تحلیل چند بعدی اثرات گردشگری شهری بر کیفیت زندگی شهری در هسته تاریخی تهران

A B S T R A C T
Urban tourism in the historical cores of cities can generate diverse impacts on the quality of life of local residents, which primarily manifest at the level of perceptions and satisfaction. Despite the high concentration of tourism activities in District 12 of Tehran, systematic assessment of the perceived effects of urban tourism on different dimensions of residents' quality of life remains limited. This study aims to analyze the multidimensional perceived impacts of urban tourism on residents' quality of life in this area. The research is descriptive–analytical with an applied approach. Data were collected through a questionnaire based on the views of 227 residents from seven selected neighborhoods and analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and multivariate regression. Findings indicate that urban tourism has varying positive effects on the physical–infrastructural, social, cultural, and leisure dimensions, while its impact on the economic dimension is limited; environmental challenges remain a major constraint. The study emphasizes that quality of life in tourist-receiving areas is a multidimensional and perception-based phenomenon, and the assessment of urban tourism impacts should be directly grounded in residents’ perspectives and the limitations of perceptual data.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Urban tourism, as one of the most dynamic socio-economic activities in contemporary cities, plays a pivotal role in shaping spatial, economic, and social transformations. It can significantly influence the quality of life of urban residents. With the expansion of cities and the increasing complexity of urban structures, understanding the consequences of urban tourism, particularly in historical areas, has become increasingly important. Quality of life is a multidimensional concep encompassing economic, social, cultural, environmental, physical, health and hygiene, and leisure aspects, and measuring it provides a comprehensive perspective on the positive and negative outcomes of tourism development.
District 12 of Tehran, as a historic and cultural core of the capital, is one of the main urban tourism destinations, featuring high concentrat-
ration of historical, religious, and cultural attractions. At the same time, residents face multiple challenges related to urban tourism management and quality of life. Therefore, examining the impacts of urban tourism on the residents’ quality of life in this district can provide the foundation for developing effective strategies for sustainable urban development.
Specifically, this research seeks to answer the following questions: What is the current status of quality of life and urban tourism development in District 12 of Tehran? Which factors contribute to improving household quality of life in the context of tourism development? And what is the nature of the relationship between urban tourism development and the enhancement of residents’ quality of life in this district? The findings of this study can serve as a basis for formulating policies and strategies aimed at sustainable urban tourism development and improving the quality of life of residents in historical areas of Tehran.
 
Methodology
Thisstudy adopts an applied descriptive–analytical approach. Research variables and indicators were extracted from an extensive literature review in the fields of urban tourism and quality of life. The main research variables include "urban tourism impacts" and "quality of life," encompassing economic, social, cultural, environmental, physical, health and hygiene, infrastructure and facilities, and leisure dimensions. The study population comprised residents of seven neighborhoods in District 12: Emamzadeh Yahya, Pamenar, Baharestan, Darvazeh Shemiran, Bazaar, Ferdowsi, and Sanglaj. These neighborhoods were selected due to their historic urban fabric, with buildings aged between 200 and 400 years, and their concentration of tourist attractions. A total of 228 respondents were selected using simple random sampling proportional to the distribution of tourist sites across neighborhoods. Questionnaires were validated using content validity and tested for reliability using Cronbach’s alpha, yielding a coefficient of 0.893, indicating high reliability. Data were analyzed using SPSS, employing descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA with post hoc tests, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses to examine relationships between urban tourism and quality of life dimensions.
 
Results and discussion
The findings indicate that urban tourism in District 12 has significant impacts on residents’ quality of life, generating both positive and negative effects. Among the most prominent positive outcomes are improvements in infrastructure and urban facilities, particularly public transportation, which have enhanced residents’ access to urban services, increased satisfaction, and improved the efficiency of urban service networks. These enhancements have contributed to a better urban living experience for residents and facilitated tourists’ mobility. Conversely, the economic dimension revealed the most significant negative effects. Rising living costs, increased prices of goods and services, intensified urban traffic, and pressure on local resources represent key challenges that residents face. If unmanaged, these issues could result in social dissatisfaction and a reduction in the quality of life, particularly among vulnerable groups. Environmental concerns, including increased pollution, waste generation, and degradation of urban environments, highlight the need for careful planning. Cultural concerns, such as weakening of local identity and the gradual erosion of indigenous values due to high tourist inflows, underscore the importance of preserving cultural authenticity through informed policies. Analysis of interrelationships among quality of life variables showed significant correlations between infrastructure, health and hygiene, economic, social, cultural, environmental, and leisure dimensions. This demonstrates the multidimensional and interconnected nature of quality of life, emphasizing the need for an integrated and holistic approach to urban tourism planning. Effective management strategies should, therefore, consider the interactions among these variables to enhance residents’ well-being.
 
Conclusion
The study concludes that urban tourism development, when properly managed, can substantially improve the quality of life of residents in District 12. To achieve sustainable outcomes, comprehensive, targeted, and locally grounded tourism programs should be implemented. Recommendations include enhancing infrastructure and public facilities, promoting local culture and arts, expanding health and hygiene services, protecting the environment, strengthening economic foundations, and adopting participatory approaches. Active citizen engagement, inter-sectoral coordination, attention to local needs, creation of attractive public spaces, and improved public service quality are essential for fostering residents’ satisfaction and overall well-being. Properly managed urban tourism thus represents a valuable tool for sustainable urban development and the enhancement of quality of life in historical districts.
 
Funding
There was no financial support received for this research.
 
Authors’ Contribution
All authors contributed equally to the conceptualization, data collection, analysis, and writing of the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
 
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest related to this study.
 
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank all the scientific consultants, experts, and residents who contributed to this research and provided valuable insights for data collection and analysis.