted of 384 participants. The sampling method was cluster sampling so that each track was selected as a cluster. The data collection tool consisted of three parts: the first partd was about participants’ demographic data. The second part Karroubi et al.’s (2017) Tourism Security Questionnaire, and the third part was Zitamel et al’s. (2018) Behavioral Intensions Questionnaire.
Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics such as setting the frequency distribution table, percentages, calculating scattering indices such as mean, standard deviation, and plotting graphs were used to organize, summarize the classification of raw scores, and describe sample sizes. Inferential statistics is used to estimate and predict the parameters. Before testing the research hypotheses, Kolmogorov-Smirnov’s test was used to examine the type of distribution of statistical data and to use parametric and non-parametric tests. Finally, Pearson correlation tests in SPSS software version 23 and structural equation modeling using AMOS software version 23 were used to test the research hypotheses.
Findings: The results obtained from Spearman’s correlation test show that there is a positive relationship between tourism security and the behavioral goals of tourists in Tehran ski slopes (p = 0.001, rho = 0.450). There was also a positive correlation between the components of psychological security (p = 0.001, rho = 0.441), economic security (p = 0.001, rho = 0.420), and social security (p = 0.001, rho = 0.309) with tourists’ behavioral intentions. Based on the findings of the structural equation model, it is observed that due to the skewed values between 1 and -1 and the elongation between 3 and -3, the distribution of data related to the observed variables is normal. Similarly, based on the findings of the model, it can be seen that all factor loads (standardized regression coefficients) and t-statistic have acceptable values at a significance level of less than 0.05, and these indicators show that the measured observation variables are well reflected. There were hidden variables (psychological security, economic security, social security, and behavioral goals). Based on the findings of the research model, it can be seen that psychological security (β = 0.182, p = 0.007, t = 2.706), economic security (β = 0.389, p = 0.001, = 4.464), and social security (β = 0.269, p = 0.001, t = 3.877) have a significant positive effect on tourist behavioral goals. The results show that Goodness of fit index (GFI) and the Comparative Fit Index (CFI) as the main fit indices of the model are more than 0.9, which indicates the approval of the research model.
Discussion: Tourists in different places, including the ski slopes, are interested in sports activities in a calm environment and a beautiful atmosphere, and they want to bring their equipment safely. They do not want any verbal or physical disturbances. They also need to do do their activities in an environment wherein they are not disrespected. Therefore, according to the results and cases mentioned, in order to grow this part of sports tourism and recently found more fans, it is necessary to pay special attention to the discussion of security in various dimensions in these places. This issue can be considered not only in Tehran but also in other ski slopes of the country. In this regard, it is suggested to inform on the advertisements in the visual and written media in order to acquaint the society with the facilities of the ski slope and the measures taken so as to save the lives and properties of the people in the slopes. According to the results of the research, it is necessary to establish an organization to maintain the security of tourists. It is also recommended to use up-to-date equipment with international standards in ski slopes.
Ethical Considerations
Authors’ contributions
All authors contributed in producing of the research.
Funding
In the present study, all expenses were borne by the author and he did not have any sponsors.
Conflicts of interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
In this article, all rights relating to references are cited and resources are carefully listed.
Introduction: The geographical location of Tehran province is such that it is possible to develop various types of sports tourism, including winter sports tourism. However, winter sports have not been able to gain a foothold to attract tourists; this could happen due to some reasons, and one of them seems to be the issue of security in these areas. Feelings of fear of accidents and incidents that may occur as a crime against tourists on the ski slopes, and they can have a high negative psychological burden. Feelings of insecurity among tourists may be due to incidents and events that have occurred in these places in the past. For example, an accident that occurred at the Dizin ski resort in January 2016 for the cable car, during which 70 skiers were suspended in the air for some time. There is also evidence that some of the equipment installed on Tehran’s ski slopes is worn out or not standard. These unfortunate events and negative experiences can have negative effects on the mind of the sports tourists, which will result in a decrease in sports participation. Therefore, paying more attention to the security of sports tourists, including winter sports tourists on the ski slopes can attract more tourists to these areas. The present study aims to investigate the role of security in the behavioral intentions of winter sports tourists. The necessity of research can be examined from both scientific and practical aspects. From a scientific point of view, the research results can be used to complete the theoretical foundations of tourism, especially sports tourism, and this research can be used as a basis for other research studies in this field. In practice, managers of ski slopes in Tehran, managers and officials of the Ski Federation can benefit from the results of the research in order to attract more tourists and athletes, as well as their re-presence in these areas. Therefore, according to the issues raised and the existence of a gap in the research background, the current research study seeks to determine the extent to which security affects the behavioral intentions of winter sports tourists on the ski resorts of Tehran.
Method: This research study is applied in terms of purpose and data collection; it is a descriptive correlation based on the structural equation model, and it can be referred to as cross-sectional in terms of time. The population was all tourists of ski slopes in Tehran. Due to the fact that the exact number of tourists is not known considering the Cochran’s formula for an unlimited community, the sample size was consisted of 384 participants. The sampling method was cluster sampling so that each track was selected as a cluster. The data collection tool consisted of three parts: the first partd was about participants’ demographic data. The second part Karroubi et al.’s (2017) Tourism Security Questionnaire, and the third part was Zitamel et al’s. (2018) Behavioral Intensions Questionnaire.
Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics such as setting the frequency distribution table, percentages, calculating scattering indices such as mean, standard deviation, and plotting graphs were used to organize, summarize the classification of raw scores, and describe sample sizes. Inferential statistics is used to estimate and predict the parameters. Before testing the research hypotheses, Kolmogorov-Smirnov’s test was used to examine the type of distribution of statistical data and to use parametric and non-parametric tests. Finally, Pearson correlation tests in SPSS software version 23 and structural equation modeling using AMOS software version 23 were used to test the research hypotheses.
Findings: The results obtained from Spearman’s correlation test show that there is a positive relationship between tourism security and the behavioral goals of tourists in Tehran ski slopes (p = 0.001, rho = 0.450). There was also a positive correlation between the components of psychological security (p = 0.001, rho = 0.441), economic security (p = 0.001, rho = 0.420), and social security (p = 0.001, rho = 0.309) with tourists’ behavioral intentions. Based on the findings of the structural equation model, it is observed that due to the skewed values between 1 and -1 and the elongation between 3 and -3, the distribution of data related to the observed variables is normal. Similarly, based on the findings of the model, it can be seen that all factor loads (standardized regression coefficients) and t-statistic have acceptable values at a significance level of less than 0.05, and these indicators show that the measured observation variables are well reflected. There were hidden variables (psychological security, economic security, social security, and behavioral goals). Based on the findings of the research model, it can be seen that psychological security (β = 0.182, p = 0.007, t = 2.706), economic security (β = 0.389, p = 0.001, = 4.464), and social security (β = 0.269, p = 0.001, t = 3.877) have a significant positive effect on tourist behavioral goals. The results show that Goodness of fit index (GFI) and the Comparative Fit Index (CFI) as the main fit indices of the model are more than 0.9, which indicates the approval of the research model.
Discussion: Tourists in different places, including the ski slopes, are interested in sports activities in a calm environment and a beautiful atmosphere, and they want to bring their equipment safely. They do not want any verbal or physical disturbances. They also need to do do their activities in an environment wherein they are not disrespected. Therefore, according to the results and cases mentioned, in order to grow this part of sports tourism and recently found more fans, it is necessary to pay special attention to the discussion of security in various dimensions in these places. This issue can be considered not only in Tehran but also in other ski slopes of the country. In this regard, it is suggested to inform on the advertisements in the visual and written media in order to acquaint the society with the facilities of the ski slope and the measures taken so as to save the lives and properties of the people in the slopes. According to the results of the research, it is necessary to establish an organization to maintain the security of tourists. It is also recommended to use up-to-date equipment with international standards in ski slopes.
Ethical Considerations
Authors’ contributions
All authors contributed in producing of the research.
Funding
In the present study, all expenses were borne by the author and he did not have any sponsors.
Conflicts of interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
In this article, all rights relating to references are cited and resources are carefully listed.
Type of Study: orginal |
Received: 2019/01/10 | Accepted: 2020/06/2 | Published: 2020/10/6
Received: 2019/01/10 | Accepted: 2020/06/2 | Published: 2020/10/6
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