Potential Assessment of Ecotourism Development in Dehloran Desert Area

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.

2 . Corresponding Author, Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.

3 Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

4 Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.

Abstract

Tourism industry is considered to be the largest and most diverse industry in the world. Dehloran desert region in Ilam province has unique natural and ecotourism attractions such as dunes and sandy areas and many tourist attractions, especially ecotourism. Still, the planners have not appropriately considered it. On the other hand, it is necessary to use employment-creating methods that are environment friendly and require minimal investment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the Weaknesses, Strengths, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) faced by tourists in the Abo-Ghovair desert in the Dehloran region and provide appropriate and efficient strategies. To study the ecotourism potential of the study area, the library and field information was used, and then data were analyzed using SPSS software. Then, using the SWOT analytical model, strategies are proposed in line with the situation in the region and the status quo. Finally, using the AHP model and expert opinions in the Expert Choice software environment, the most critical strategies selected as the identifying strategies among other strategies and determining the process of allocating sufficient funds for the development of advertising facilities, as well as identifying the attractions and abilities of the region through active media in the scale of the region, the province and the country. The SWOT model results showed that the final score of the internal factors (strength and weakness) is equal to 2.16. The final score of the external factors (opportunity and threat) is 2.31. According to the principles of strategic management, the strategic location of the study area was determined in the fourth area of the chart, in which defensive strategies (WT) were selected.
Extended Abstract
1-Introduction
The tourism industry as the largest and most diverse industry in the world as a source of income and job creation at the national level can be an approach to economic development in the national territory. Among the different types of tourism, ecotourism and attracting tourists who travel to the region to see the natural scenery, are possible with the least investment compared to other types of tourism. Dehloran desert region in Ilam province, like other desert regions, despite having many capabilities in the field of ecotourism and unique diverse natural attractions, is still unfamiliar to tourists and has many problems and obstacles in attracting nature; Therefore, it seems necessary to recognize ecotourism attractions and planning in accordance with the conditions of the region in order to develop tourism and achieve sustainable development. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the study area and provide the best solutions to eliminate weaknesses and threats and take advantage of strengths and opportunities.
2-Materials and Methods
In this descriptive-survey study, in Dehloran city in the southwest of Ilam province, two methods of field studies and documentary studies (library) have been used. Since the research results will be used in planning and implementation of programs in the executive department, it is recognized as a practical type. In this study, a questionnaire was used to collect data. The statistical software used includes SPSS and the analytical methods used include SWOT and analytical hierarchical analysis (AHP).
In this regard, according to the studies and surveys conducted on the internal and external environment of the area and benefiting from the opinion of experts and local people and experts and university professors related to the tourism industry, interviews were conducted and using documentary information, the most important strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to ecotourism in the Dehloran desert region were collected, then a survey was conducted through a questionnaire of 40 experts related to ecotourism in Dehloran desert region, and each of them was weighed using Expert Choice software. Finally, by calculating and analyzing them, strategies were presented to eliminate or reduce weaknesses and threats and strengthen the existing strengths and opportunities related to ecotourism in this region, and then prioritization was done by AHP.
3-Results and Discussion
Based on this research, the diversity of unique geomorphological natural attractions were identified as the most important strengths of the region. Also, the lack of statistics and information related to tourism, information and low awareness of the people of the region with tourism culture and natural environment attractions and lack of appropriate advertising to identify the capabilities of the region to tourists were identified as the most important weaknesses of the region. In terms of opportunities, the possibility of employment conditions, the possibility of creating a suitable opportunity for local people to introduce agricultural products and handicrafts and a suitable opportunity to attract educational tours and scientific tourists by identifying potentials in the region and the possibility of holding local festivals and exhibitions as the most important opportunities, also the cooperation of a few influential institutions in the development of nature tourism such as radio and education system, the weakening of local and traditional culture in the region with the arrival of tourists and the lack of participation of local people and their resistance to tourist entry were identified as the most important threats.
Based on the results of the interview and the extraction of questionnaire information, the score obtained from the internal factors evaluation matrix is equal to 2.16; this number indicates that the weaknesses of the region are more than its strengths (2.5>16.2). Also, by examining the evaluation matrix of external factors and the score obtained (2.31), it is concluded that the threats facing the region are more than the opportunities of the region (2.5>2.31). Therefore, according to the principles of strategic management, the strategic position of the study area was determined in the fourth area of the chart, according to which, defensive strategies (WT) were selected.
4-Conclusion
The results of this study show that Dehloran desert region, despite having unique natural and ecotourism attractions, has many capabilities and attractions of tourism, especially ecotourism, but as it should be, it has not been considered by planners and has weaknesses and threats. Therefore, paying attention to tourism industry, especially ecotourism in Dehloran desert region is considered as one of the important strategies for regional development, which with its positive effects such as money making, wealth creation, cultural interaction and job creation can be effective in removing some of the limitations of Dehloran desert region.           


 

Keywords

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