Locating of Ecotourism Development in the Village of Ziyarat in Gorgan Using GIS

The present research attempted to represent a clear picture of the capabilities and capacities of the under study area. The research method was descriptive-analytic, and the study was performed using GIS software. The required data layers including altitude maps, slope, slope direction, distance from the city, distance from the road, distance from the waterways, vegetation density, relative humidity, soil depth, soil texture, distance from the fault, distance from water resources and climatic parameters (temperature, precipitation and climate classes) were gathered. Then, by consolidation and overlaying the data layers in GIS area, the final map was drawn in order to classify the ecotourism activities in the area in three various zones (class 1 and 2 and inappropriate). The results from the extensive ecotourism final map showed that the maximum zone of class 2 equals 39.45 percent and the maximum zone from the concentrated ecotourism, class 2 equals 94.56 percent. Prioritizing ecotourism zones was done using the results of Choice Expert software, and it was found that the area was suitable for widespread and concentrated ecotourism. Finally, some suggestions were proposed for creating a balance between ecotourism and conservation in order to avoid damaging the area and so, ecotourism development.