Prioritization of Khalasi Creek, Jageen and Queeck in Jask Province for Ecotourism Development Using Delphi Method and TOPSIS Model

Identification and selection of appropriate area is important for planning and management of ecotourism. Khalasi creek, Jageen and Queeck in Hormozgan province have great ecological and cultural potential for ecotourism development. In this research, first step Delphi method was used and in cooperation with eight experts the most important criteria in prioritizing of Khalasi creek, Jageen and Queeck was selected to develop ecotourism. In this method, climate, water resources, vegetation, human settelements distance, cultural monuments, the protection value of plant and animal species, wildlife breeding areas, infrastructural facilities were screened among 19 criteria.
Then screening criteria using the Shannon entropy techniques were weighted by the experts who had cooperated in Delphi method.
Prioritize areas for ecotourism development was performed as well as experts by using the TOPSIS model.Based on the results of TOPSIS model, Khalasi creek region with a score 0.7100, Queeck region with a score 0.2920 and Jageen region with a score of 0.1183 with order priority of the first, second and third were rated for ecotourism development in the city of Jask.