Investigating the necessary criteria to promote tourism development and social interactions in green spaces (Case study: Urmia Forest Park)

Abstract

Green space is an important part of urban elements in relation to the way citizens live their lives and is also one of the important factors promoting the development of tourism and social interactions in the park space. The presence of tourists also largely contributes to economic prosperity and increased social interactions between different cultures. However, today, urban life and the social system in cities have distanced people from the main path of life and, despite the many amenities and facilities they have provided, they have become distant from nature. The purpose of the present study is to examine the necessary criteria for promoting the development of tourism and social interactions in the green space of Urmia Forest Park. This research is of an applied type and was conducted using a survey and correlation method with the help of questionnaires and documentary studies and was conducted in the form of field observation and face-to-face interviews among visitors to the forest park and urban experts. The present interview was conducted in the forest park among people who had a gathering of more than two people and among 50 gathering groups and among men and women of all ages. Also, in the content assessment stage, the opinions of 12 urban experts were asked about the results. The results of the study indicate that among the four criteria of comfort and convenience, access to services and leisure facilities, security is the first priority, but in measuring the criteria from the experts' perspective, comfort and convenience is the first priority.