Evaluating ecological capacity for development of tourism with integrated approach of AHP and GIS in the Gheshlagh tourism route of Sanandaj

The unavoidable requirement to avoid the undesirable consequences of tourism and to achieve optimal pattern of tourism development is land planning and ecological capability assessment. The purpose of this study was to identify and locate the appropriate ecotourism zones on the route of the Gheshlagh tourism in Sanandaj, Kurdistan, Iran. The research method was descriptive-analytic, library and field studies, as well as the use of GIS geographic information system. For this purpose, required layers of information including altitude, gradient, slope, vegetation and water resources were prepared. In the next step, variables were evaluated using the AHP model and experts’ opnion. Then, using spatial analyzers in the GIS environment, the outputs were derived from the reference maps, and the overlay of these maps in the GIS environment using the algebraic aggregation operator was the final output of the tourism spatial zonation.The results were calculated in five classes of utility and showed that about 20% of the region is suitable for development of tourism and about 20% of the region has the ability to develop moderately with ecological aspects. About 33% of the total area showed prohibited tourism development. The results of this research can be used as an indicator for the development of appropriate and optimal applications within the framework of economic projects in the region.