Recognition and adaptation of climatic areas in Chaharmahaland Bakhtiari province of Iran in terms of tourism climate comfort

Climatic phenomena play a significant role in development of the tourism industry. An appropriate climate may bring positive responses of tourists. The tourists plan their journeys considering the climatic and weather conditions of their destination. Chaharmahaland Bakhtiari Province is a mountainous region in west of Iran which enjoys various distribution of climatic elements especially rainfall and temperature due to topographic diversity. Statistical methods of factor analysis and cluster analysis were applied to obtain a precise recognition about the climatic zones of the province. 26 climatic variables were selected from six existing weather stations in the province. The results obtained from factor analysis showed that province climate is affected by four climatic factors which are listed here in order of significance: rainfall factor, serene sky factor, thermal factor and humidity factor. Then, four climatic regions were distinguished in the province by means of cluster analysis that was administrated on matrix of factor grades. At last, using PET index, evaluation and comparison were carried out for climate comfort at stations representing each climatic region during a year. The results revealed that May was the best month in terms of climate comfort conditions. Thermal stresss began from June and reached their peaks in July and August. Boroujen and Kouhrang stations entered the climate comfort range in September while same conditions happened for Shahr-e-kord and Lordegan in October