Sports tourism in Iran: a scoping review of emerging trends, key challenges, and future opportunities

This study examines publication trends, methodological approaches, thematic and geographic foci, key challenges, and research gaps in sports tourism studies in Iran from 2010 to 2025. The review of 43 peer-reviewed articles reveals a substantial increase in publications after 2020, with 29 studies (67.4%) published between 2020 and 2025, particularly peaking in 2022 (n = 9) and 2023 (n = 6). Quantitative approaches dominate the field (46.5%), whereas qualitative and mixed-methods studies remain limited and are often geographically localized. Research activity is concentrated in Tehran, Mashhad, Esfahan, and free-trade zones such as Kish and Qeshm, while provinces including Golestan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Kurdistan remain underrepresented. The findings highlight context-specific challenges, including centralized and fragmented governance, sanctions affecting transportation and financial systems, gender-related access limitations, and environmental pressures such as the desiccation of Zayandehrud. At the same time, Iran’s diverse climate, cultural and heritage sports resources, cost competitiveness, and emerging digital marketing opportunities represent important areas for future development. Beyond the Iranian context, this review demonstrates how sports tourism research evolves in destinations shaped by institutional fragmentation and external constraints. By systematically mapping methodological, thematic, and geographic patterns, the study provides a foundation for comparative research in emerging and constrained tourism contexts.