Ecotourism development in Isfahan : challenges and opportunities

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Isfahan ecotourism. This research describes the challenges of Isfahan ecotourism and explores the opportunities in this city. The research is a developing research. Data gathered through interviews, field work, using of different web sites, magazines, e-books, theses and scientific reports. This research is worked on the basis of a model and described that there must be a governmental strategic plan and framework on the basis of this model. The research is a qualitative and descriptive. Data gathered through archival records and interviews and direct observation. From conducting this research some important findings explored. It seems that as a result of findings, Isfahan province enjoys appropriate situations and advantages for developing ecotourism but they have not been introduced in previous years in a proper manner and there is not desired spatial arrangement and planning and linkage between them. Performed actions are limited to preservation and maintenance and restoration of a few historical constructions in Isfahan. According to this research there must be a comprehensive and spatial planning and framework for development of ecotourism in Isfahan. Two case studies on rural tourism development in Garmeh and Khafr villages have been researched for which a comprehensive field work was carried out. This is the first attempt in evaluating rural tourism development in the province of Isfahan. The results obtained confirm the questions of this research are: 1- Government must have the sufficient capital for tourism development. 2- Private and public investment must be considered as well. 3- There must be a national spatial and strategic plan for ecotourism development for Iran which Isfahan is part of it. 4- With regard to that model that I’ve mentioned, all the stakeholders must be shared in this strategic plan. 5- Demand and supply must be analyzed. 6- A special organization which conducts ecotourism affairs must be created. 7- Participation of people also is needed for ecotourism development. 8- All the ecotourism potentials must be analyzed and it must show on tourism maps and also all the tourism paths must be distinguished.)Validerat; 20101217 (root