Capability assessment and tourism development model verification of Haraz watershed using analytical hierarchy process (AHP)

Abstract

The present study aimed at assessing tourism potential of a place to meet requirements of sustainable development policies. We studied the Haraz watershed because of its particular environmental characteristics and a high potential for ecotourism. The required data for this descriptive-analytical research were collected by combining field and desktop studies. First, the ecotourism capability assessment of the area was done using Arc GIS 10.3 software based on the Hyrcanian Forest Tourism Development Model for concentrated tourism and extensive tourism. Next, the most important effective indices included (i.e., 19 indices) were determined by Delphi questionnaire and SPSS 17. Finally, AHP technique was applied to analyze the body mass of the indices in order to verify the validity of the model. The results show that 0.0044, 01.3, 3.52, and 37.71% of the study area is suitable for concentrated ecotourism (grade 1), concentrated ecotourism (grade 2), extensive ecotourism (grade 1), and extensive ecotourism (grade 2), respectively. Based on the model applied, slope, direction, and fundamentals (infrastructure) with the body masses of 0.232, 0.116, and 0.115 were identified as the first priorities. Comparing the results of this model and AHP confirms the validity of the model. To strengthen the tourism development potential of the watershed and protect its ecosystems and biodiversity, it is necessary to choose a proper development model. Failure to identify the existing capacities and the field's sensitivities can cause dissatisfaction of local residents and also damage to the ecosystem of the area.

Spatial analysis of potential ecological sites in the northeastern parts of Ethiopia using multi-criteria decision-making models

“…The spectrum of ecotourism passes nature-based, natural resources conservation, educational, economic, sociocultural well-being, and sustainable development components (Blamey 1997 ; Diamantis 1999 ; Ok 2006 ; Lee and Xue 2020 ; Xu et al 2020 ; Zabihi et al 2020 ; Dowling and Pforr 2021 ; Guo et al 2022 ). However, conservation plans and tourist activities may jeopardize the hotspot site if the number of tourists and forms of cultural activities go beyond the carrying capacity; or if it is not managed and monitored under careful plans (Sims 2010 ; Jennifer et al 2010 ; Suryabhagavan et al 2015 ; Masih et al 2018 ; Mansour et al 2020 ; Heshmati et al 2022 ). In the environmental dimension, therefore, it is indispensable to lessen the social and physical impacts of human activities via tourism on the environment.…”

Land suitability map and ecological carrying capacity for the recognition of touristic zones in the Kalat region, Iran: a multi-criteria analysis based on AHP and GIS

“…Similar works with the subject of multi-criteria evaluation of tourism in Iran just assessed the ecological capability and suitability zoning for tourism or ecotourism (e.g., Ahmadi et al 2015;Aliani et al 2017;Masih et al 2018;Kianisadr et al 2019). Most of the global researches have measured the tourism's capability through GIS-based multi-criteria methods (e.g., Aminu et al 2017;Batman and Demirel 2015;Gigović et al 2016).…”

“…Regarding tourism assessment, Gumusay et al (2016) have made a study to determine suitable areas for developing tourism along the shoreline of Istanbul using AHP and GIS integration. Furthermore, Masih et al (2018) have evaluated the ecological capability and tourism development of a mountainous zone of Iran using multi-criteria assessment and integration of AHP and GIS.…”

Destination Management for Ecotourism Activity Using Analytical Hierarchy Process

“…Basing on the multiobjective and various stakeholders involved in ecotourism, the multi-indicators and the diversity of evaluation decision makers are necessary in the process of ecotourism planning and management [31]. For that reason, the multicriteria decision-making method AHP was used.…”