Extended Abstract

1. Introduction

Isfahan city is considered one of the most important tourist destinations in Iran. Its rich history and the abundance of both tangible and intangible attractions strongly support this claim. Given the significance of the tourism industry for the city and its central role in numerous development policies and strategies, comprehensive planning and attention to all relevant indicators of this sector are crucial. Understanding the needs of both domestic and international tourists in this destination constitutes a vital step toward effective tourism and urban development planning. In fact, identifying these needs based on the current situation can provide a realistic framework for understanding existing conditions and addressing tourists’ expectations to overcome present limitations. Accurate knowledge of tourists’ needs leads to higher satisfaction and long-term loyalty. Therefore, this study aims to identify and analyze the needs of domestic and international tourists in Isfahan. Such research not only provides a clear understanding of tourist demands but also creates a foundation for improved decision-making and strategic planning toward the sustainable development of tourist destinations, especially in the case of Isfahan, based on the target audience and stakeholders.

2. Materials and Methods

Given the nature of the study, the research method is descriptive-analytical, and in terms of purpose, it is applied. Based on the analytical approach, the research is quantitative. Data were collected using a survey method. The statistical population consisted of two groups: domestic and international tourists. Due to research constraints and accessibility, a total of 139 tourists were studied. Random (accidental) sampling was employed among tourists. Data were gathered using a researcher-made questionnaire composed of two sections: (1) demographic characteristics of the respondents, and (2) evaluation of tourist needs. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by tourism experts, while reliability was assessed by administering the questionnaire to 30 individuals outside the main sample. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the section related to tourist needs was calculated at 0.765, confirming the instrument’s internal consistency. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, and factor analysis.

3. Results and discussion

“Extent to which tourists' needs were met” (mean = 3.647) and “intention to revisit” (mean = 3.302) ranked lower. These results imply that while the overall travel experience was pleasant, some tourist needs were not fully met. This likely points to shortcomings in infrastructure or service quality that may negatively influence tourists’ decisions to return. The results of the one-sample t-test revealed that the majority of the identified tourist needs had statistically significant mean scores above the average threshold (test value = 3), indicating that these needs are highly important from the perspective of tourists. In all cases, the significance level was less than 0.05, with p-values equal to 0.000, confirming the strength of these findings.

Among the evaluated needs, the most important were: “Accessibility to attractions” with a mean score of 4.352, “Environmental concern in the city” (mean = 4.345), and “Local hospitality and public acceptance” (mean = 4.309). These results highlight tourists’ key expectations from the destination city, emphasizing the importance of attractiveness, environmental quality, and social behavior. Additionally, other needs such as “Vibrancy and liveliness”, “Security of attractions and surroundings”, “Quality of services”, and “Aesthetic enhancement of public spaces” also scored above 4.1, reflecting their high significance in shaping the overall tourist experience.

In contrast, some needs were evaluated as having moderate importance by the respondents. These include: “Currency exchange and money exchange facilities” (mean = 3.339), “Public transportation” (mean = 3.460), “Handicrafts” (mean = 3.683), and “Cultural amenities” (mean = 4.060).

These findings suggest that although all needs are considered important by tourists, urban managers and tourism authorities should prioritize accessibility, environmental quality, social interaction, and service quality to enhance the overall tourism experience.

The overall test of tourist needs was also statistically significant (p = 0.000) with a mean score of 3.977, clearly indicating the high importance of all surveyed needs from the tourists' perspectives.

Although the average overall importance score reported by domestic tourists (mean = 4.069) was slightly higher than that of international tourists (mean = 3.879), this difference was not statistically significant (F = 0.104, p = 0.748).

However, a more detailed analysis revealed that several specific indicators showed statistically significant differences between domestic and international tourists. As presented in Table 6, in cases where the differences were significant, domestic tourists generally rated the importance of needs higher than their international counterparts. For example:

The need for public transportation was rated higher by domestic tourists (mean = 3.597) than by international tourists (mean = 3.313).

Despite its relative achievements and a generally positive image among some visitors, the tourism industry in Isfahan still faces multidimensional challenges in meeting the diverse needs and satisfaction levels of its tourists. Most notably, while international tourists tend to report a more favorable overall experience, it is the domestic tourists—who play a pivotal role in the sustainability of the city's tourism due to their higher frequency and volume of visits—who express higher expectations regarding infrastructure, services, and urban amenities. These expectations, however, are often not fully met, indicating a discrepancy between the services currently offered and the perceived needs of Iranian visitors.

4. Conclusion

Overall, the development of tourism in a city like Isfahan requires a comprehensive, flexible, and evidence-based approach. The findings of this study clearly indicate that a one-size-fits-all strategy cannot effectively address the diverse needs of all tourists. Therefore, designing differentiated strategies, enhancing services tailored to specific tourist segments, strengthening infrastructure, and utilizing tourist feedback as a policy-making tool are critical steps toward elevating Isfahan’s status as a global, sustainable, and revisitable destination.

5. Acknowledgments & Funding

·   The authors would like to express their sincere appreciation to all individuals, tourists, and the Isfahan Foundation of Elites for their participation and support in this study.

·   This study was conducted as part of the comprehensive cultural, scientific, and educational leadership program of the Isfahan Foundation of Elites (Raf’at Plan) during the academic year 2024–2025.

6. Conflict of Interest

·   The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the authorship or publication of this research.