Investigating the role of tourism of sporting events on the economic development of Turkmen Sahara region in Golestan province

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of sports events tourism on the economic development of the Turkmen Sahara region in Golestan province. The research was a series of exploratory experiments based on the data collected. Data collection tools in the qualitative phase were semi-structured interviews. The statistical sample in the qualitative section includes; 19 tourism managers and managers of Golestan General Department of Physical Education, heads and vice presidents of equestrian boards of Golestan province, director and deputy director of Golestan province's cultural heritage, handicrafts and tourism department, coaches, agile riders and officials of Golestan province horse race.The research samples were selected using purposive and judgmental sampling methods. In the qualitative stage of the data, through coding method in three stages of open, axial and selective analysis and findings including 81 marks in open coding, in axial coding in the form of 13 concepts were classified. In the selected coding stage, sports tourism components are modeled, which has played an effective role in the economic development of the Turkmen Sahara region. In the quantitative stage of the research sample, 260 people were randomly selected. The research instrument at this stage was a researcher-made questionnaire.  Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis using 20 Spss and AMOS software has been used to evaluate the research model. The results showed; Entrepreneurship, income generation, marketing, investment, media and advertising, people-centered, socio-cultural phenomena, festivals, human resources, indigenous model, land management plan, infrastructure - welfare and attractions in the economic development of the Turkmen Sahara region have a significant impact .Due to the importance of sports tourism, managers and planners of the province's sports tourism sector must show the necessary care for the development and growth of this industry.