Mixed modeling of the social network mechanisms for the sustainable development of tourism: The case of Iranian Kurdistan

This study explores mixed modeling of social networking mechanisms for the sustainable development of tourism. The present study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, thematic analysis was used, and in the second stage, DEMATEL method was used. The results of this study showed that the social network can improve the sustainable development of tourism using 36 basic themes (mechanisms) abstracted to six organizing themes. This model also ranks these six mechanisms using four views. Findings of the present study may find useful applications in three scopes, namely, personal, business, and governmental sectors. The present research is the first to seek mechanisms founded on social networks, via which one can contribute to the sustainable development of tourism. Accordingly, once finished with exploring the respective model, related mechanisms are ranked at different levels to introduce the required future orientations for achieving sustainable development of tourism.