Identify and Rank the Factors Influencing the Welfare of Religious Tourism in Mashhad Using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Techniques (AHP)

Abstract
Religious tourism, one of the oldest and most lucrative tourism past and present, around the world, dating back to the history of religious culture is.Understanding the factors influencing the welfare of religious tourism in the city of Mashhad to managers for planning helps to improve these factors. The aim of this study is to identify and rank the factors affecting welfare tourism, using multiple criteria decision making techniques (AHP) is in the holy city of Mashhad. Study in terms of purpose and terms are descriptive in nature. The population of this research are experts and experts in tourism, the number of which 9 people. The sample was purposefully selected and semi-structured interview was used for collecting data. To analyze the data to identify the content analysis of the interviews and to rank the factors using AHP is hierarchical analysis. The results have shown that environmental factors (accommodation, transport and food), cultural issues (information and advertising, education, leisure and touring cheap) and social factors (insurance and medical care, security, guide Pilgrim and participation of the private sector), including the risk factors identified in religious tourism. Prioritize the welfare of the most effective factors affecting tourism, to the environmental factors, cultural and social.

Keywords: Tourism, Environmental Factors, Cultural Factors, Social Factors, Hierarchical Analysis