Identifying the factors influencing the role of capacity management in the supply chain of sports tourism services

The tourism industry is recognized as one of the main pillars of economic and social growth in many countries, playing a crucial role in reducing unemployment rates, developing and strengthening local businesses, fostering economic prosperity, and improving social welfare. By creating both direct and indirect job opportunities, it provides an appropriate platform for increasing household income and effectively contributes to a more equitable distribution of income in society (Heydari Chiane& Ahmadian, 2020). Today, tourism plays a fundamental role in the economies of countries, with one in every ten jobs worldwide being related to tourism (Shahbazi et al., 2019). Among the various types of tourism, sports tourism has become one of the main aspects of international trade, playing a significant role as a key source of revenue generation, employment, private sector growth, and infrastructure development (Gibson, 2017). One of the key components of sustainable sports tourism success is utilizing an efficient sports service supply chain that ensures high-quality and coordinated services throughout all stages of sports tourism (Li et al., 2022). Services are recognized as economic activities that have time, location, and psychological value, and they play a prominent role in economic growth (Wang, 2020). In the sports tourism industry, services, due to their specific characteristics, cannot easily be predicted or stored for future periods. This perishable nature of services in sports tourism means that if a service is not available at a given time, there is no opportunity to store it for later use (He & Wu, 2022). In this context, the presence of complex relationships between organizations operating in the sports tourism industry is common. However, supply chain management in sports tourism, especially in sports destinations, seeks to provide new perspectives for managing operations efficiently and meeting the needs of sports tourists (Palang & Tippayawong, 2019). One of the key aspects of sports tourism supply chain management is capacity management, which is especially important in sports event destinations. Capacity management in this supply chain refers to the adjustment and control of available services and resources (such as hotel capacity, tours, airlines, and sports facilities) in order to create a proper balance between supply and demand. This process not only provides a positive experience for tourists but also prevents excessive strain on environmental and social resources. The sustainability of the sports tourism service supply chain largely depends on the ability to forecast customer needs and market conditions; therefore, implementing supply chain management strategies is essential to maintaining service quality and optimizing capacity. Effective management of the sports tourism service supply chain helps organizations reduce costs while maintaining service quality and providing a better experience for tourists. Given the importance of the research, the researcher aims to identify the factors influencing the role of capacity management in the sports tourism service supply chain.

The research method employed in this study is applied and qualitative in nature, utilizing thematic analysis. The statistical population of the study included sports management professors, tourism and sports tourism professors, managers of travel agencies, experienced managers from the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and doctoral researchers in sports management and tourism. The sample was selected from members of the population using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The data collection tool was semi-structured interviews with 20 experts, which continued until theoretical saturation was reached. The interviews were conducted in a semi-structured format with the participants, following prior coordination and scheduling. After each interview, the recordings were fully transcribed, and initial coding was performed to extract primary concepts. A total of 20 interviews were conducted, and from the 12th interview onwards, redundancy in the received information was observed. By the 17th interview, the data became entirely repetitive, reaching theoretical saturation. However, to ensure reliability, interviews continued until the 20th participant. The validity of the research was confirmed by relevant experts, and the reliability of the study was measured using intra-coder agreement, which yielded a result of 83%.

The results of the study revealed that the factors influencing the role of capacity management in the sports tourism service supply chain were organized into 88 key points, 22 initial codes, 9 concepts, and 4 central themes. Overall, the factors affecting the role of capacity management in the sports tourism service supply chain were categorized into four main themes: capacity supply, access to supply, quality of supply, and performance of supply. The success of the sports tourism service supply chain depends on the interaction and coordination of four key elements: capacity supply, access to supply, quality of supply, and performance of supply. Effective management of these four components can lead to increased tourist satisfaction, the attraction of more clients, and the enhancement of the sports tourism industry. By strategically planning the adjustment of capacity supply, facilitating access to services, improving the quality of offerings, and enhancing the overall performance of services, sports tourism destinations can provide tourists with a positive, seamless, and memorable experience. This not only boosts tourist loyalty but also contributes to the long-term success and sustainable development of the industry.