Analysis of effective factors on the development of green sports tourism with emphasis on the capacity of local indigenous games in Golestan province

The aim of this study was to analyze the factors affecting the development of green sports tourism with emphasis on the capacity of local indigenous games in Golestan province. This research was mixed method (in quality, classic modified Delphi method and quantitative, descriptive and analytical), respectively. The populations in the qualitative section consist of managers of sports and youth, environment, cultural heritage and tourism departments and university professors in the fields of sports and tourism management (n = 30) and in the quantitative section Officials of sports boards; Organizers of sports events, organizers of local festivals and a number of sports tourists in the province (n=237). Sampling was performed in a targeted and accessible manner. Data collection tools were interviews and a researcher-made questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by 10 professors of sports management. The reliability of the questionnaire was obtained using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α = 0.83). Data analysis was done through using descriptive statistics (frequencies, tables) and inferential statistics (EFA) with Spss21 and CFA was performed with using LISREL 8.5. Findings showed that the factors of education and culturalize, management and planning, advertising and notification, equipment and facilities and public participation, respectively, affect the development of indigenous and local green tourism in Golestan province. According to results, officials and stakeholders can make the most of promoting green tourism while holding events related to indigenous and local games, which are mostly done in natural environments, and with the help of research findings to promote green sports tourism in the Golestan province.