Analyzing synergistic effects of tourist attractions on sustainable development of neighborhoods with emphasis on urban smart growth principles

ABSTRACT

Despite the spatial effects of tourist attractions in promoting smart growth principles in tourist cities, it is necessary to pay attention to the spatial synergy between tourist attractions in order to control their destructive spatial effects and realize sustainable development (SD) in tourist cities. In this research, based on smart growth measures, the necessity of spatial synergy between tourist attractions in sustainable neighborhood development is explained using innovative spatial statistical analysis methods at the scale of 469 neighborhood units of Mashhad city. The findings of the research confirm significant synergistic effect of tourist attractions on urban smart growth indicators and composite indicator of smart growth of the surrounding neighborhood units. On the other hand, lack of spatial synergy between Mashhad’s main tourist attraction in the city center and other tourist attractions leads to unbalanced residential and activity development and unbalanced distribution of tourism services. This issue prevents integrated realization of smart growth and SD of all neighborhood units in Mashhad.

Key policy highlights

• Spatial synergy between tourist attractions in sustainable neighborhood development is necessary.

• Tourist attractions have significant spatial synergistic effect on the smart growth of surrounding neighborhood units.

• Lack of spatial synergy between urban tourist attractions prevents realization of smart growth and integrated sustainable development of all neighborhood units.

KEYWORDS:

• Urban smart growth principles
• sustainable neighborhood development
• tourist attractions spatial synergy
• spatial statistical analysis
• Mashhad city

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Mohammad Javad Jamshidi

Dr Mohammad Javad Jamshidi is an assistant professor of urban planning within the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at the Razi University, Iran. His research focuses on sustainable development of urban tourism and spatial analysis of tourist cities. He has active research projects in improving sustainable destination management organization models and urban tourism public-private partnership models in developing countries.

Naser Barakpour

Dr Naser Barakpour is a professor in urban planning within the faculty of architecture and urban planning at Art University, Iran. His research focuses on integrated urban management in tourist cities with specific interest in sustainable urban development and collaborative planning. Naser Barakpour is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Architecture and Urban Planning. He is also a member of editorial board of Journal of Urban Tourism