Ecotourism Strategic Planning

Tourism development in to geographical areas especially ecotourism، in addition to their economic، social and cultural consequences، will also leave great environmental impacts on geographical locations. If careful preventive and proactive measures in the form of strategy formulation، setting standards and ongoing specific assessments are not taken، destructive effects of ecotourism in an extensive human and physical dimension will take place as a result of such activities. On this basis، this paper is aiming at investigating tourism in Shahid Kunani Forest Park in Boluran City and formulating effective strategies for the expansion of tourism considering all aspects of tourism such as economic، social and environmental parameters. This park is located on the lands owned by two villages named Abolvafa and Boluran of Kuhdasht city in Lorstan province. The research methodology was an integrated one which consisted survey، descriptive and analytical research methods. The initial research findings were analyzed through SWOT techniques considering 8 strengths، 9 weaknesses، 7 threats and finally 7 opportunities. As a result of this analysis 25 applied strategies were formulated and finally taking advantage from TOPSIS technique the strengths، weaknesses، opportunities and threats were ranked considering the view of officials، tourist and the residents from the neighboring villages. The results reveal that the external threats have greater impacts compared to other parameters impacting the park. Therefore، it is recommended that for the expansion of ecotourism in this region، the defensive strategies should take precedence.