Analyzing synergistic effects of tourist attractions on sustainable development of neighborhoods with emphasis on urban smart growth principles

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite the spatial effects of tourist attractions in promoting smart growth principles in tourist cities, it is necessary to pay attention to the spatial synergy between tourist attractions in order to control their destructive spatial effects and realize sustainable development (SD) in tourist cities. In this research, based on smart growth measures, the necessity of spatial synergy between tourist attractions in sustainable neighborhood development is explained using innovative spatial statistical analysis methods at the scale of 469 neighborhood units of Mashhad city. The findings of the research confirm significant synergistic effect of tourist attractions on urban smart growth indicators and composite indicator of smart growth of the surrounding neighborhood units. On the other hand, lack of spatial synergy between Mashhad’s main tourist attraction in the city center and other tourist attractions leads to unbalanced residential and activity development and unbalanced distribution of tourism services. This issue prevents integrated realization of smart growth and SD of all neighborhood units in Mashhad.