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SWOT-AHP-TOWS Analysis for Sustainable Ecotourism Development in the Best Area in Lorestan Province, Iran

Author

Listed:
  • Zeinab Asadpourian

    (Lorestan University)

  • Mehdi Rahimian

    (Lorestan University)

  • Saeed Gholamrezai

    (Lorestan University)

Abstract

Sustainable ecotourism development (SED) in areas with a low potential for development through other sectors, can be a sustainable income-generating activity for locals and a place for tourists to spend their free time. In this regard, planners and policymakers must focus on SED in areas with a meanwhile, if we want to develop ecotourism, we need to evaluate the existing ecotourism areas in each region. Indeed, a study is required that can follow this goal using sustainability indicators. This study was conducted to develop a model to recognize the indicators of evaluating the Ecotourism Sustainability (EES) and to fill the gap of research for SED in the west of Iran. Accordingly, we identified 30 indicators in three dimensions (economic, social, and environmental) of sustainability for EES in six eco-touristic areas in the west of Iran. The best area (Gahar Lake) was selected using the Composite Index (CI). Then, we formulated and ranked the strategies in the SWOT-AHP-TOWS analysis. The results of the CI section showed that the weight of economic indicators in EES was greater than that of other dimensions. AHP analysis revealed that the most important criteria for the SED in Gahar Lake were the opportunities in this area. Also, according to the ranking of strategies extracted in the matrix of TOWS, the most important strategy was “Advertising and introducing the beautiful nature of the lake nationally and internationally”. Our main suggestion is for Iran’s Tourism Organization to pursue more serious negotiations with international organizations for the global registration of the lake as an ecotourism zone.

Suggested Citation

  • Zeinab Asadpourian & Mehdi Rahimian & Saeed Gholamrezai, 2020. "SWOT-AHP-TOWS Analysis for Sustainable Ecotourism Development in the Best Area in Lorestan Province, Iran," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 289-315, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:152:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-020-02438-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-020-02438-0
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    2. Izabella Almirante Porto Tiburcio Rodrigues & Roberta Vianna Alves & Maria José de Oliveira Cavalcanti Guimarães & Thiago Santiago Gomes & Elen Beatriz Acordi Vasques Pacheco, 2022. "Assessment of plastic lumber production in Brazil as a substitute for natural wood," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(8), pages 9705-9730, August.
    3. Ullah, Nazim, 2021. "An Analysis of Celcom Axiata Berhad-A Review of Strategic Plan," MPRA Paper 108578, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 Jan 2021.
    4. Çağlar Kıvanç Kaymaz & Salih Birinci & Yusuf Kızılkan, 2022. "Sustainable development goals assessment of Erzurum province with SWOT-AHP analysis," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 2986-3012, March.
    5. Ullah, Nazim, 2021. "Corporate Strategy of Maxis - A Telecom Industry of Malaysia," MPRA Paper 108580, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 02 Apr 2021.
    6. Peter Bubenik & Juraj Capek & Miroslav Rakyta & Vladimira Binasova & Katarina Staffenova, 2022. "Impact of Strategy Change on Business Process Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-23, September.
    7. Marzieh Fallah & Lanndon Ocampo, 2021. "The use of the Delphi method with non-parametric analysis for identifying sustainability criteria and indicators in evaluating ecotourism management: the case of Penang National Park (Malaysia)," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 45-62, March.

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