Extended Abstract
Objective
The spatial distribution of tourism attractions and the way they are located within a region play a decisive role in the success of tourism development pathways. In many regions with considerable tourism potential, despite the presence of various natural, historical, and cultural attractions, the lack of spatial planning and the absence of an appropriate pattern for the distribution of attractions have resulted in the concentration of activities in limited areas, regional inequalities, and reduced efficiency of the tourism system. Izeh County, located in Khuzestan Province, is one of the significant areas with diverse tourism advantages. Its rich natural attractions, valuable historical–cultural heritage, favorable ecological capabilities, and strong local social capacity provide the potential for Izeh to become a prominent tourism destination. However, the use of non-systematic planning approaches, insufficient infrastructure, spatial concentration of some attractions, and lack of coherent managerial policies have prevented the region from fully realizing its true tourism potential. Accordingly, the present research aims to identify the criteria affecting the spatial distribution of tourism attractions in Izeh County and to analyze the role of spatial planning in improving this distribution, using a scientific approach based on multi-criteria decision-making methods.
Methodology
This study is applied in nature and adopts a descriptive–analytical method with a mixed qualitative–quantitative approach. The spatial scope of the research is Izeh County, and its temporal scope corresponds to the year 2026. To achieve the research objectives, a three-stage analytical process was implemented, including the screening of criteria using the Fuzzy Delphi method, weighting of the accepted criteria through the SWARA method, and final ranking of the criteria with the MARCOS technique. The statistical population consisted of ten experts, managers, and specialists in tourism, spatial planning, and local development, selected through purposive sampling.
Findings
In the first stage, a comprehensive set of criteria and sub-criteria influencing the spatial distribution of tourism attractions was identified through literature review, document analysis, and expert consultation. Using the Fuzzy Delphi method, expert opinions were refined and consolidated, reducing uncertainty and ambiguity in expert judgments thanks to the fuzzy logic framework. Criteria that exceeded the defuzzification threshold were accepted. Out of 17 initial criteria, 13 were retained, including quality of transportation networks, tourism infrastructure, accommodation and welfare services, natural attractions, historical–cultural attractions, ecotourism capacity, ecological potential, tourist safety and security, public service facilities, local community participation, institutional support and investment, tourism management and policymaking, and inter-institutional coordination. Four criteria—environmental considerations, destination marketing, tourist carrying capacity, and economic sustainability—were removed due to low fuzzy scores. In the second stage, the SWARA method was used to determine the relative importance of the final criteria. This method relies on expert-based ranking and calculates the extent to which each criterion’s importance decreases relative to the preceding one. Based on the calculated adjustment coefficients and final weights, the criterion “impact on improving spatial distribution of tourism” received the highest importance with a final weight of 0.33. This was followed by “feasibility and practical applicability” (0.27), “long-term sustainability and effectiveness” (0.22), and “implementation cost and risk” (0.18). These results highlight that criteria with the greatest influence on spatial distribution and realistic potential for implementation were regarded as the highest priorities by experts. In the third stage, the MARCOS method was applied to rank the criteria. By comparing the weighted scores of each criterion against the ideal and anti-ideal values, the method determined the final ranking. The results showed that natural attractions, historical–cultural attractions, and tourism management and policymaking were the top three criteria in improving spatial distribution. Natural attractions ranked first with a score of 1, historical–cultural attractions ranked second with 0.963, and tourism management and policymaking ranked third with 0.946. This emphasizes the pivotal role of natural and historical–cultural resources in shaping tourism spatial structure, while also highlighting the importance of strong governance and policy frameworks in utilizing these assets effectively. Subsequent rankings included transportation quality, ecological capacity, tourism infrastructure, inter-institutional coordination, and community participation. Lower-ranked criteria such as welfare services, public service facilities, institutional investment, and ecotourism capacity indicate their relatively lesser role in influencing spatial distribution, despite their general importance.
Conclusion
The findings of this study indicate that the application of multi-criteria decision-making methods within the spatial planning framework serves as a reliable and systematic tool for improving the spatial arrangement and optimal distribution of tourism attractions in Izeh County. These methods help reduce subjective judgment errors and integrate expert knowledge with analytical precision, making the selection and prioritization of development criteria more accurate and evidence-based. Three key strategic directions can significantly guide tourism development in the region: (1) planned and targeted utilization of natural and historical–cultural attractions as core tourism assets, (2) enhancement of tourism governance and policy coherence to support effective implementation, and (3) improvement of transportation networks and service infrastructure to strengthen spatial connectivity. The study further demonstrates that reinforcing tourism management, fostering inter-institutional collaboration, promoting active local community participation, and considering ecological capabilities can reduce spatial concentration of attractions and enhance balanced regional development. Creating spatial linkages among attractions contributes to a cohesive tourism network, increasing destination attractiveness and supporting economic sustainability. Spatial planning, as a structured and multi-layered framework, enables local authorities to make informed decisions based on valid data and multi-dimensional analyses. Ultimately, integrating multi-criteria decision-making approaches with spatial planning provides an opportunity to revise current management practices and serves as a scientific foundation for long-term strategic tourism planning. By clarifying the most influential criteria and offering a precise ranking system, this study supports more targeted policymaking, efficient resource allocation, and progress toward sustainable tourism development in Izeh County.