Formulation of vision and Tourism Strategic Plan for Qaen with Sustainability Approach

Urban tourism is the basis for different types of tourism; since cities also provide services for their own surroundings, there is a mutual relationship between urban tourism and agricultural tourism. Lack of efficient management in tourism development is led to tourism sustainability. Therefore, a comprehensive planning is required for developing tourism using a sustainable approach. This article aims at formulating the vision and tourism strategic plan for Qaen with a view to a sustainability approach. Qaen has a historical background and is the pioneer in saffron and barberry cultivation. The historical and agricultural potential of the region is a perfect opportunity to attract tourists and to create prosperity for the region through planning. This is a combined triangulation research. Six experts were interviewed in the qualitative step and 13 questionnaires were completed by urban elites in the quantitative step. The results and the status quo studies were placed in a SWOT table. The vision was formulated using three sources of outreach documents, global and national experiences, status quo studies, and opinion polls of beneficiaries. After outlook vision, tourism development strategies were formulated in relation to vision terms with an emphasis on sustainability approach and 4 approaches were prioritized by a QSPM matrix. The results proved that the development of a coordinated and efficient management takes the highest priority in the field of Qaen tourism. Meanwhile, some plans should be made through organizing festivals and events for using the agricultural tourism capacities