Evaluation and Analysis of Urban Parks and Eco-tourism Industry and Provided Strategic Plan by SWOT (Case study: Khorshid Park in Mashhad)

Subject Areas : Environmental acriculture

Mohammad Hossein Jahangir ¹ , Mohammad Fakur ²

1 - Assistant Professor, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. *(Corresponding Author)
2 - Master of Science in Ecohydrology, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2016-11-07 Accepted : 2017-08-16 Published : 2020-02-20

Keywords: SWOT Matrix, Khorshid forest park, Analytical Hierarchy, Ecotourism, Mashhad city,

Abstract :

Background and Purpose:In the past several decades, the ecotourism industry has a special place in the community nature and the environment, sustainable development and local revenues with significant growth. In this article, because of natural landscapes and pristine, and also because of the elevated area of clean air and a beautiful view of the city of Mashhad in the evening, the Khorshid forest park has a high potential for tourists attracting. Due to the large area and the local environment, this area has the visitors and tourists such as climbers during much of the year. Used methods:The aim of this paper is to examine the current situation of tourism and ecotourism area from different directions (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) which has created a mechanism to improve the situation. Studies in this paper based on the SWOT matrix analysis and analytic hierarchy process AHP have been done. Findings: According to the scores obtained from the final sum of internal factors, weights of strengths (with a final weight of 3.96) were found to be greater than the weaknesses, which indicates that the strengths of the park were greater than its weaknesses, as well as the existing opportunities, the threats are more that using the opportunities and strengths available to improve the current situation, park tried to provide the satisfaction of tourists more than ever. Discussion and Conclusion:According to calculations made and matrix analysis of SWOT, the Khorshid forest park showed the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the development of ecotourism are more. As a result, the park has a high potential to develop an ecotourism industry that requires planning and management to attract tourists and the nature of the ecological range of the region.

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