Strategies of Ecotourism Development in the Natural Resources Cooperatives in Golestan Province

The young population of Iran and increasing graduated youth requires job-creating opportunities to tackle with unemployment and social-economical deterioration. Today, ecotourism development is one of the tourism branches which is connected to local population development, and local population participation is considered to be the principal factor in ecotourism development. Therefore, development of this industry can lead to employment of the youth. This study was carried out to investigate the strategies for development of ecotourism in the Natural Resources Cooperatives. From objectives point of view this study is classified to be practical, and from methodology point of view it is classified to be descriptive. Statistical population of the study were 123 members of Board of Directors of the Natural Resources Cooperatives in Golestan province which were selected by census. A pilot test was carried out to measur the validity of the questionnaires. Result of Alfa-Cronbakh for the questionnaires was obtained to be 87%. Results of regression test showed that territorial population training in the Natural Resources Cooperatives, communication and territorial population participation in ecotourism development programs have positive effects on ecotourism development. Totally, these factors address 50% of the factors affecting ecotourism development by the Natural Resources Cooperatives.