Exploring the Barriers to Recreational-Sports Tourism Quality Based on Fishbone Diagram in Gilan Province

Recreational-sports tourism as a branch of tourism can stimulate sustainable economic, social, and cultural development in the region. Gilan Province has an excellent potential to attract tourists with many tourist attractions and suitable weather conditions. Therefore, based on the fishbone diagram, this research investigated the quality barriers of leisure-sports tourism in Gilan Province. The research employed a descriptive-survey and practical approach conducted through field methods. The statistical population comprised recreational and sports tourists in Gilan Province, with a sample of 223 individuals selected through convenient sampling. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire utilizing a 5-point Likert scale. Ten physical education professors and experts confirmed face and content validity. The tool's reliability was established through Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α=0.93) and construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory). Data modeling and analysis were conducted using (PLS4) and (SPSS22) software. The findings revealed that, from the perspective of recreational and sports tourists in Gilan Province, the most significant obstacles among the seven dimensions (transportation and route, accommodation, return home, qualification and license, destination, activities, and reception and information) were identified as return home (5.50), destination (4.92), and residence (4.26). On the other hand, reception and information (2.86), qualification and licenses (3.25), and activities (3.54) were perceived as the least significant obstacles. Consequently, organizers and officials of recreational and sports tourism tours in Gilan Province should prioritize addressing these obstacles in each sector to enhance the overall quality of tourism experiences.IntroductionIn the contemporary era, tourism is pivotal in capturing widespread societal attention and representing a cornerstone of any country's economy. The tourism industry encompasses diverse dimensions, including recreational, medical, cultural, social, sports, religious, commercial, and political tourism, progressing rapidly. Sports tourism, formed by the integration of 'sports' and 'tourism,' is a particularly noteworthy type. In essence, sports become a crucial and almost constant activity for travelers, woven into the fabric of tourism experiences. Sports tourism entails journeys undertaken for non-commercial reasons, officially or unofficially, focusing on recreation or sports specta