Relationship Between Tourist Education and Development Perception About Environmental Impact of Tourism Development

Abstract

In this research the quantity of tourism information and acquaintance was studied for tourism development effects on different environmental parameters in Namak Abrood, a recreational area of Iran. Findings showed that the tourists had a variety of views about the tourism activities’ effects on environmental factors. Generally, they evaluated these effects with the low and medium quantities. Study of responders’ education degrees also showed that the different individuals, aside from their education degrees, had almost similar views. From the views of tourists, the relation between quantity of chargeability and the actions of different groups (tourists, managers and institutions of tourism development and local people) was considered insignificant in decreasing of environmental quality. According to their views, all involved groups in tourism development had the same share in the decrease of environmental quality. Results from this study showed a decrease in psychological expectation level of individuals using a limited area for recreation, and also showed an increase of tourism psychological carrying capacity. On this basis (63.4 ± 8.06) present of responders, suggested 5–20 family (20–80 person) for recreational use of land with an area of one hectare, that was very higher than the current standard psychological carrying capacity of Iran (7 persons, about 2 family per hectare).