Providing a new approach to assessing tourism suitability in Iran (case study: Badareh City, Ilam Province, Zagros Region)

Abstract

Tourism suitability in Iran is evaluated using a systematic model in the form of two macro scales (extensive and intensive). The purpose of this study was to introduce a new approach in this regard based on the capabilities of all components of tourism land-uses and in accordance with new techniques and methods of assessment. Evaluation criteria were distributed in two general and specific groups using fuzzy logic. General criteria were involved in the evaluation of all tourist land-uses, but specific criteria were specific to the evaluation of a particular land-use. The weight of land-use evaluation criteria, the weight of general criteria relative to the specific criteria as well as the weight of land-uses were determined in assessing the total tourism suitability of the region based on the ANP and Delphi techniques. Finally, the capability of each tourism specific land-use and the total tourism capabilities of the region were assessed based on the layers of specific and general criteria using the WLC linear approach, and then, along with other land-uses of the region, was explored using the MOLA exploratory method. The area allocated to five land-uses of climbing, picnic and camping, kite and gliders, rock climbing and snowboarding were 61.8, 2, 4.2 and 4.3 and 4 percent, respectively. The value for visiting archaeological and cultural assets and the average total value of tourism in the region were determined to be 178.5 and 47 (in the fuzzy range of 0-255), respectively. Providing accurate assessment of tourism suitability using the cluster structure based on their respective land-use capabilities and through the use of digital multi-factor evaluation techniques with fuzzy logic and ANP weighting technique are the benefits of this new approach.