Assessing ecotourism in a mountainous landscape using GIS – MCDA approaches

Abstract

Creation of spatial models are of utmost importance for tourism development in environmentally vulnerable areas. This paper aims to classify a mountainous landscape, Fereydounshahr Township (Iran), using a naturalness continuum with respect to ecotourism potential. In doing so, a conceptual model was developed that consisted of two clusters (natural and anthropogenic), including nine attributes. A Best Worst Method (BWM) was applied for weighting of the criteria. Results indicated that the presence of wildlife scored the highest value, whereas visibility of power lines was the lowest. A Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) was used for combining the criteria to produce a reliable map for ecotourism development, as measured by a sensitivity analysis. It consisted of five classifications: extremely natural (V); highly natural (IV); moderately natural (III); marginally natural (II); and not natural (I). Findings revealed that nearly 60% of the area was covered by Class IV and V, indicating a high degree of naturalness throughout the region. Owing to the fragile nature of the environment, tourism development at this location should focus on hard, rather than soft ecotourists (i.e., minimal development). This same methodology can be used by managers to adopt appropriate strategies regarding possible development options at other tourism destinations, worldwide.