Analysis of Effective Factors on Ecotourism Development in Desert Areas of Iran

By hearing the name of desert، more than anything else، cruel، coarse and dry environment is imagined. In the general approach، desert is known as an ecosystem with water scarcity، rare of plant cover and sand covered areas. The opposite of this approach rises from a systematic approach to the desert landscape which involves high potential of desert with special socioeconomic conditions and eco-geomorphic landforms. In the cultural perspective، the deserts are cradle of prophets of Allah. Revelation voice has been received by messengers in the sand dunes، desert caves and dust storms. So، deserts are natural-cultural heritages for each land. In this article، the capability of desert as a great source for ecotourism activities which leads to sustainable development of these environments has been reviewed. In order to analyze the data، indicators of economic، environmental and social have been recognized using expert opinion. Factor analysis was used for interpreting the data. The results of the factor analysis showed that five factors contribute to the development، physical development، environmental awareness، population growth and rising land prices. The present study was designed to investigate and assess various aspects of ecotourism، sustainable desert، while taking advantage of a library of information and resources. This research was carried out with the help of the Delphi algorithm to determine the objectives and various aspects of sustainable ecotourism in Iran. Taking advantage of the experts، dimensions and indicators of ecotourism was determined according to Table 3. For the method 15 experts in five universities (Tehran، Mashhad، Isfahan، Yazd and Shiraz) were selected and a questionnaire was filled. People were asked to answer the aspects (both positive and negative) of developing ecotourism in arid desert country in three ecological (environmental)، economic and social issues. The data of experts، the economic component of 11، 23 and 14 elements of environmental and social factors were identified and separated. As mentioned in the methodology، in order to examine ecotourism impacts on wilderness areas، 11 economic components، and 23 social components and 14 environmental components were identified. Factor analysis was used to determine their effects. The first step is to ensure the correct application of this method. KMO of the tool was equal to 0. 795. The value demonstrates acceptable internal consistency of the components. Bartlett''s test with a significance level of acceptable (sig <0. 000) components showed suitable for performing factor analysis. Table 1. Results KMO and Bartlett''s test for performance analysis Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy 0. 759 Bartlett''s Test of Sphericity Approx. Chi-Square 1. 312 Df 435 Sig 0. 000 Ecotourism potential in arid areas is important to achieve stable development and become an important component of economic development in the deserts. The recent spread of tourism in desert areas has resulted in many positive and negative effects. The present study examines the effects of ecotourism on the sustainable development of desert areas. Thus، 44 elements in three groups of economic، social and environmental issues were studied. Results showed that the first factor، the development of partnerships، particularly with the amount of 8. 355، 24. 325% of the total variance is explained by the components. The highest value of this factor that increase people''s participation in natural resource management on the sustainable development of ecotourism is for desert. The amount of 6. 534، 17. 031% of the variance components are allocated to managing physical changes. Therefore، this component represents the physical changes that may contribute to the development of ecotourism in desert areas. Increase in the environmental awareness has the value of 5. 721، 12. 304% of the total variance and factors influencing its components are associated with providing public and professional educational opportunities. Population growth factor with a value of 3. 598، explain about 8. 5% of the total variance. Ultimately، increase in the amount of land prices، especially 2. 3، accounted for about 7. 6% of the total variance of the variables. Evaluation results show that ecotourism combine positive and negative impacts and host communities and local natural heritage. The challenges of ecological tourism expand it، without destroying the natural attractions. Obviously، the development of ecotourism in sensitive natural areas with a lack of proper planning and management can be a threat to the integrity of ecosystems and cultures.