An Analysis of the Capacity to Create Green Hotels in the Desert Areas of Iran, Case Study: Isfahan

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 دانشگاه اصفهان

2 Department of Geography

Abstract

Background and Objective: Building green accommodations in desert areas, considering the prevailing climatic conditions, using renewable energy, and designing structures with low energy consumption can be an important step in the sustainable development of tourism. Although its economic and environmental benefits can be very valuable in the long term, it always faces many challenges at the beginning. The purpose of this research is to investigate the capacities of creating green hotels in the desert areas of Isfahan.
Methodology: This study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of methodology. Information and indicators related to the subject were extracted from environmental behavior theories and collected from the study population in the form of semi-structured interviews. Then, data analysis was performed using a qualitative method, open coding based on content analysis, and finally, the data collected through interviews were classified and analyzed through interpretive analysis and MAXQDA software.
Findings: The findings indicate that while there are many obstacles to building a green hotel, the current environmental planning system for desert areas has overcome the problems of building a green hotel. For a green hotel in specific areas, such as desert areas, it is necessary to manage costs and reduce them by using technology.
Conclusion and suggestions: Based on the results obtained, managers have always faced many problems in this direction, and the government's support and extensive culture building in the media and holding meetings for education are strongly felt; therefore, the existing capacities in the regions must be identified so that the alignment of the goals of the local community with the goals of sustainable development leads to the support and attention of the authorities and appropriate measures can be taken to build green hotels.
Innovation and originality: Limited studies have been conducted in the field of green hotels, and this research can be considered one of the initial steps in this field.

Keywords


Aguilar, M. G., & Domasian, R. B. (2023). Ecotourism Perception and Engagement Classification Among Residents of a Nature City in the Philippines. Journal of Tourismology, 9(1), 22-29. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26650/jot.2023.9.1.1214643
Björk, P. (2000). Ecotourism from a conceptual perspective, an extended definition of a unique tourism form. International journal of tourism research, 2(3), 189-202. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1522-1970(200005/06)2:3
Casado-Aranda, L.-A., Sánchez-Fernández, J., & Bastidas-Manzano, A.-B. (2021). Tourism research after the COVID-19 outbreak: Insights for more sustainable, local and smart cities. Sustainable Cities and Society, 73, 103126. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.103126
Cometa, L. (2012). Consumer beliefs about green hotels Kent State University].
Della Corte, V., Del Gaudio, G., Sepe, F., & Luongo, S. (2021). Destination resilience and innovation for advanced sustainable tourism management: A bibliometric analysis. Sustainability, 13(22), 12632. https://doi.org/ https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212632
Denona Bogovic, N., & Grdic, Z. S. (2020). Transitioning to a green economy—Possible effects on the croatian economy. Sustainability, 12(22), 9342. https://doi.org/; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229342
Diamantis, D. (2000). Ecotourism and sustainability in Mediterranean islands. Thunderbird International Business Review, 42(4), 427-443. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/1520-6874(200007/08)42:4<427::AID-TIE5>3.0.CO;2-G
Gretzel, U., & Scarpino-Johns, M. (2018). Destination resilience and smart tourism destinations. Tourism Review International, 22(3-4), 263-276. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3727/154427218X15369305779065
 Han, X., & Chan, K. (2013). Perception of green hotels among tourists in Hong Kong: An exploratory study. Services Marketing Quarterly, 34(4), 339-352. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/15332969.2013.827069
İştin, A. E., & Özben, A. (2024). The Impact of Environmental Awareness on Green Product and Green Accommodation Purchasing Behavior: A Study on Domestic Tourists Visiting Antalya Province. Journal of Tourismology, 10(1), 25-40. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26650/jot.2024.10.1.1400041
Kapiki, S. (2012). Implementing sustainable practices in greek eco-friendly hotels. Journal of Environmental protection and Ecology, 13, 1117-1123. https://doi.org/https://ssrn.com/abstract=2150606
Kollmuss, A., & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the gap: why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behavior? Environmental education research, 8(3), 239-260. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620220145401
Law, A., De Lacy, T., Lipman, G., & Jiang, M. (2016). Transitioning to a green economy: the case of tourism in Bali, Indonesia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 111, 295-305. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.12.070
Lee, S., & Lin, Y. (2001). The relationship between environmental altitudes and behaviour of ecotourism: a case study of Guandu Natural Park. Journal of Outdoor Recreation Study, 14(3), 15-36.
Nyaupane, G. P., & Thapa, B. (2004). Evaluation of ecotourism: A comparative assessment in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Nepal. Journal of Ecotourism, 3(1), 20-45. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/14724040408668148
Orams, M. B. (2001). Types of ecotourism. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851993683.0000
Tai, Y.-N. (2017). A study on the ecotourism cognition and its factors. Applied Ecology & Environmental Research, 15(2). https://doi.org/DOI: 10.15666/aeer/1502_123132
Tran, N. M., Yen, T. T. B., & Thao, P. T. (2021). THE INTENTION TOWARDS GREEN HOTEL SELECTION OF DOMESTIC TRAVELLERS TO CAN THO CITY. https://doi.org/: https://doi.org/10.34238/tnu-jst.5048
Weaver, D. B. (2001b). Ecotourism in the context of other tourism types. In The encyclopedia of ecotourism (pp. 73-83). CABI Publishing Wallingford UK. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851993683.0073
Manzour, D., & Niakan, L. (2012). Renewable Energy Development in Iran: Barriers and Strategies. Iranian Journal of Energy, 15(3), 1-15. http://necjournals.ir/article-1-434-fa.html
Razzaghi, M., Rezaie, R., & Shabanali, H. (2012) Identifying the Inhibiting Factors of Application Development of Renewable Energies in Smallholder Farming Systems of the Tafresh Township. Iranian Journal of Energy, 15(3), 1-18. http://necjournals.ir/article-1-437-fa.html