Soft Systems and Theory of Constraints Approach to Strategic Planning for the Semnan Silk Road Tourism Development

Tourism along the Semnan segment of the ancient Silk Road faces persistent governance fragmentation, limited inter-agency coordination, and uneven spatial distribution of visitors. Conventional master plans often fail to capture the complex, socio-technical nature of regional tourism systems. This study adopts a participatory and systemic lens by integrating Soft Systems Methodology with the Theory of Constraints Thinking Processes to diagnose underlying structural barriers and design a traceable framework for sustainable development. Findings reveal that the absence of a route-level governance structure and capacity-management regime constitutes the core constraint limiting strategic coherence. The integrated approach generates systemic “injections”—heritage-led product design and a one-stop permitting cell—that align stakeholders while preserving cultural integrity. The study contributes a transparent, auditable planning model for heritage-based tourism regions under complex institutional settings.

کلیدواژه ها:

Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) ، Theory of Constraints-Thinking process (TOC-TP) ، Systemic Tourism Planning ، Silk Road ، Governance ، Sustainability