Strategic Environmental Assessment to Develop the Ecotourism with the Use of the SWOT Method (Case Study in the Kavir National Park)

Subject Areas : environmental management

Abdollah Salari ¹ , reza arjmandi ²

1 -
2 -

Received: 2008-04-15 Accepted : 2008-07-09 Published : 2010-10-10

Keywords: Ecotourism, Kavir National Park, Strategic assessment, SWOT Analyzes,

Abstract :

In the recent decade, Ecotourism in political and public associations and Environmental NGOs, because of its purposes has an exceptional situation and it has had a considerable growth to affect environmental views and sustainable development and gross producing incomes.   Kavir National Park is located in central deserts of Iran. It has the area of 442212 hectares and it has fantastic landscapes, rich biodiversity, many historical monuments and pleasant climate in spring and autumn. Also In this area because of its characteristics there is a beautiful sky at nights for astronomy. Main purpose of this research is to ponder the present condition of the Ecotourism in this area and recognizing strong and weak points and also opportunities and threats in the future in order to improve this industry with the change of approaches of the management in the Kavir National Park. Evaluation of the ecotourism problems were carried out by SWOT method. The total mark of attraction in Evaluating Matrix of regional factors is 2.71; this number is more than 2.5 which shows that the strong points are more than the weak points. The total mark of attraction in Evaluating Matrix of external factors is 2.86 which show that future opportunities are more than threats. This analysis shows that development of ecotourism and training in order to expand environmental public awareness, and a holistic approach study (Ecological, environmental, cultural, economic and sociological) regarding physical development of foundations are the most important strategies which should be implemented in the region.