This study investigates the role of creative tourism involving children in designing identity-rich urban façades, focusing on the analysis of children’s paintings in Hormuz Island, Iran. Addressing the scarcity of research on children’s creative tourism in Iran and the need to integrate their perspectives into urban design, a mixed-methods approach (qualitative-quantitative) was employed. Data were collected through field observations, documentation of visual features in 120 paintings by children aged 8–18 during workshops held in the Nowruz holidays of 2023. Content analysis revealed dominant themes such as nature (sea, red soil, sunrise), traditional architecture, and local cultural symbols, reflecting children’s perception of Hormuz’s unique identity. Quantitatively, 70% of artworks emphasized warm colors and free-form compositions, aligning with the region’s geographical and cultural context. Active participation in workshops fostered social interaction and attracted tourist families. The findings underscore the importance of utilizing children’s paintings as tools for designing identity-rich urban façades, enhancing environmental aesthetics, and strengthening place attachment. It is recommended that murals inspired by these artworks be implemented to boost creative tourism appeal in Hormuz. Collaboration between local artists and architects can further drive tourism-based economic growth. This approach not only attracts child tourists and families but also preserves local culture and reinforces the island’s spatial identity.
Pirjel et al. (2025) studied this question.