Effects of Uremia Lake Drying up on Rural Tourism (Case Study: Coastal Villages and Ports)

Water resources including oceans, Lakes, rivers, Waterfalls and Ponds are major tourism destinations in the world. This paper analyzes Uremia Lake drying up effects on tourism attractions and tourism industry of the area. Applied Methodology in this research is comparative and descriptive-analytical, based on documentation and field study. Data for the study were collected using a variety of methods including questionnaires, interviews, informal discussions, observations. Sample is including local communities, tourists and experts. 220 of local community, 40 tourists’ and15 experts are surveyed. Questionnaire is comprised of closed questions. A 5-point Likert scale was used to investigating the perceptions of residents, experts and tourists. The interviews and surveys have been done around the issues related to and impacts of lake drying up in tourism industry. Research findings show that all the studied groups and lakes and shores tourist attractions have been damaged by drying up of Uremia Lake. Many attractions have been destroyed and the few that remained are in critical situation. Created Facilities on the lake shore remained unused and they are going to be destructed gradually. This has significantly reduced the number of Tourists which has led to the tourism – related jobs reduction, income reduction and increased immigration of local people. According to research findings, the best and only way to deal with current problems is to solve water crisis and restore the lake as one of the major tourist destinations of the region for tourism industry to reborn and contribute to regional development in all dimensions.