Proposing Historic-Religious Tourism Development Approaches with an Emphasis on Identity of Urban Spaces (Case Study of Imam Khomeini Street, Qazvin)

Abstract

Tourism is rapidly developing as a profitable and clean industry in the world. Today, tourists consider urban areas as tourist attractions since, in addition to the body which has its own charm,every space is dominated by an identity. In this descriptive, comparative study, the criteria determining the urban space identity are attempted to be specified through documentary studies. Then, 105 questionnaires were distributed among various user groups of the space including the residents and shopkeepers at Imam KhomeiniStreet, the citizens of Qazvin, tourists coming to the city since the beginning of the year 2014 and experts on Qazvin urban area. The urban space identity was specified by analyzing the questionnaires. Moreover, the main criteria determining such an identity were determined according to each group's view point using the Friedman test. The results of the study indicated that Imam Khomeini Street and its micro spaces had strong cultural and religious identities in the past. Furthermore, it was revealed thata historical identity had been also added to them over time. However, for various reasons, the identity dominating such urban spaces has declined in recent years, and have somewhat been forgotten. Based on the findings of this study,we can hope to attract historical and religious tourists into the city as well as urban spacesthrough putting an emphasis on historical and religious identity of Imam Khomeini Streetand its micro spaces.Among the proposed approaches, sufficient funding for the presence and accommodation of tourists, turning historic houses adjacent to Imam Khomeini Street to traditional accommodation for tourists and transforming abandoned spaces adjacent to Imam Khomeini Street to cultural spaces for attracting tourists, such as crafts workshops, theater, indigenous art gallery, traditional restaurant with local music, etc. can be named. Other approaches also include holding special programsfor introducing Qazvin such as festival of Qazvin Day in form of some various programs including music, theater, local festivals, etc.