An Analysis of the Infrastructure for the Development of Rural Ecotourism in Ardabil Province

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Bahram Imani
• Saideh Alavi

Mohaghegh Ardebili University, Iran

10.22067/jrrp.v11i4.2207.1053

Abstract

Purpose- Ecotourism is a foundation of sustainable development of societies and a way for conserving natural landscapes and reservoirs. In this regard, rural tourism, especially rural ecotourism, is a sort of tourism that can be highly effective in the revival of villages considering the natural and cultural capacities of these areas. So, this research analyzes the infrastructure for the development of rural ecotourism in Ardabil province, Iran.
Design/methodology/approach- The research is an applied study in goal and an analytical study in nature. The research realm includes 311 villages with a population of over 500 people in Ardabil province. The research adopted the TOPSIS model. The criteria used to measure the ecotourism potential included healthcare, transportation infrastructure, business and services, information technology, energy, and cultural, sports, and religious infrastructure. Weights were assigned by experts to the criteria based on their importance.
Finding- The results showed that the villages with the highest potential for the development of rural ecotourism in the counties of Ardabil, Bileh Savar, Parsabad, Khalkhal, Sareyn, Kowsar, Germi, Meshgin Shahr, Nir, and Namin included Somarin, Gug Tappeh, Shahrak-e Gharbi, Shal, Ardi Musa, Zarjabad, Qarah Aghaj-e Pain, Alni, Virseq, and Anbaran-e Olya. In this regard, the village of Anbaran-e Olya in Namin exhibits the best performance across the province with a CL score of 1. Out of all studied villages, 86 percent were placed in the moderate and low category, 2 percent in the very high category, 8 percent in the high category, and 4 percent in the very low category.
Research limitations/implications - The main limitation of the research is the lack of access to up-to-date information.
Practical implications- Given the results, it is recommended to invest in villages that have the potential for ecotourism, thereby contributing to attracting tourists and converting them into rural tourism hubs.
Originality/value- The analysis of the potential of Ardabil province, which is a tourist destination, for the development of rural ecotourism can help identify touristy villages to focus on their prosperity.

Keywords

• Ecotourism
• Village
• TOPSIS
• Ardabil Province

---

References

1. Abbasi, S., Mirdamadi, S., Omidi Najaf Abadi, M., & Farajollah Hosseini, S. (2022). Designing a model of rural ecotourism entrepreneurship development with a qualitative approach. Geography and Development, 20(66), 131-160. [In Persian] https://doi:10.22111/j10.22111.2022.6716
2. Ano (2011a). Encyclopdia of Iran's villages. [In Persian]
3. Ano (2011b). The identification list of villages in Ardabil province. [In Persian]
4. Anonymous. (2016). Statistical Book. [In Persian]
5. Asadpourian, Z., Rahimian, M., & Asadpourian, S. (2020). SWOT-AHP-TOWS analysis for sustainable ecotourism development in the best area in Lorestan Province, Iran. Social Indicators Research, 152, 289–315.
6. Barkauskiene, K., & Sniesk, V. (2013). Ecotourism as an integral part of sustainable tourism development. Economics and Management, 18 (3), 499-456. https://etalpykla.lituanistikadb.lt/object/LT-LDB-0001:J.04~2013~1390741998508/
7. Blangy, S., & Wood, M.E. (1993). Developing and implementing ecotourism guidelines for wildlands and neighboring communities, In: Lindberg, K., Hawkins, D.E., (Eds.), Ecotourism: a Guide for Planners and Managers, Vermont, North Bennington, 32–54.
8. Bostanchi, A. (2019). Strategies for the development of creative ecotourism: The case of Darehkan and Solqan (M.Sc. Thesis). Tehran: Tehran Science and Culture University Press. [In Persian]
9. Cobbinah, P. B. (2015). Contextualising the meaning of ecotourism. Tourism Management Perspectives, 16, 179-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2015.07.015
10. Cobbinah, P.B., Amenuvor, D., Black, R., & Peprah, CH. (2017). Ecotourism in the Kakum Conservation Area, Ghana: Local politics, practice and outcome. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 20, 34-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2017.09.003
11. Davari, R. (2017). Ecotourism and its role in sustainable regional development: The case of Kalat County (M.Sc. Thesis). Ferdows, Iran: South Khorasan Payamnoor University. [In Persian]
12. Ehsani, A. (2018). Ecotourism: A way for sustainable tourism. Tehran: Mahkameh Press. [In Persian]
13. Erfani, A., & Hemmati, M. (2014). Ranking effective factors on banking resources in Semnan province by TOPSIS method. Monetary & Financial Economics, 21(8), 44-62. [In Persian] https://jm.um.ac.ir/article_29682.html
14. Ghanbari, S., Fatahi, A., & Nasiri, K. (2019). Measurement tourists' satisfaction of the quality of tourism services using the model Kano-SERVQUAL, Case study: Papi villages, Khoramabad Township, Lorestan province. Geographical Planning of Space, 9(33), 115-130. [In Persian] http://gps.gu.ac.ir/article_91876.html
15. Ghorbani, R., Zadvali, F., & Zadvali, S. (2014). Assessment of the negative effects of tourism development on tourist destination villages: The case of Kandovan Village in Oskou County. Journal of Regional Planning, 4(15), 103-118. [In Persian] https://jzpm.marvdasht.iau.ir/article_583.html
16. abibi Kaveshkouhi, H., Monshizade, R., & Razavian, M. (2021). Survey of rural tourism status and its role in rural development with emphasis on entrepreneurship (Case study: The villages of Amlash and Rudsar). Geographical Planning of Space, 11(39), 239-260. [In Persian] http://gps.gu.ac.ir/article_134119.html
17. Hajinejhad, A., & Aghaei, V. (2013). Ecotourism developing optimum strategies in Ardebil province by strategic planning method. Journal of Studies of Human Settlements Planning, 8(22), 15-35. ([In Persian] https://www.sid.ir/paper/175822/fa
18. Hajinejhad, A., Aghaei, V., & Hajipour, N. (2019). Evaluation the role of awareness by tourism attractions on ecotourism development (Case study: Awareness assessment of experts and tourists of Ardebil province). Journal of Geography and Regional Development, 16(2), 125-151. [In Persian] https://jgrd.um.ac.ir/article_33090.html
19. Hamzeh, F. (2018). Analysis of ecotourism zones using the TOPSIS model: The case of Firuzkuh County in Tehran province, Iran. New Insights in Human Geography, 10(2), 191-202. [In Persian] https://geography.garmsar.iau.ir/article_539279.html
20. Kamyabi, S., Rajaee Rizi, M. (2018). Ecotourism Development Strategies in Chahardangeh District of Sari County. Journal of Research and Rural Planning, 6(4), 107-126. https://www.magiran.com/paper/1784706
21. Kasehgar Mohammadi, S., Hashemi, Y., & Mohamadi, A. (2016). Management strategies for sustainable development of ecotourism in Tonekabon. Journal of Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design, 3(2), 11-22. [In Persian] https://jsaud.sru.ac.ir/article_736.html
22. Khosrowjerdi, M., & Nouripour, M. (2017). Identifying rural tourism development strategies for Doroodzan District: The integration of strategic planning and artificial neural network techniques. Journal of Spatial Planning, 21(1), 167-196. [In Persian] https://hsmsp.modares.ac.ir/article-21-11134-fa.html
23. Kia Kojori, D., & Isa Kakroodi, N. (2015). Feasibility study of the rural ecotourism in Javaherdeh Village of Ramsar using SWOT. Natural Ecosystems of Iran, 6(2), 111-124. [In Persian] https://www.sid.ir/paper/215267/fa
24. Lonn, P., Mizoue, N. Ota, T., Kajisa, T., & Yoshida, S. (2018). Evaluating the Contribution of Community-based Ecotourism (CBET) to Household Income and Livelihood Changes: A Case Study of the Chambok CBET Program in Cambodia. Ecological Economics, 151, 62-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.04.036
25. Lotfi, H. (2019). Analysis of potential for the development of rural tourism in Bojnurd County. Space Economy and Rural Development, 8(2), 145-170. [In Persian] http://serd.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3405-fa.html
26. Maleki, M., Sartipipour, M., Tahbaz, M., & Maleki, A. (2013). Feasibility study on the development of ecotourism in rural residential areas of Dareh Shahr. Space Economy and Rural Development, 2(6), 74-96. [In Persian] https://serd.khu.ac.ir/article-1-1782-fa.html
27. Mogheimehfar, F. (2011). Fitting mount-climbers' behavioral pattern with the sustainability criteria of ecotourism in Iran: The case of Isfahan province (M.Sc. Thesis in Development Planning). Tehran: Allameh Tabataba'i University Press. [In Persian]
28. Mohammadi, M., Majdi, A., Hosseini, A. (2022). Tourism Development in Rural Areas; Systematic Review of Studies. Journal of Research and Rural Planning, Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript Available Online from 16 June 2022.
29. Mokhtari, M., Tayebi, S., & Mirmohammad Sadeghi, J. (2016). Investment priorities on services supply based on fuzzy TOPSIS method: The case of Iran's A.T. Organization. The Economic Research, 16(1), 121-140. [In Persian] https://ecor.modares.ac.ir/article-18-3010-fa.html
30. Najafi Kani, A., & Najafi, K. (2020). Examining the challenges and hindrances in development of tourism in rural areas with an emphasis on hydrotherapy (Case study: villages of Larijan District, Amol County. Geographical Planning of Space, 10(37), 245-258. [In Persian] http://gps.gu.ac.ir/article_125059.html
31. Navabakhsh, M., & Rafieifar, M. (2010). The effect of tourism on the socio-economic life of people in Ziarat Village. Environmental-based Territorial Planning, 3(9), 115-132. [In Persian] https://www.sid.ir/paper/130466/fa
32. Nazmfar, N., Eshghei, A., Alavi, S., & Pourmoradian, S. (2019). Analysis of travel and tourism competitiveness index in middle-east countries. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 24(6), 501-513. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2019.1590428
33. Niksirat, M., Baghiani, H., & Ghadiri Masoum, M. (2015). Ecotourism effects on sustainable development of dessert rural areas set in rural villages Dhbala Shirkooh, Yazd province. Geography and Environmental Planning, 26(3), 131-148. [In Persian] https://gep.ui.ac.ir/article_18740.html
34. Ocampo, L., Ebisa, J.A., Jefferson Ombe, J., & Escoto, M.G. (2018). Sustainable ecotourism indicators with fuzzy Delphi method – A Philippine perspective. Ecological Indicators, 93, 874-888. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.05.060
35. Olson. D. L. (2004). Comparison of Weights in TOPSIS Models, Mathematical and Computer Modelling, 40(7-8), 721-727.
36. Omarzdeh, D., Pourmoradian, S., Valizadeh Kamran, K., Feyzizadeh, B., & Khalagehi, H. (2022). Nature-based susceptibility assessment using GIS spatial decision-making systems in West Azerbaijan province. Geography and Planning, 26(79), 243-256. [In Persian] https://journals.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_11590.html
37. Popescu, R. I., & Zamfir, A. (2011). “Strategic Role of Ecotourism for Romania’s Regional Development”. In the Scale of Globalization. Think Globally, Act Locally, Change Individually in the 21st Century, 250-258. Ostrava: University of Ostrava.
38. Rafeie Darani, H., & Shahnoushi, N. (2010). Farmers situation encountering uncertainty: Application of multiple criteria programming. Agricultural Economic Research, 2(4), 151-164. [In Persian] https://www.sid.ir/paper/158861/fa
39. Rafiee, M., & Majidi, A. (2021). Feasibility study of rural ecotourism (Case study: Qaleh Qafeh Pa'in village in Minoodasht). Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas, 2(1), 59-75. [In Persian] https://gsma.lu.ac.ir/article-1-64-fa.html
40. Rezvani, M., Nickravesh, F., & Darban Astaneh, A. (2021). Assessing the ecotourism development capability in rural areas with an emphasis on local risk-taking in decision-making: The case study of Mazandaran province. Town and Country Planning, 13(2), 587-618. [In Persian] https://jtcp.ut.ac.ir/article_84057.html
41. Sajasi Qeidari, H., Sadeghlou, T., & Eftekhari, A. (2015). Assess and prioritize ecotourism entrepreneurship developemnt strategies in rural region (Case Study: River Valley Tourism in Tehran province). Geographical Planning of Space, 5(16), 71-88. [In Persian] http://gps.gu.ac.ir/article_10918.html
42. Salehi, S., Ebrahimi, L., & Fattahi, N. (2018). Local Participation and Ecotourism Development (An Empirical Study in Jannat Roodbar Village). Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 6(3), 121-136. [In Persian] https://ee.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_4746.html?lang=fa
43. Santarém, F., Silva, R., & Santos, P. (2015). Assessing ecotourism potential of hiking trails: A framework to incorporate ecological and cultural features and seasonality. Tourism Management Perspectives, 16, 190–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2015.07.019
44. Schweinsberg, S., Darcy, S., & Wearing, S. L. (2018). Repertory grids and the measurement of levels of community support for rural ecotourism development. Journal of Ecotourism, 17(3), 239- 251. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2018.1502936
45. Sepahvand, F., Karimi, S., & Gholamrezaei, S. (2021). Sustainable ecotourism development strategies based on the potentials of local communities in Kahman Tourist Area in Selseleh County. Journal of Tourism and Development, 10(2), 185-199. [In Persian] http://www.itsairanj.ir/article_138636.html
46. Seydaei, S., Moradi, N., & Ghayoor, H. (2013). Investigating and analyzing of ecotourism attractions and potentials in Urmia Township using SWOT strategic model. Geographical Researches, 28(1), 107-142. [In Persian] https://georesearch.ir/article-1-511-fa.html
47. Sultanzadeh, H. (2006). Who is an ecotourist? What is ecotourism? Jahan-e Eghtesad, 1(20), 1-12. [In Persian]
48. Swangjang, K., & Kornpiphat, P. (2021). Does ecotourism in a Mangrove area at Klong Kone, Thailand, conform to sustainable tourism? A case study using SWOT and DPSIR. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23(11), 15960-15985. https://doi.org/1007/s10668-021-01313-3
49. Taghdisi, A., Soltani, Z., & Kiyani, S. (2014). The role of ecotourism in job opportunities and income. Geographical Researches, 28(4), 137-152. [In Persian] http://georesearch.ir/article-1-438-fa.html
50. Tavallaei, S., Riyahi, V., Afrakhte, H., & Shabani, A. (2013). Review of Capabilities and Solutions on Rural Tourism Development in District of Kahak in Qom Province. Human Geography Research, 45(4), 103-118. [In Persian] https://jhgr.ut.ac.ir/article_36138.html?lang=en
51. Varesi, H., Sarvar, H., Mobaraki, O., & Abdolahzadeh, M. (2012). The Possibility Compare Ecotourism Attractive Ardabil Province.Geography and Planning, 16(40), 175-199. [In Persian] https://geoplanning.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_92.html?lang=en
52. Wang, S. H., Lee, M. T., Château, P. A., & Chang, Y. C. (2016). Performance indicator framework for evaluation of sustainable tourism in the Taiwan Coastal Zone. Sustainability, 8 (7), 1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su8070652
53. Xiang, C., & Yin, L. (2020). Study on the rural ecotourism resource evaluation system. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 20, 101131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2020.101131
54. Zalaghi, S., Amiri, A., Moradi, H. (2022). Proposing a Structural Equation Model for Feasibility of Rural Tourism Development (Case Study: Gaikan Village of Aligudarz County). Journal of Research and Rural Planning, 11(1), 41-58. https://jrrp.um.ac.ir/article/view/article_40822.html
55. Zarabi, A., & Safarabadi, A. (2014). Assessment of sustainable ecotourism development in Kermanshah City. Geography and Planning, 17(46), 147-170. [In Persian] https://geoplanning.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_807_1.html