Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas

Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas

Designing a Model for the Development of Mountain-Based Sports Tourism (Case Study: Mazandaran Province)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mahshad Ebadian 1
Saeid Tabesh 2
Mehdi Ramadanzadeh Lesboi 3
1 Department of Sports Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
2 Department of Sports Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
3 Department of Tourism Management, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
10.22034/gsma.2026.2057196.1078
Abstract
1. Introduction
Despite having the Alborz mountain range, numerous peaks, and vast mountainous areas, Mazandaran Province possesses a high potential for developing mountain-based sports tourism. However, due to the lack of coherent and indigenous planning, fragmented management, weak infrastructure, economic and cultural challenges, and the lack of coordination among responsible institutions and stakeholders, these potentials have not been actualized, and mountain sports tourism has not developed as it should. Therefore, the absence of a scientific and indigenous development model for this sector, the weak collaboration among relevant organizations, and the inefficient use of the pristine mountainous capacities reveal the necessity of designing a comprehensive model—especially since previous studies have not offered research focusing simultaneously on mountain-based sports tourism in Mazandaran. Accordingly, the present study seeks to answer the question: What is the model for developing mountain-based sports tourism in Mazandaran Province?

2. Methodology
This qualitative study employed an interpretive approach based on grounded theory with a systematic approach. The research population consisted of experts in tourism and sport, including tourism and sport management professors with research experience, as well as mountaineers and climbers of high peaks in Iran and the world. Purposive sampling was conducted using the snowball method. The researcher collected data through semi-structured interviews, and the interview process continued until theoretical saturation. Although saturation was reached at the 18th interview, two additional interviews were conducted for further assurance. Data were analyzed through three stages of open, axial, and selective coding.

3. Results
The results of the analysis and coding of the interviews showed that causal factors (income factors, human resources, managerial factors, marketing, capacities of Mazandaran Province, and infrastructural factors), intervening factors (stakeholder participation, environmental factor, welfare services, political factors, and responsible tourism), contextual factors (communications, innovation, behavioral factors, and protection and prevention), strategies (tourism superstructures, legal factors, sustainability, and education), and consequences (development of the mountain sports tourism market, economic consequences, socio-cultural development, and adventure tourism development) were among the factors influencing the development of mountain-based sports tourism.

4. Discussion
Discussion: The findings of the present study indicate that the development of mountain-based sports tourism in Mazandaran Province is a multidimensional phenomenon dependent on a set of causal, intervening, and contextual factors, strategies, and consequences. Income factors, human resources, managerial factors, marketing, local capacities, and infrastructural factors, as causal conditions, provide the ground for the formation and strengthening of this type of tourism; if weak, they undermine its development process. Furthermore, stakeholder participation, environmental factors, welfare services, political factors, and responsible tourism, as intervening conditions, can be either facilitating or limiting; communication, innovation, behavioral factors, and protection and prevention, as contextual conditions, also make the path of implementing strategies smooth or difficult. The identified strategies include the development of tourism superstructures, the reform and strengthening of legal factors, sustainability, and education, which can lead to desirable consequences such as the development of the mountain sports tourism market, economic consequences, socio-cultural development, and the expansion of adventure tourism only if coordinated with intervening and contextual conditions. Overall, this study emphasizes the necessity of formulating an integrated strategic plan with the participation of all stakeholders, strengthening coordination among sports, tourism, natural resource institutions, and local communities, investing in infrastructure and training local residents and guides, ensuring security and safety, branding mountainous areas, and making intelligent use of the media; because without such an approach, the potential capacities of Mazandaran Province will not be actualized, and its economic, social, and cultural opportunities will be lost. Therefore, it is suggested that similar studies be conducted in other mountainous provinces of the country so that the proposed model can be generalized and sustainable development of mountain sports tourism can be advanced at the national level.

5. Conclusion
This model, relying on local capacities, sustainability, education, and stakeholder participation, leads to the development of the sports tourism market, economic growth, socio-cultural development, and adventure tourism.

Author Contributions
In the preparation and writing of this article, all authors (first, second, and third) have contributed equally and jointly. All stages of the research, from study design and data collection to analysis of results and final writing of the article, are the result of collaboration and collective agreement of all authors.

Data Availability Statement
Data available on request from the authors.

Acknowledgements
This research is derived from the PhD dissertation of Mahshad Ebadian, Department of Sports Management, University of Mazandaran, and received no financial support.

Ethical Considerations
All authors affirm that this research was conducted in accordance with ethical standards, with no data fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism.

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

Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Keywords
Keywords: Tourism
Sports Tourism
Mountains
Mazandaran Province
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Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas
Volume 7, Issue 2 - Serial Number 26
Spring 2026
Pages 113-132