Investigating the capabilities of Swadekoh nature tourism

Dissertation to receive Master's degree (M.A)

Trend: Geography and Tourism Planning

Dissertation abstract (including summary, objectives, implementation methods and results obtained):

This research has been carried out under the title of investigating the potential of nature tourism in Sawadkoh. The purpose of this research is to identify and introduce the capabilities and potentials of nature tourism in the region of Sawadkoh with the aim of preserving the existing natural resources and their continuity and sustainability and strengthening the ecotourism potential of the region, identifying the problems and limitations of the region in the part related to tourism and ecotourism in It is aimed at increasing the number of tourists and further prosperity in the region. In this research, two research questions were answered:

1- Is the region in a suitable position in terms of ecotourism resources and attractions?

2- Are the existing facilities and infrastructure suitable for the development of ecotourism in the region?

The current research is an applied research and two library-documentary and field methods have been used to collect information. The swot method was used and based on this, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were analyzed. The studies and investigations showed that the region is very rich in terms of ecotourism resources and attractions and has the ability to attract tourists and develop nature tourism and become a nature tourism hub at the regional, national and even international level. It creates job opportunities and increases the income of residents on the one hand and the development of ecotourism in the region has taken a constructive step.

Key words: natural resources, ecotourism, Suadkoh, ecotourist

Today, tourism is introduced as the largest industry in the world and at the same time it is considered as one of the main sources of exchange and earning foreign currency and employment in many developed and developing countries. The growth and development of tourism has a two-way consequence. Due to its inherent capabilities, this industry can improve the economic and social conditions of the society, and its rapid and uncontrollable growth can lead to the destruction of the environment and the loss of local identity and traditional culture. Ecotourism is a relatively new trend in the tourism industry. The natural environment, livelihood and traditional ways of life, beautiful nature and scenery are the main goals and tourist attractions of this type of tourism. Ecotourists who travel with their own motivations to the natural and unspoiled areas of the planet will gain a profitable business. They become familiar with the cultural-environmental fields, the nature of each region and country and join nature lovers and protectors.

Nature tourism usually has an important cultural and local content and brings people back to the society and evokes a sense of commitment in order to protect natural resources and traditional culture. The World Tourism Organization has predicted that in 2020, more than 50% of tourists will be ecotourists. Sustainable tourism and biotourism are various terms that are used for nature tourism or ecotourism.

Ecotourism is a type of tourism that is based on traveling to natural areas that are relatively damaged (Sajjadian, Mahyar and Nahid, 2018). This industry is considered a powerful tool for the economic development of less developed countries. For example, between 1990-2000, the net income of some of these countries from tourism grew by 154% annually, which is more than twice the growth in developed countries. According to the International Ecotourism Association, nature tourism is responsible travel to natural areas. which leads to the preservation of the environment and the sustainability of the well-being of the local people.In Iran, based on the proactive approach of ecotourism based on reducing the negative effects of nature tourism and paying serious attention to increasing its positive burden, it is necessary to consider "community-oriented ecotourism" as a basic strategy in the development and promotion of natural tourism, and the process of policy making, planning, implementation and management of natural tourism plans and projects should be organized and guided in such a way that, on the one hand, the growth and development of this part of the tourism industry is accompanied by the preservation and promotion of environmental sustainability indicators in the areas and axes of natural tourism, and on the other hand, Basically, all matters of implementation and exploitation of tourist attractions should be done based on attendance and with the focus on the active participation of the population and communities.

Undoubtedly, the country of Iran with its many natural attractions, different cultural species, biodiversity and diverse climate and having four seasons will be one of the destinations for nature tour in the future. We have this opportunity for free.

1-2 statement of the problem

As we know that man and nature are an inseparable combination, man is born in nature, lives in nature and dies in nature. Ecotourism is briefly defined like this. Ecotourism is a responsible trip to natural areas that, while protecting the environment, also stabilizes the health of the local community. Ecotourism acts as a common field for creating collaborative efforts and guiding the path of tourists who intend to gain experience and learn about natural areas and different cultures. Today, nature tourism has a special place among different types of tourism and has a significant growth, and in the last twenty years, we have seen the rapid expansion of nature tourism activities all over the world, and it is expected that the intensity of this expansion will also increase. Since Mazandaran province has a wide range of natural resources suitable for tourism development. Therefore, it is possible to provide a proper platform for the sustainable development of tourism in the region with a careful planning and with the abundance of natural factors (climate, geological forms, forests, etc.)

The area of ??Swad Kouh is very rich in terms of natural attractions. Beautiful mountain landscapes, winding rivers to beautiful waterfalls, lush forests, historical caves, dams and beautiful mountain roads and hiking trails and pleasant summer cottages have displayed a manifestation of God-given greatness that attracts many nature lovers every year. With three cities named under water, Pol Sefid and Alasht, Sawad Kouh city has many natural and cultural attractions that cater to all types of domestic and foreign tourists with different tastes, from nature lovers to those interested in history and ancient culture, health tourists and all kinds of nature tours. Finally, we can say that for every age, motivation and interest, we can plan a trip from half-day and one-day to several days. Hence, mountain literacy can be considered as a big pole in the country's ecotourism activities. In this research, in addition to identifying and investigating the ecotourism potentials and tourism facilities of Sawad Koh city, by examining the strengths, weaknesses and threats, the opportunities for the development of ecotourism in Sawad Koh city, using the SWOT model, practical solutions for ecotourism in this region have been presented. including provincial and local.

This part of the tourism industry has two main characteristics.

Its growth and prosperity is directly related to environmental factors and conditions.

Ecotourism needs human resources before welfare facilities and accommodation, and for this reason, it does not need to attract heavy investments and can create many job opportunities.