Identifying Ecotourism Potentials Using DEMATEL-GIS Hybrid Approach. A Case Study of Mashhad Urban Area, Iran
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify the potentials of ecotourism in the Mashhad urban area using DEMATEL- GIS hybrid approach. To this end, sixteen criteria in the form of four dimensions (topography, natural, environmental and socioeconomic) were considered. Finally, ecotourism potentials were presented in maps at three levels of criteria, dimensions and final status based on the fuzzy membership functions defined. The findings of this research provide a framework for identifying various potentials of ecotourism within the research area and for implementing the plans and measures necessary for its proper development.
References
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[25] Taghvaei, M., and Aghajani, H. 2018. Tourism cartographic regionalization of Khorasan Razavi Province. Geographical Planning of Space Quarterly Journal, 8(27): 129-142.
[26] Taghvaei, M., PirMoradian, Z., and Safarabadi, A. 2012. Feasibility study of ecotourism development in Saman area of Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari Province. Geographic Space Quarterly, 12(40): 150-169.
[27] Tawousi, T., Rahimi, D., and Khosravi, M. 2014. Locating appropriate ecotourism zones, Case study: Auranamate area. Scientific Research Quarterly of Golestan University, 4(13): 19-40.
[28] Weaver, D., 2001. Ecotourism as mass tourism: contradiction or reality? The Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 42(2): 104–112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-8804(01)80022-7
[29] Ziviar, P. 2013. Feasibility study of ecotourism in Ramsar city using SWOT-FANP technique. Quarterly Research Journal of Economics and Urban Management, 4(1): 29-42.
*** Research Deputy of ACECR, Khorasan Razavi Territorial Studies. 2014.
[2] Alaeddinoglu, F. and Can, A.S. 2011. Identification and classification of nature-based tourism resources: Western Lake Van basin: Turkey. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 19: 198–207. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.05.124
[3] Ars, M.S. and Bohanec, M. 2010. Towards the ecotourism: a decision support model for the assessment of sustainability of mountain huts in the Alps. Journal of Environmental Management, 91(12): 2554–2564. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.07.006
[4] Asmamaw, D., and Gidey, E. 2018. Identification of potential eco-tourism site suitability using AHP and GIS, a case of Hugumburda forest and its Surrounding Areas, Ethiopia. Advance in Environmental Waste Management and Recycling, 1(1): 1-4.
[5] Badri, S.A., Rahmani, K., Sajadi Qidari, M. and Hassanpour, O. 2011. Strategies for Ecotourism Development in the City of Marivan. Rural Research, 2(2): 31-54.
[6] Begley, S. 1996. Beware of the humans (eco-tourism is hurting ecosystems). Newsweek: 52–54.
[7] Bo, L., Feng, Z., Li-Wen, Z., Jing-Feng, H., Zhi-Feng, J. and Gupta, D.K. 2012. Comprehensive suitability evaluation of tea crops using GIS and a modified land ecological suitability evaluation model. Pedosphere, 22(1): 122–130. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(11)60198-7
[8] Bunruamkaew, K. and Murayama, Y. 2012. Land use and natural resources planning for sustainable. Ecotourism using GIS in Surat Thani, Thailand. Sustainability, 4: 412–429.
[9] Çetinkaya, C., Kabak, M., Erbaş, M. and Eren Özceylan, E. 2018. Evaluation of ecotourism sites: a GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis. Kybernetes, 47(8): 1664-1686. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/K-10-2017-0392
[10] Cobbinah, P.B. 2015. Contextualising the meaning of ecotourism. Tourism Management Perspective, 16: 179–189. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2015.07.015
[11] Dhami, I., Deng, J., Burns, R.C., and Pierskalla, C. 2014. Identifying and mapping forest-based ecotourism areas in West Virginia—incorporating visitors’ preferences. Tourism Management, 42: 165–176. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.11.007
[12] Fennell, A.D. 2003. An introduction to the nature of tourism. Translated by Ja'far Olayya Qadikilai. Mazandaran Publications.
[13] Fung, T., and Wong, F.K.K. 2007. Ecotourism planning using multiple criteria evaluation with GIS. Geocarto International, 22(2): 87–105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10106040701207332
[14] Gigovic, L., PAmucar, D., Lukic, D., and Markovic, S. 2016. GIS-Fuzzy DEMATEL MCDA model for the evaluation of the sites for ecotourism development: A case study of Dunavski kljuc region, Serbia. Land Use Policy, 58(15): 348–365. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.07.030
[15] Hunta, C.A., Durhamb, W.H., Driscollc, L. and Honey, M. 2015. Can ecotourism deliver real economic, social, and environmental benefits? A study of the OsaPeninsula, Costa Rica. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(3): 339–357. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2014.965176
[16] Jeong, J.S., García-Moruno, L., Hernández-Blanco, J, and Javier Jaraíz-Cabanillas, F. 2014. An operational method to supporting siting decisions for sustainable rural second home planning in ecotourism sites. Land Use Policy, 41: 550–560. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.04.012
[17] Loperz, R. and Monteros, E.D. 2002. Evaluating ecotourism in natural protected areas of La Paz Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico: ecotourism or nature-based tourism? Biodiversity & Conservation, 11(9): 1539–1550.
[18] Niazmand, M. 2002. Global Image of Ecotourism in 2002. Transportation Industry Monthly Journal, 2(1): 6-18.
[19] Ohadi, S., Dorbeiki, M. and Bahmanpour, H. 2013. Ecotourism zoning in protected areas using GIS. Adv. Environ. Biol, 7(4): 677–683.
[20] Olafsdottir, G. 2013. On nature-based tourism. Tourist Studies, 13(2): 127–138.
[21] Papeli Yazdi, M.H., and Saghaei, M. 2006. Tourism, Nature and Concepts. Tehran: Side Publication.
[22] Ryngnga, P.K. 2008. Ecotourism prioritization: A geographic information system approach. South Asia Journal Tourism Herit, 1(1): 49–56.
[23] Samanta, S., and Baitalik, A. 2015. Potential site selection for eco-tourism: A case study of four blocks in Bankura district using remote sensing and GIS technology, West Bengal. International Journal of Advanced Research, 3(4): 978–989.
[24] Somarriba-Changa, M., and Gunnarsdotterb, Y. 2012. Local community participation inecotourism and conservation issues in two nature reserves in Nicaragua. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 20(8): 1025–1043.
[25] Taghvaei, M., and Aghajani, H. 2018. Tourism cartographic regionalization of Khorasan Razavi Province. Geographical Planning of Space Quarterly Journal, 8(27): 129-142.
[26] Taghvaei, M., PirMoradian, Z., and Safarabadi, A. 2012. Feasibility study of ecotourism development in Saman area of Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari Province. Geographic Space Quarterly, 12(40): 150-169.
[27] Tawousi, T., Rahimi, D., and Khosravi, M. 2014. Locating appropriate ecotourism zones, Case study: Auranamate area. Scientific Research Quarterly of Golestan University, 4(13): 19-40.
[28] Weaver, D., 2001. Ecotourism as mass tourism: contradiction or reality? The Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 42(2): 104–112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-8804(01)80022-7
[29] Ziviar, P. 2013. Feasibility study of ecotourism in Ramsar city using SWOT-FANP technique. Quarterly Research Journal of Economics and Urban Management, 4(1): 29-42.
*** Research Deputy of ACECR, Khorasan Razavi Territorial Studies. 2014.
Published
2019-06-03
How to Cite
ALIZADEH-ZOERAM, Ali; AGHAJANI, Hossein.
Identifying Ecotourism Potentials Using DEMATEL-GIS Hybrid Approach. A Case Study of Mashhad Urban Area, Iran.
Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, [S.l.], v. 10, n. 2, p. 385-395, june 2019.
ISSN 2068-7729.
Available at: <https://journals.aserspublishing.eu/jemt/article/view/3346>. Date accessed: 22 nov. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.14505//jemt.v10.2(34).14.
Section
Article
Copyright© 2024 The Author(s). Published by ASERS Publishing 2024. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of CC-BY 4.0 license.