Smartization and its impact on the development of urban tourism destinations in Iran: A case study of Tehran city

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Department of Tourism, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

A B S T R A C T
Smartization, as a novel approach in urban development, has significant impacts on urban tourism destinations. This research aims to identify and rank the factors influencing the development of smart tourism destinations in Tehran and to design a model of relationships among these factors. The present study is mixed-method in nature, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, and is applied in terms of purpose. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight university experts and tourism industry professionals to identify the components. In the quantitative phase, data were collected through a questionnaire distributed among 90 experts and specialists, of which 68 valid questionnaires were returned. Data analysis was performed using Structural Equation Modeling with the Partial Least Squares approach and Smart PLS 3 software. The findings revealed six key factors affecting the development of smart tourism destinations in Tehran: Information and Communication Technology, Smart Transportation System, Smart Tourism Services, Socio-Cultural Empowerment, Sustainable Resource Management, and Smart City Security. All direct relationships in the model were found to be significant and confirmed, except for the direct relationships of socio-cultural empowerment and smart tourism services with destination development. Smart tourism services positively influence destination development indirectly through the smart transportation system. The highest path coefficient belongs to Information and Communication Technology, while smart tourism services have the weakest impact on the main variable of the model. Based on the findings, attention to Information and Communication Technology is of paramount importance for the development of smart tourism destinations in Tehran, and investment in this area should be prioritized.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
The booming tourism industry worldwide has prompted many countries to focus on developing attractive tourism destinations. In the current era, the emergence of smart cities has presented new opportunities to enhance tourist experiences and increase the competitiveness of tourism destinations. Smart cities, by integrating the benefits of tourism with smart infrastructure, can transform into appealing destinations for tourists, offering them unique and memorable experiences. Smart tourism represents the convergence of information and communication technology with the tourism sector, bringing about paradigmatic changes in this field. This approach not only challenges traditional patterns but also contributes significantly to the promotion of cultural, economic, and social tourism as well as sustainable development (Gretzel et al., 2015). The development of information and communication technologies has intensified competition among tourism destinations in providing smart services, leading to improved tourist experiences and the formation of sustainable competitive advantages (Haghverdizadeh Dehlig et al., 2023).
The city of Tehran, with its rich historical, cultural, and natural attractions, possesses high potential for smart urban tourism development. Smartization in Tehran is defined within the framework of the "Smart Tehran Programme," launched in 2019 by the Tehran municipality, which pursues the simultaneous realization of six key dimensions: smart economy, smart mobility (transportation), smart environment, smart infrastructure, smart governance, and smart living (Fartash et al., 2021). In line with this program, various infrastructures and systems have been established, including the integrated "MyTehran" application, the "BAHAM" system for citizen participation, the "Docharkheh" smart transportation application, electronic ticketing systems, GIS, and open data portals (Shojae Anari & Jakobi, 2025; Vahidnia, 2023). However, research indicates that ICT infrastructure in Tehran still requires fundamental improvements, and the use of advanced technologies such as IoT has not yet been widely implemented (Shojae Anari & Jakobi, 2025).
Despite these infrastructures, serious challenges exist in the path of smart tourism development in Tehran. Citizen participation in decision-making processes is very low, and coordination among government institutions is accompanied by widespread dissatisfaction (Jahanabadi & Asgari, 2025). Barriers such as the lack of integrated governance and limitations of key platforms exacerbate the digital divide in the city (Asgari & Jahanabadi, 2026). Furthermore, inequality in the distribution of ICT infrastructure has created a deep digital divide among different districts of Tehran (Yousefan & Yousefian, 2012). Environmental challenges such as chronic traffic and air pollution, where pollutant concentrations exceed global standards, severely reduce the tourist experience (Dorostkar & Ziari, 2025). Therefore, identifying the precise factors affecting the development of smart tourism in Tehran and measuring the impact of each is a research and executive necessity for improving the competitiveness of this metropolis.
This study aims to investigate the factors affecting the development of smart city tourism destinations in Tehran using the PLS-SEM technique. The main objective is to identify and rank the factors influencing the development of smart tourism destinations in Tehran and to design a model of relationships among these factors.
 
Methodology
This research is applied in nature and aims to test theoretical concepts related to smart tourism to propose solutions for strengthening smart city tourism destinations in Tehran. The research philosophy is positivism, the approach is deductive-inductive, the data analysis method is quantitative, and the strategy is survey. Data were collected through document review and semi-structured interviews with 8 university experts and tourism industry professionals. A questionnaire was then distributed among 90 experts and specialists, with 68 valid responses returned (response rate of 75.5%). Data analysis was performed using PLS-SEM with Smart PLS 3 software. Content validity was confirmed with CVR=0.75 and CVI=0.875, and reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability.
 
Results and discussion
The findings identified six key factors: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Smart Transportation System, Smart Tourism Services, Socio-Cultural Empowerment, Sustainable Resource Management, and Smart City Security. The results showed that ICT has the strongest impact on the development of smart city tourism destinations in Tehran (path coefficient = 0.92, t=14.708). The model explained 76% of the variance in the dependent variable (R²=0.760). Furthermore, smart tourism services indirectly affect the destination through the mediating variable of the smart transportation system (VAF=0.91), indicating full mediation. Socio-cultural empowerment had a weak explanatory power (R²=0.160), suggesting that other factors such as social capital and citizen participation need to be considered in future research. The findings are consistent with previous studies by Zhang et al. (2012), Gretzel et al. (2015), Zangooei et al. (2020), Mohanty Padora & Kumar (2022), and others.
 
Conclusion
This study concludes that the development of smart city tourism destinations in Tehran requires focused attention on ICT and the integration of smart transportation systems with tourism services. The proposed model demonstrates strong goodness-of-fit (GoF=0.57) and provides a basis for policy-making in smart tourism development in Tehran, as well as a model for other Iranian metropolitan cities.
 
Funding
This article is the result of independent research and was conducted without financial or organizational support.
 
 
 
Authors’ Contribution
The author approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work.
 
Conflict of Interest
The author declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
The author of the article considers it necessary to thank and appreciate the cooperation of all the professors and dignitaries who helped in preparing this article.

Keywords

References

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Future City, Indigenous Thought
Volume 1, Issue 2
November 2025
Pages 119-138

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