Identifying the Factors Affecting the Competitiveness of Cities through Tourism in Kermanshah City

Today, due to global competition increase, cities are looking for the ways to increase their competitive position among other cities Tourism is a factor in urban competitiveness. Tourism, as the factor that improves urban competitiveness through tourism in national and international markets, caused to facilitate planning for the development of cities. This is an applied which is based on the exploratory factor analysis (Q) method as a mixed or combined method and 50 experts were selected by purposive sampling on the subject of research.  In the qualitative stage and based on the summary of the discourse space from 50 propositions, finally 36 propositions were selected for the Q sample. In the qualitative stage after collecting the information obtained from the Q-sorting, the Q-factor analysis method was used; it is the main method to analyze the Q-data matrix. They were analyzed by varimax rotation method. SPSS software was used to discover the existing mental patterns identifying the influential variables by calculating factor scores. Using research indicators, 5 different mental models or factors with a total variance of 82.27% were calculated including political-institutional, economic, socio-cultural, physical and environmental factors. The variables were categorized in order of priority; in political-institutional factors, the variable of macro-government policies regarding the region, in economic factors, the appropriateness of the price of tourism services, in socio-cultural factors, increasing the culture of tourism, in physical factors, development of tourism facilities and services and in the environmental factor, climate change had the highest scores in each factor, respectively. Generally, the physical factor has a more specific value than other factors and is more important.
Extended Abstract
1-Introduction
As global competition increases, urban destinations are always looking for ways to increase their competitiveness, which strengthens their position in competition with other urban areas. Urban competitiveness is an economic concept and includes business improvement, employment rate, business environment, raising capital with the aim of increasing income, unemployment decrease leading to the increase in quality and living standards. Tourism development is an important determinant of competitiveness. Kermanshah city has unique features at the regional and national level including strategic location, efficient cultural and tourist features, and centrality of medical facilities in the west of the country, diversity of tourist attractions, border and ease of communication with neighboring countries. However, despite the great potential in the field of tourism, the city has not yet found its place as it is not in a good economic position. Understanding the factors that improve urban competitiveness in national and international markets helps to more effectively identify the current situation of cities and to formulate and implement more effective development policies in a targeted manner. Therefore, due to the nature of the study, this study was conducted to identify key factors affecting the future of competitiveness in Kermanshah through tourism.
2-Materials and Methods
This research is fundamental and applied according to theoretical approaches and research objectives. Its method is mixed and the research strategy is deductive. Data were collected in two forms including library and field. The sampling method was purposeful. The statistical population is 50 experts; the Q technique was used to obtain the required data. First, by using library studies and interviews, the influential factors in tourism and urban competitiveness were identified. Then, through surveys and interviews with academic elites and urban affairs experts, which is a specialized survey to predict the future, a cognitive map was determined to identify and evaluate the effective factors. At the end of this step, each factor was entered as one of the sample Q propositions on cards with the same appearance. Participants ranked the Q cards on the chart in order of importance based on their point of view. For statistical analysis of sorting data, Q factor analysis method was used to measure the correlation among the participants. Individuals were categorized according to their attitudes. The identified factors were interpreted based on the rotated factor matrix and the highest factor scores were calculated by comparative analysis.
3- Results and Discussion
This research has analyzed the issue with its exploratory nature using the indicators of urban competitiveness and sustainable development. It has had a comprehensive approach to tourism competitiveness. Factors were divided into 5 categories including political-institutional, economic, socio-cultural, physical and environmental factors. These factors have been supported in separate studies. Political-institutional factors, Economic factors, Socio-cultural factors, Physical factors and environmental factors have been studied. However, power and rent cause competition among the regions and cities in the political-institutional dimensions by mobilizing resources and attracting capital, although the current study has not considered such an issue. Physical factors have more special advantages than other influential factors. Infrastructure in physical indicators causes permanence, loyalty and the desire for tourists to visit the city of Kermanshah again.  The development of appropriate medical infrastructure and intelligence affects the competitiveness of tourist destinations and the central and historical context of the city expresses the identity of the city. Besides, urban competitiveness is considered in the physical factors, which is promoted through the creation of the creative city.
In general, the findings from this study showed that knowledge of the effective factors obtained in this study have a great impact on the present and future of the city. Moreover, it revealed that it provides the necessary grounds for achieving urban competitiveness through tourism in the study area by planning and using the resources and capabilities of the city and controlling operations.
4- Conclusion
Based on the results of the analysis, 36 statements were divided into five factors including political-institutional, economic, socio-cultural, physical and environmental factors. Accordingly, the first group includes 10 people, the second group includes 9 people, the third group includes 10 people, the fourth group includes 16 people and the fifth group includes 5 experts. In the political-institutional factor, the variable of "macro-government policies regarding the region", in the economic factor, the variable of "appropriateness of the price of tourism services", in the socio-cultural factor, the variable of "increasing the culture of tourism", in the physical factor, the variable of "development of facilities and Tourism services", and in the environmental factor, , the variable of "Climate Change", had the highest factor score among the existing propositions in each factor. The results of this study showed that in general, the physical factor had a higher score than other factors in urban competitiveness through tourism. Because in today's competitive world, it is not possible to attract tourists just by having tourist areas and cultural and natural attractions. The issue of sustainability and satisfaction of tourists through physical factors is more important than other categories. Therefore, it is suggested to the managers to provide the necessary ground for the competitiveness of this city and the development of tourism and its infrastructure through strategic planning and long-term and short-term plans.