Analyzing the Challenges of Foresight in the Development of Religious Tourism in Iran Based on the Seventh Development Plan

Document Type : Original Article

Author

M.A. Holder, Abarkooh City, Yazd Province, Iran

10.22081/jtc.2026.73582.1065

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to conduct a foresight analysis of strategies for the development of religious tourism in Iran in order to provide an appropriate cognitive and scientific framework for planners and policymakers, drawing on expert perspectives and in alignment with the Seventh Five-Year Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2024–2028). The study participants consisted of 15 experts in tourism management and the Plan and Budget Organization, selected through the Delphi method. To validate and achieve consensus on the most significant challenges, the fuzzy Delphi technique was employed. In the second phase, the identified challenges were structurally analyzed using cross-impact analysis and the MICMAC software. The findings indicate that the lack of adequate welfare infrastructure—such as pilgrim insurance services—the absence of non-Arabic language translators, cultural conflicts between religious tourists and local communities (particularly in recreational, resort, and urban tourism facilities), as well as insufficient and inefficient transportation systems, constitute major constraints that significantly hinder the development of religious tourism in Iran.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Theology of the City
Volume 3, Issue 5 - Serial Number 5
Theology of the City (Biannual) Vol. 3, No. 5, Spring & Summer 2025
April 2025
Pages 27-64

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History

  • Receive Date: 27 November 2025
  • Revise Date: 17 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 28 January 2026
  • Publish Date: 21 March 2025

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