The Role of Religious Tourism in the Development and Growth of Urban Metropolis: (In The Case of Mashhad, Iran)

ABSTRACT: This study aims to examine three dimensions of development, namely, economic, environment, and social-cultural issues caused by religious tourism in Mashhad. A quantitative method used to investigate 288 residents’ perceptions who are settled around the Imam Reza holly shrine. Mean and standard division of the variable is calculated to understated to what extend respondents are agreed about positive impacts of religious tourism in terms of economic, environment, and social-cultural development. ANOVA performed to compare mean scores of economic, environment, and social-cultural dimensions by educational level, income level, and residency lengths. The results show that from perspective of residents, development of religious tourism provides economic contribution in Mashhad. In contrast, negative effects of religious tourism are reported by respondents. According to the findings of the study, there is a census about improvement of social-cultural issues caused by religious tourism in Mashahd. According to the ANOVA results, respondents with different educational level have significant different perception about economic impacts. Similarly, perception of respondents about economic, environment, and social-cultural effect of religious tourism varies based on income level and lengths of residency. Keywords: Economic, environment, social-cultural, religious tourism. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………