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Zahedi, M., Shafei, Z., Zarei Mazrache, T. (2016). Planning and Development of Tourism in the Historical, Cultural and Religious Cemetery of Takht-e-Foulad. Journal of Executive Management, 4(15), 128-147.
Mohammad Zahedi; Zahed Shafei; Tahere Zarei Mazrache. "Planning and Development of Tourism in the Historical, Cultural and Religious Cemetery of Takht-e-Foulad". Journal of Executive Management, 4, 15, 2016, 128-147.
Zahedi, M., Shafei, Z., Zarei Mazrache, T. (2016). 'Planning and Development of Tourism in the Historical, Cultural and Religious Cemetery of Takht-e-Foulad', Journal of Executive Management, 4(15), pp. 128-147.
Zahedi, M., Shafei, Z., Zarei Mazrache, T. Planning and Development of Tourism in the Historical, Cultural and Religious Cemetery of Takht-e-Foulad. Journal of Executive Management, 2016; 4(15): 128-147.

Planning and Development of Tourism in the Historical, Cultural and Religious Cemetery of Takht-e-Foulad

برنامه ریزی و توسعه گردشگری
Article 7, Volume 4, Issue 15, March 2016, Pages 128-147    PDF (527.4 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
Authors
Mohammad Zahedi1; Zahed Shafei2; Tahere Zarei Mazrache* 3
1Economics PhD Student, Faculty Member PNU
2Assistant Professor of Urban Planning and Management, Faculty of Art University of Esfahan
3Postgraduate of Tourism Management, Art University of Esfahan
Receive Date: 03 January 2016,  Accept Date: 23 February 2016 
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Cemetery tourism is a micro niche market of cultural tourism and through location and/or tourist motivation may have overlaps with other forms of tourism such as war, genealogy/legacy, thanatourism, and in certain cases such as Takht-e- Foulad, religious and spiritual tourism. Takht-e- Foulad as one of the oldest and most sacred cemeteries and the Islamic World, has great potential in the field of tourism; such as spiritual space and the multiplicity of celebrities buried in it, historic and ancientness of site, a place to find roots, place for historical, cultural, artistic and sociological studies, variety of architectural styles of mausoleum and other forms of art, such as calligraphy, painting, carvings and etc.
This main object of the research is to identifying actual and potential visitor of site, designing possible scenarios for the development of tourism in Takht-e- Foulad and introducing the best scenario to develop tourism there. Using attributive and field studies such as observation, interviews with experts, potential and actual visitors and tourists led to the design of the four scenarios at the research process; is as follows:
First scenario: continuation of current practices.
Second scenario: the emphasis on the development and improvement of physical infrastructure and human resources.
 
Third scenario: the emphasis on the development and improvement of marketing programs with emphasis on the selection of target markets and attracting tourists.
Fourth scenario: defining the new activities in order to offer site to tourists.
Finally, although the opinions of experts all four scenarios is important, but the second scenario, as the best scenario chosen and suggested appropriate strategies for the development of tourism in the history, cultural and religious cemetery of Takht- e- Foulad.
 
Introduction
Cemetery tourism is micro niche market of cultural tourism that starts since early 1990s in Per- Lachaise, Paris. The historical cemeteries have so many potentials in tourism, such as spiritual space, the multiplicity of celebrities buried in it, historic and ancientness of site, a place to find Genealogy, a place for historical, cultural, artistic and sociological studies, variety of architectural styles of mausoleum and other different forms of art (such as calligraphy, painting, carvings ,etc).
Iran has many historical cemeteries that can be considered as one of the attractions in tourist destinations. Tanas (2013: 22) believes that” Death is a cultural asset commonly found in contemporary cognitive tourism. The changing character of tourism consumption leads to the discovery of new tourism spaces, often long familiar, but relatively poorly documented and studied”. Therefore, death and all things that related to it can be considered as an attraction for tourists. On other hand, cemeteries are part of the city context that in addition to the roles and aesthetic, environmental, historical and educational features; are social role in the life of yesterday and today.
 
Materials and Methods
The literature review shows that cemetery tourism is a micro niche tourism of cultural tourism (Powers Douglas 2005: 20), and generally recognized as a subset of dark tourism (Rojek, 1993), that it overlaps with thanatourism by the focusing on the "death". Also, cemetery tourism has many similarities with other forms of tourism, including genealogy/ legacy tourism (Ray & McCain, 2003, 2012), war tourism (winter, 2011: 463), and in certain cases; depending on the cemetery of the case study; religious tourism, spiritual tourism and historical tourism. For example, Cemetery of "Arlington" in the United States, Beskid Niski war cemeteries in Poland and other cemeteries that remaining of the world war II, after Per- Lachaise are important attractions for tourists.
Dark tourism includes all issues referring to the origins and consequences of tourism connected with death and cruelty, involving trips to disaster areas and sites of mass death, genocide or murder (Lennon & Foley 2000, Stone 2006). Thanatourism (Seaton 1996, 2002, Dann & Seaton 2001) is treated as a subtype of dark tourism where death is the object of interest and derives from thanatopsis - death contemplation. Thus, thanatourism should be considered from the following perspectives:
•• the personal qualities and achievements of the dead person or persons;
•• the character, history and interpretation of the event or site connected with death;
•• motivations and needs (education, homage, adventure, excitement, entertainment), effects (psychological, social, economic) (Tanas, 2013: 23).legacy tourism is one of the emerging form in heritage tourism (Ray & McCain, 2001: 340). Spiritual tourism providing as a phenomenon in the travel and tourism industry and it is defined a self-improvement project to improve the spirituality (Norman, 2012: 20). One of the main motivations of visitors to the spiritual space has been in Takht- e- Foulad, so it can be one of the most important forms of tourism in Isfahan, Iran, especially with the motivation of religious tourism and pilgrimage.
Takht- e- Foulad is the greatest and holiest cemetery in Shiism world after “Vadiolsalam” in Najaf that the tomb of many of the famous men, jurisprudents, philosophers, Gnostics, martyrs, literary men and artists exist there. Takht- e- Foulad has a collection of the most beautiful architectural structures for the tombs, mosques, cisterns, etc. the finest samples of calligraphy, stonecutting, etc.
This study aimed to introduce the phenomenon of cemetery tourism by review on the literature. In this study, 3 questionnaires utilized. Purpose of first questionnaire is to ask tourists and visitors of Isfahan about visiting Takht- e- Foulad.
 The goal of the second questionnaire is to identify, classify and evaluation of the opinions of the de facto tourists and visitors of Takht- e- Foulad. Finally, according to the results of questionnaires and the scenarios and strategies that had been proposed, the third questionnaire was designed to assess the views of experts to select the best scenario.
 
Discussion and Results
Review results shows that 60.2% visitors and tourists of Isfahan do not know Takht- e- Foulad, while about 85 % of tourists can be targeted as the potential market for Takht- e- Foulad.
The second survey results shows that for development of tourism in Takht- e- Foulad, requiring the development of tourism infrastructure (such as database for tourists and visitors), the development of promotional and marketing tools and development of activities which are attract for tourists. So, four scenarios were defined for development of tourism in Takht- e- Foulad.
 
Conclusion 
With respect to the views of experts, Takht- e- Foulad managers should consider the following in order of importance:

Change of Takht- e- Foulad from a tourism source to tourist attraction, with emphasis on the improvement and development of human resources and physical infrastructure required for the development of tourism.
Marketing actions and extensive research and right policies to select the appropriate target market by taking a combination of both internal and external tourism market.
Current partially effective measures that should be a stronger and more efficient.
Define new activities for groups with special interests who ordered it.

 
Keywords: Historical Tourism, Religious Tourism, Cemetery Tourism, Takht- e- Foulad.
 
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Keywords
Historical Tourism; Religious Tourism; Cemetery Tourism; Takht- e- Foulad
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