Strategic Planning and Prioritization of Sustainable Nature Tourism ‎Development Strategies in Mangrove Forests of Khamir and Qeshm

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Postdoctoral student, Department of Environmental Science, Natural Resources Faculty, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Natural Resources Faculty, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

10.22124/gscaj.2024.25389.1264

Abstract

Sustainable nature tourism is the most appropriate form of tourism in natural ecosystems that can lead to the protection of nature and improvement in the livelihood of local residents. Therefore, planning for the development of nature tourism should be conducted in such a way that it causes the least damage to the region and its biodiversity. In this study, with the aim of developing sustainable nature tourism in the mangrove forests of Khamir and Qeshm, the strategic planning and prioritization of the strategies presented in this area were discussed using the PESTLE-SWOT model. According to the results, among the internal and external factors, opportunities have been assigned the highest weight, as well as external factors (opportunities and threats) have more points than internal factors (strengths and weaknesses). The percentage of strategies obtained in each of the strategic areas indicated that the strategies of "participatory development of nature tourism (WO)" with 32% have the highest value among the strategies studied in this area. Thus, planners and managers should improve opportunities and reduce weaknesses in this area. Based on the prioritization of strategies, the ‎zoning strategy and development of suitable recreational activities in the area (in the scope of SO) has the highest priority and the strategy of effective management of road infrastructures and ‎the access network to the region's reservoirs (in the scope of ST) has the lowest priority.‎ Therefore, the strategic planning for sustainable nature tourism development in the unique mangrove habitats of Khamir and Qeshm requires that ecosystem services be planned within the framework of a management plan based on habitat zoning, the development of nature tourism activities in this area should be the focus of attention and planning within the boundaries of management and conservation zones.

Highlights

- The strategic planning for sustainable nature tourism development in the mangrove habitats of Khamir and Qeshm must be based on habitat zoning.

- Developing nature tourism participation in the mangrove forests of Khamir and Qeshm is feasible in line with empowering the region to provide nature tourism services and promoting education- and research-based activities.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Albrecht, J. N. (2010). Challenges in Tourism Strategy Implementation in Peripheral Destinations– The Case of Stewart Island, New Zealand. Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development, 7(2), pp. 91- 110.
Alipour Ardi, M., Khodaparast, M and Forough, S. (2017). Strategic planning of sustainable nature tourism potentials in four management areas (case study: Sabalan National Natural Effect Area). Geographical Journal of Tourism Space, 7 (25), pp. 116-101. [In Persian]
Alizadeh, R., Yazidi, H and Arasteh, M. (2020). Determining sustainable tourism development strategies in coastal areas with an emphasis on nature-oriented tourism, case study: Bandar Maqam to Bandar Hasina coastal area in Hormozgan province. Geography and Development, 19 (64), pp. 215-236. [In Persian]
Arifanti, V. B., Sidik, F., Mulyanto, B., Susilowati, A., Wahyuni, T., Yuniarti, N., and Novita, N. (2022). Challenges and strategies for sustainable mangrove management in Indonesia: a review. Forests, 13(5), 695.
Arsic, S., Nikolic, D., and Zivkovic, Z. (2017). Hybrid SWOT - ANP - FANP model for prioritization strategies of sustainable development of ecotourism in National Park Djerdap, Serbia. Forest Policy and Economics, 80, 11-26.
Arsic, S., Nikolic, D., Mihajlovic, I., Fedajev, A., and Zivkovic, Z. (2018). A new approach within ANP-SWOT framework for prioritization of ecosystem management and case study of National Park Djerdap, Serbia. Ecol. Econ, 146, 85–95.
Ashok, S., Tewari, H. R., Behera, M. D., Behera, M. D and Majumdar, A. (2017). Development of ecotourism sustainability assessment framework employing Delphi, C&I and participatory methods: A case study of KBR, West Sikkim, India. Tourism Management Perspectives, 21, pp. 24-41.
Bazgir, R., Namamiyan, F., Eslambolchi, A., and Sohrabi, R. (2021). Presenting a Model for Development of Nature Tourism in Iran Country. Geography and Territorial Spatial Arrangement, 11(38), pp. 39-62. [In Persian]
Cvetković, M., Brankov, J., Ćurčić, N., Pavlović, S., Dobričić, M., and Tretiakova, T. N. (2023). ‎Protected Natural Areas and Ecotourism—Priority Strategies for Future Development in Selected ‎Serbian Case Studies. Sustainability, 15(21), 15621.‎
Danaparamita, E. D., Nadiroh and Safitri, D. (2020). The Role of Mangrove Conservation in Sustainable Tourism. KnE Social Sciences, International Conference on Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (IC-HEDS), pp. 334–342.
De Silva, L. D. I. (2021). Ecotourism as a strategy for sustainable natural resource management ‎in Meemure forest region; Sri Lanka.‎
Faraji Sobkbar, H. A., Salmani, M., Feridouni, F., Karimzadeh, H and Rahimi, H. (2010). Locating the sanitary landfill of rural waste using Analytical Network Process (ANP) model: a case study of rural areas of Qochan city. Space planning and preparation, 14 (65), pp. 127-149. [In Persian]
Farozed, M., Danehkar, A. (2013). Nature tourism in mangrove forests. Sabzineh Monthly, 8 (87), pp. 15-19. [In Persian]
Forje, G.W., Tchamba, M.N., and Eno-Nku, M. (2021). Determinants of ecotourism development in and around protected areas: The case of Campo Ma'an National Park in Cameroon. Scientific African, 11, e00663.
Hakim, L., Siswanto, D., and Makagoshi, N. (2017). Mangrove Conservation in East Java: The Ecotourism Development Perspectives. Journal of Tropical Life Science, 7(3), 277-285.
Hesam, M., Bagheri, F., & Atefi, A. (2020). Assessment of Tourism ‎Development Compliant ‎with ‎Ecotourism Principles, Case Study: ‎Guilan, Iran. Journal of Sustainable Rural ‎Development, 4 ‎‎(2), 263-‎‎276. ‎
Heydarzadeh, H., Danehkar, A. (2015). Compilation of green space management strategies in the 2nd district of Karaj city. Environmental Research, 6 (11), pp. 159-172. [In Persian]
Idajati, H., Pamungkas, A., Kukinul Siswanto, V. (2016). The Level of Participation in Mangrove Ecotourism Development, Wonorejo Surabaya. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 227, 515-520.
Ihrami Rahmila, Y and Rahman Halim, M. A. (2018). Mangrove Forest Development Determined for Ecotourism in Mangunharjo Village Semarang. E3S Web of Conferences, 73, pp. 1-5.
Jafari, Sh., Sakiyeh, Y., Dejkam, S., Alavian Petroudi, S., Yaqubzadeh, M and Danehkar, A. (2013). Development of management strategies for the protection of Miankala wetland using SWOT analysis. Wetland Ecobiology Research Quarterly, 5 (16), pp. 5-18. [In Persian]
Jafarnia, Sh., Akbarinia, M. (2014). Investigating the spatial distribution of some physical and chemical characteristics of soil and water in the mangrove forests of Qeshm Island using geostatistics. Iranian Forest and Spruce Research Quarterly, 22 (4), pp. 673-686.
Jafarnia, Sh., Hojjati, S. M. and Koch, Y. (2012). Effect of soil and water properties on vegetative characteristics of mangrove trees in Qeshm habitat of Hormozgan province. Environmental Science, 9 (4), pp. 133-148. [In Persian]
Jahani Shakib, F., Danekar, A., Alipour, M and Yousefi, E. (2015). Educational strategic planning, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran. Journal of Natural Environment, Natural Resources of Iran, 68 (2), pp. 201-212. [In Persian]
Jahanian, M., Zandi, E. (2011). Exploring the ecotourism potentials of deserts of Yazd Province, a SWOT analysis. Human Geography Research Quarterly, 42, 61-74 (In Persian).
Jiang, J. (2008). Evaluation of the potential of ecotourism to the contribute to local sustainable development, A case study of Tengtou village, China, MSc. Thesis, Massey University, New Zealand. 150.
Job, H., Peasler, F. (2013). Links between nature-based tourism, protected areas, poverty alleviation and crises: The example of Wasini Island (Kenya). Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 1-2, 18–28.
Koumparoulis, D. N. (2013). PEST Analysis: The Case of E-shop. International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences, 2(2), 31–36.
Mandic, A. 2020. Nature-based solutions for sustainable tourism development in protected natural areas: a review. Environ Syst Decis 39, 249–268.
Margaryan, L., Fredman, P. (2017). Bridging outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism in a commercial context: Insights from the Swedish service providers. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 17, 84–92.
Mashaeikhi, Z., Danekar, A., Sharzei, Gh. A and Majed, V. (2017). Evaluation of tourists' preferences for improving the environmental condition of mangrove forests using the choice test method (case study: Mangrove Biosphere Reserve). Iranian Forestry Journal, Iranian Forestry Association, 9 (2), pp. 273-287. [In Persian]
Matilainen, A., Lahdesmaki, M. (2014). Nature-based tourism in private forests: Stakeholder management balancing the interests of entrepreneurs and forest owners? Journal of Rural Studies, 35, pp. 70–79.
McCool, S. F. Lime, D. W. (2001). Tourism carrying capacity: tempting fantasy or useful reality. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 9(5), pp. 372- 388.
Moharram Nejad, N. (2006). Environmental management and planning. Author, Tehran, pp. 1-344.[In Persian]
Murovati, M., Akbarian, S. (2019). Strategic planning of sustainable development of ecotourism using SWOT and ANP integrated model (Case study: Dereh Anjir and Nei Baz Wildlife Sanctuary). Environmental Science and Technology Quarterly, 21 (11), pp. 159-172. [In Persian]
Murtini, S., Kurniawati, A. (2018). Mangrove area development strategy Wonorejo as ecotourism in Surabaya. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 953 (1), p. 012174). IOP Publishing.
Nuñez-Torres, A., Arones-Huarcaya, A., and Yarasca-Aybar, C. (2023). Strategies for territorial ‎tourism planning in natural protected areas (NPAs): Alto Mayo Protected Forest (BPAM), Peru. ‎City, Territory and Architecture, 10(1), 1-22.‎
Petrosian, H., Danehkar, A. (2012). Identification of effective criteria in the spatial distribution of mangrove forests (case study: mangrove forests). Environmental Science Quarterly, 53, pp. 81-90. [In Persian]
Pyke, S., Hartwell, H., Blake, A., and Hemingway, A. (2016). Exploring well-being as a tourism. Tourism Management, 55, pp. 94–105.
Rifdan, R., Arhas, S. H., and Suprianto, S. (2023). Mangrove Forest Ecotourism Program Development Tongke-tongke in Sinjai Regency. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(5), 2556-2562.
Saaty, T. L. (1996). Decision Making with Dependence and Feedback: The Analytic Network Process. RWS Publications, Pittsburgh, PA. pp. 1-370.
Samal, R., Dash, M. (2023). Ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, ‎and local livelihoods: ‎Understanding the convergence and ‎divergence. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, ‎‎11 (1), 1-20. ‎
Sanchez-Prieto, M. C., Luna-González, A., Espinoza-Tenorio, A., and González-Ocampo, H. A. (2021). Planning Ecotourism in Coastal Protected Areas; Projecting Temporal Management Scenarios. Sustainability, 13(14), 7528.
Sobhani, P., Danehkar, A. (2022). Investigating the tourism climate conditions in the mangrove forests of Iran using the Tourism Comfort Climate Index (TCI) and the Vacation Climate Index (HCI). Journal of Natural Environment, 75, pp. 29-45. [In Persian]
Sobhani, P., Danehkar, A. (2023). Natural features and management areas of Khamir and Gheshm mangrove forests. Iran Nature, 8(4),pp. 97-112. [In Persian]
Sobhani, P., Esmaeilzadeh, H. (2021). Evaluating the environmental effects of development on the geography of the forbidden hunting area of Elvand by presenting optimal strategies. Environmental Research, 12 (24), pp. 53-66. [In Persian]
Sobhani, P., Esmaeilzadeh, H., Sadeghi, S. M. M., Marcu, M. V., and Wolf, I. D. (2022). Evaluating ecotourism sustainability indicators for protected areas in Tehran, Iran. Forests, 13(5), 740.
Sobhani, P., Esmaeilzadeh, H., Wolf, I. D., Marcu, M. V., Lück, M and Sadeghi, S. M. M. (2023). Strategies to Manage Ecotourism Sustainably: Insights from a SWOT-ANP Analysis and IUCN Guidelines. Sustainability,15, pp. 1-23.
Sobhani, P., Liriaei, L and Sayahnia, R. (2020). Identifying effective factors in the development of sustainable tourism and presenting a strategic model in the coastal areas of Ramsar. Scientific Quarterly of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 10 (1), pp. 175-193. [In Persian]
Sorensen, F., Barenholdt, J. O. (2020). Tourist practices in the circular economy. Annals of Tourism Research, 58, 1-14.
Sorensen, F., Grindsted, T. S. (2021). Sustainability approaches and ‎nature tourism ‎development. Annals of Tourism Research, 91, ‎‎103307. ‎
 Sulistiono, M. A., Imran, Z., Simanjuntak, C. PH. (2021). The potential development of ecotourism based on mangrove ecosystem in Ujung Pangkah of Gresik Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia. Earth and Environmental Science, 800, pp. 1-15.
Tabatabaei, H. 2022. Investigating the role of ecotourism strategic planning on the sustainable development of tourism in Golestan province. The first national conference on health tourism, nature tourism and nature therapy in Beski. pp. 1-14. [In Persian]
Thapa, K., King, D., Banhalmi-Zakar, Z., and Diedrich, A. (2022). Nature-based tourism in protected areas: a systematic review of socio-economic benefits and costs to local people. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 29(7), pp. 625-640.
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES). (2018). What is ‎Ecotourism? Washington, DC: ‎TIES. 1-80. ‎http://www.ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism.‎
Yuksel, I., Dagdeviren, M. (2007). Using the analytic network process (ANP) in a SWOT ‎analysis - a case ‎study for a ‎textile firm. Inf. Sci, 177, pp. 3364-3382.‎
Yuxi, Z., Linsheng, Z. (2020). Identifying conflict tendency between nature-based tourism development and ecological protection in China. Ecological Indicators, 109, pp. 1-14.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics