Measuring the Spatial-Physical Resilience of Horse Tourism Destinations Based on Sustainable Land use Planning Indicators (Case Study: Khuzestan Province)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Physical Education, Shushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education, Gonbad Kavous University, Golestan, Iran

Abstract

Horse tourism, as one of the most prominent types of sports-cultural tourism, has an inextricable link with the biological and physical resources of the earth. However, the lack of coherent spatial planning has led to the vulnerability of these destinations to environmental and physical hazards. The present study aims to explain the spatial-physical resilience model of horse tourism destinations based on sustainable land use indicators in Khuzestan Province. The present study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature. The data collection tool is a researcher-made questionnaire including land use indicators (ecological, socio-economic sustainability and land use compatibility) and resilience components (diversity, flexibility and permeability). The statistical population includes urban planning experts, tourism experts and owners of equestrian clubs in Khuzestan Province, local tourists and familiar experts. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and partial least squares (Smart-PLS) approach. The results of the structural model analysis show that sustainable land use planning (independent variable) with a path coefficient of 0.877 plays a decisive role in strengthening the spatial-physical resilience of horse tourism destinations (dependent variable), among which land use adaptation (mediating variable) has been identified as the main channel for transmitting this effect. The findings of the estimated model indicate that improving physical flexibility and protecting natural corridors have the greatest contribution to empowering horse tourism infrastructure in Khuzestan province against environmental challenges. Overall, the optimal fit of the model confirms that by aligning physical development patterns and regional ecological capacities, a sustainable and resilient pattern in the management of tourism spaces can be achieved. 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Geography and Territorial Spatial Arrangement
Volume 16, Issue 60
October 2026
Pages 99-132

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History

  • Receive Date: 22 February 2026
  • Revise Date: 19 June 2026
  • Accept Date: 21 June 2026

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