Prioritization of the tourism destinations management strategies using qualitative and quantitative models (Case Study: city of Soltanieh)

The city of Soltanieh, one of the most important tourism destinations in the Zanjan province, has precious global heritages and cultural monuments such as the Dome of Soltanieh. However, it has failed to reach a proper place in tourism industry so far. One reason for this problem is that attention has been paid to the antiquity and architecture of the city more than the issue of tourism itself. Thus logical consequence of this, is lack of understanding of the tourism marketing. In this paper, effective strategies in Soltanieh city’s tourism market were prioritized using strategic planning models, including SWOT and QSPM. This study is an applied research and its research methodology is descriptive – analytic. Library and document study used for data gathering, while field study, direct observation and survey, interview with experts in the fields (Delphi method) and interview with tourists using questionnaires were other tools for gleaning the information. Views of Delphi Group and tourists were applied in the matrix of internal and external factors as well as matrix of planning quantitative strategies while effective strategies were prioritized. The results show that the city's tourism marketing is not in a proper place in terms of internal and external factors. Therefore, defensive strategies (WT) and conservative strategies (WO) were considered as first and second priority respectively.  Promoting advertisements, transferring the facilities to the private sectors to build hotels and resorts, expediting renovation of monuments were among priorities of WT strategies while maintaining tourism marketing of nearby cities along with the introduction of the tourism attractions to remote provinces and also using the natural potential of the region to establish recreational facilities were among priorities of WO strategies.