Tehran – A traditional game rooted in Iranian cultural heritage could serve as both a tool to maintain local identity and a driver of sustainable tourism, according to a new study focusing on Yazd province.
These Indigenous games have once been the centre of community life for generations, providing not only entertainment, but also physical, mental and social development, scholars say.
Simple rules and minimal equipment encouraged teamwork, strategy and coordination. However, due to the rise of digital entertainment and lifestyle changes, many of them risk waning obscurely.
It warns that decline threatens the potential for undeveloped tourism, as well as the types of intangible cultural heritage associated with it. By integrating local games into tourism programs, the community can preserve traditions and create unique experiences for both national and international visitors.
“In many countries, combining traditional sports, games and tourism initiatives has resulted in a successful approach to sustainable development,” says Faze Asadian Aldakani, a faculty member of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Yazd University. She recently conducted a study on the role of local games in the development of tourism and the preservation of Yazd’s cultural identity.
This study analyzed the educational, psychological, social and historical aspects of local traditional games and compared them with similar practices in other cultures. The findings show that reviving these activities through cultural festivals and tourism packages can create jobs, strengthen community ties and create lasting memories for visitors.
One recommendation is a seasonal festival organization where tourists can not only participate in traditional games but also participate. Other proposals include visiting the Game Experience and Yazd’s historic site, establishing a local gaming museum, and designing tourism packages to promote internationally using digital platforms.
“Traditional games aren’t just about old entertainment,” the study suggested. “They are cultural and economic assets that can bridge the past and present while shaping a more dynamic future for the community.”
This research article is featured in the Academic Journal Folklore and Literature, affiliated with Tarbiat Modares University.
This research article is featured in the Academic Journal Folklore and Literature, affiliated with Tarbiat Modares University.
According to Asadian Aldakani, the study could attract more attention among policymakers and tourism stakeholders towards the often overlooked possibilities of traditional games in Iranian heritage and tourism industry.
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