Tourism management studies of the smart era

Tourism management studies of the smart era

Mixed Methods Planning, Tourism Planning, System Dynamics, Systems Thinking, Tourism Modeling.

Document Type : Original Article- original research

Authors
manijeh lalehpour 1
Sina Salmanzadeh 2
1 Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Humanities, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran.
2 M.Sc. In Urban Planning, Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22072/tmsse.2026.2084579.1132
Abstract
Tourism planning demands innovative approaches due to the complexity of tourism systems, dynamic stakeholder interactions, and the temporal dynamics of development. The mixed scanning planning approach, which integrates qualitative and quantitative methods and emphasizes systems thinking, enables a more comprehensive understanding of the tourism system and facilitates the simulation of various development scenarios. This study aimed to evaluate the theoretical framework of the mixed scanning planning approach in tourism planning. A qualitative methodology was employed, using thematic analysis to extract basic and organizing themes from the scientific literature. Subsequently, the DEMATEL method was applied to analyze the cause-and-effect relationships among 104 basic themes. The results indicated that systems thinking in tourism, the capability of tourism system modeling, focus on system structure, causal loop diagrams, scenario simulation, proactive planning, carrying capacity management, program quality improvement, and senior management support were the most significant causal factors. Conversely, theoretical limitations — including the oversimplification of complexities and constraints in modeling qualitative dimensions — practical barriers such as the need for comprehensive data and technical complexity, and organizational challenges including resistance to change and the absence of a systems thinking culture were identified as the primary obstacles. It is recommended that policymakers focus on cultivating a systems thinking culture, establishing specialized system dynamics centers, developing comprehensive tourism information systems, conducting specialized training courses, and initiating pilot projects in selected destinations. The innovation of this research lies in providing a causal analysis of the interactions among the theoretical, functional, and institutional dimensions of the mixed scanning planning approach in tourism.
Keywords
Mixed Methods Planning
Tourism Planning
System Dynamics
Systems Thinking
Tourism Modeling
Subjects
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Tourism management studies of the smart era
Volume 3, Issue 1 - Serial Number 4
Spring
Winter 2026
Pages 45-66