The role of religious tourism on sustainable development in city Case study: Mashhad City

Today tourism industry and attracting tourists is a factor to the country’s economic success. Which some of world’s Revenues is through this way. Growing demands for visiting natural attractions and historical, cultural and religious sites has provided an appropriate ground for tourism development and recreation facilities. The city of Mashhad for its location and having important elements in attracting tourists such as: Landscape and natural scenery, Monuments, Climatic variability, customs and Social traditions has the suitable ground for developing the tourism industry. In other words,Mashhad city the court of Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (AS), the eighth Imam of the Shia ,With a population of 2427316 in November 2006, is the country's largest metropolis after Tehran. Functions and structures of the spiritual (social and cultural) and material life (economic and spatial) of the city is related to this religious-cultural disposition. With regard to the sanctity of the shrine, Muslim pilgrims (mostly shia) From around the world were flooded to this city throughout the centuries. The main goal of this research is how to utilize the benefits of religious-cultural tourism of the city and also reducing the incidence of adverse effects, to benefit from the stability of the city and region. Research method in this study is Descriptive – analytical and gathering data is through library and field. The result of this study shows that religious-cultural tourism of the city of Mashhad has specific features, in a way that various functions and public utilities,voluntary and charitable participation of the people and Bringing different religious groups throughout the year Especially in certain religious- ancient holidays and leisure times ,has attracted many religious-cultural pilgrims and tourists from different economic sectors, so that this has been able to have an important role in economic development in Urban infrastructure and job creation for people.

کلیدواژه ها:

Religious Tourism ، Cultural and historical Attractions ، Mashhad City