Tourism and the Environment: Issues of Concern and Sustainability of Southern Part of the Caspian Sea Coastal Areas

Abstract

Caspian Sea coastlines in Iran have been opened to tourists for ‘sun-sea-sand’ holiday purpose and have created dynamic ecological sources for many economic activities in the region. However, these coastal areas have been exposed to critical situation of losing their attractiveness due to lack of balance between tourism activities and natural environment operations. Development of sustainable tourism can be a suitable way to solve the problem. Accordingly, having public awareness about existing unfavorable environmental consequences of tourism activities in the region is the first step toward sustainability in the area. As such, the need for further contribution to and reflection of adverse environmental impacts which have been partially derived from tourism activities seems to be considered. Consequently, this paper explores negative environmental impacts of tourism in Caspian Sea Coasts in Iran. The study, subsequently, evaluates the existed regulations and policies regarding the issues in southern part of Caspian Sea coastal areas.