Applying the analysis of interconnected decision areas model to the strategic planning of the age-friendly tourist city of Isfahan

Bringing the WHO age-friendly city framework into urban policymaking to meet the needs of elderly people is complex and challenging. This task is particularly important in tourist cities that accommodate both elderly residents and visitors with diverse needs. This study applied the Analysis of Interconnected Decision Areas (AIDA) model to address this challenge in Isfahan, one of the largest historical tourist cities in Iran, and a WHO age-friendly city, with the aim of enhancing the quality of life for its elderly population. It addressed two questions: (1) What are the needs of elderly users, and which domains should be included in a context-specific age-friendly city framework? (2) What strategic steps can improve the city’s age-friendliness using the AIDA model? A six-step AIDA process was employed with 400 elderly participants and 12 experts, using questionnaires and focus groups for data collection. The results identified an additional domain (accommodating tourists) alongside the eight WHO domains. They also demonstrated how the AIDA model can structure complex decision-making processes, guiding two hierarchical levels of urban planning policies to enhance the age-friendliness of Isfahan.