Ecological Tourism Development in the Mountainous Regions and Historical Railway Network Capacities. Case Study: Tehran-Mazandaran Old Railway by Crossing the Alborz Mountain Range

Abstract

Ecological tourism or ecotourism (In abbreviation) is a form of tourism intended as a low impact on the environment and is based on the principles of sustainability in natural and historical areas with conservation characteristics. Railway tourism can be a form of ecological tourism that occurs in areas with presence of the railroad network. due to its novelty and proximity with natural and cultural heritage in the humid and rainy climate, This form of tourism can attract many tourists all around the world. The methodology of this study is descriptive and analytical, and initially, characteristics and requirements have been explained with resources and library studies The required infrastructures are the main bass of tourism, one of the most significant of which, is the current situation of the transportation system (railway network). The main aim of this study is the introduction of railway tourism as a strategy for development of railroad settlements in north of Iran with ecological and sustainable tourism. As the second aim, the most significant criteria of the railway-tourism were extracted from theoretical the foundation, in addition, their priority were specified by experts’ in AHP (Analytic hierarchy process) method. Moreover, in order to understand the restrictions and main problems of the local people, interviews have been conducted. In the following, Tehran – Mazandaran impassable mountainous railway has been introduced, that passes through the Alborz Mountains. This route has majority of unrivalled natural and cultural attractions, traditional habitation, and rural settlements. Despite recent spatial changes in Iran, these regions remained original and traditional. Interestingly, the railway is the only accessible transport to some of these settlements, without destructive effect on the environment. As the result, the substantial criteria were specified, and the basic issues and limitations of the locals’ life have been explained from survey and interviews. Consequently, a direct relationship has been detected between railway tourism and railroad habitation development in Tehran – Mazandaran railway that contains social, economic, physical and demographic studies. Eventually, it could be easily realized, which railway-tourism has the lowest ecological impacts despite other types of tourism in natural and rural areas. Therefore, every kind of effort from researchers to authorities in this field could be helpful in order to protect our environment.