Exploring the dynamics of creative tourism: A tourist-centric perspective to achieve economic sustainable development

Abstract

Creative tourism is a dynamic and innovative approach to tourism, which points out the importance of people's active participation and their immersion in such experiences. In a vernacular context, it should attract people (local and tourists) attention to accomplish its main goals. Despite its rich cultural and natural assets, Kurdistan province faces several challenges that impact its tourism potential. To achieve that, the study uses quantitative approach to thoroughly analyze and evaluate the components of creative tourism in this province. The research focuses on tourists who visited the province's ten towns during the spring and summer of 2023. Data collection utilized a Likert-scale questionnaire ranging from very good to very poor. The study employed a semi-structured questionnaire developed through qualitative interviews alongside a researcher-made questionnaire validated by experts from the University of Kurdistan. The qualitative questionnaire achieved a high-reliability score of 93% using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. In-depth interviews and literary research were conducted to identify creative tourism components and indicators, informing the development of a quantitative questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 20 and AMOS software to scrutinize the survey findings, providing insights into enhancing creative tourism strategies in Kurdistan province. The results reveal the varying significance of these dimensions, with the cultural dimension identified as the most crucial (factor loading: 0.95), followed by the social (0.92), economic (0.88), and managerial/political dimensions (0.83). The study highlights the importance of cultural planning, community engagement, and infrastructural support in fostering creative tourism. Furthermore, it explores the impact of creative industries, such as music and arts rooted in Kurdish culture, on tourism development. Economic diversification and spatial-physical considerations are critical factors in enhancing Kurdistan's appeal as a creative tourism destination, emphasizing sustainable growth and cultural preservation.