Scienceline Publications Journal of Civil Engineering and Urbanism 2252-0430 6 1 2016 January Strategic Planning to Develop Sports Tourism of Maragheh with a Focus on Water-Based Sports Mainly Canoepolo 01 06 http://www.ojceu.ir/main/attachments/article/50/J.%20Civil%20Eng.%20Urban.,%206%20(1)%2001-06,%202016.pdf EN Mojtaba Hamidi Department of Sport Management, Khawrazmi University, Tehran, Iran Morteza Chekaniazar Department of Urban Planning, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch, Iran Mahmoud Parvinzad Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Islamic Azad University, Yadegar Emam-Rey Branch, Tehran, Iran Nobakht Sobhani Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Islamic Azad University, Marand Branch, Iran Ali Sedghi Department of Sport Management, Payam noor University, Tehran, Iran Tourism industry with its various branches not only can diversify needs of citizens, but is considered as a useful tool for sustainable urban development. Sport tourism is one of the tourism areas, and water sport is one of its fields. Water sports charm with vitality, dynamism and excitement that can be at the center of focus on a significant range of people (young and teenager). The main purpose of this research is strategic planning of sports tourism development in Maragheh, with emphasis on water sports and Canoepolo. The city with geographical prone conditions such as water rafting, environmental, structural, historical and cultural context can underlie the development of sports and sports tourism in the region. This is analytical-descriptive study; appropriate strategies were presented using library and field data and surveying 60 experts in tourism, sports management and SWOT technique. The findings of the external and internal factor matrix evaluation indicate that regarding the final score in the internal (3.9) and external factor (25.4), Maragheh has ideal conditions for using opportunities and strengths to develop sports tourism. Therefore, adopting aggressive strategies to the optimal management of water sports, especially sailing and Canoepolo, and optimal management of tourism in the city leads to sustain and enhance the quality of life for the citizens. Tourism Sport Tourism Urban Development Water Sport Canoepolo Maragheh