The Effect of Social Marketing Strategy on Urban Tourism Growth and Economic Development in Zanjan, Iran

Toktam SALARI; Omar YOUSEFI; Hossein AZIMI

doi:10.14505/jemt.v13.2(58).13

Toktam SALARI University of Zanjan, Iran
Omar YOUSEFI Islamic Azad University-Neyshabur Branch, Iran
Hossein AZIMI University of Zanjan, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14505/jemt.v13.2(58).13

Abstract

Tourism for cities with tourist attractions such as Zanjan can become the most important source of monetization. Provided that proper and comprehensive planning is planned and implemented for it. The concept of social marketing is based on that each organization must first determine the needs, wants and interests of its target markets, then providing those needs and demands more effective than other competitors in a way that welfare of both customers and society are provided. This article investigates the impact of social marketing strategy on the urban tourism growth and economic development with emphasis on the mediating role of trust. This study, in terms of purpose, is application-oriented and is descriptive-correlational in terms of method. The statistical population of the study consist of experts, specialists and students of Tourism science at Zanjan city. The sampling method was random, and the sample size was calculated based on the Cochran formula of 391 people. The data collection tool is the standard questionnaire which validity and reliability were evaluated by experts and Structural Equation Model (SEM) using desired Cronbach's alpha (0.896), respectively. Data were analyzed using pls3 and SPSS software. The results of the study indicated that social marketing with an intensity of "0.556" and trust with an intensity of "0.258" are effective in the tourism growth and economic development. There is also a meaningful relationship between social marketing and trust.

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