A TEXTUAL AND VISUAL-BASED EXPOSITION OF IRAN AS A DESTINATION


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Rodrigues A. I., Ghasemi V., Correia A., KOZAK M.

EXPERIENCING PERSIAN HERITAGE: PERSPECTIVES AND CHALLENGES, vol.10, pp.169-187, 2019 (SSCI) identifier

Abstract

Iran, home to 22 World Heritage Sites in 2017, is blessed with an abundance of breathtaking scenery and a multitude of historic environments for tourists to enjoy. This exploratory chapter investigates tourists' perceptions about the nature of heritage tourism in Iran, using the five most important cultural attractions as a starting point. A total of 25 photos and 60 reviews constitute the sample. The data were content-analyzed using a deductive and inductive procedure. The results show the relevance of sensory perceptions as a way of creating a bond with cultural heritage that should be considered in the future when defining a brand for Iran as a destination.