Analyzing the Criteria Influencing Identification of Suitable Regions for Ecotourism Development in Desert Areas (Case study: Varamin County, Tehran province)

Tourism is one of the key economic sectorsbenefit would be more than other economic sectors, if appropriate investment is done. Tourism and its different branches, especially ecotourism and geotourism play an important role in different aspects of cultural, social and economic sectors in the world. The aim of this study was to identifiy the criteria influencing ecotourism development in desert areas.
In this studythe criteria effective on introducing the potential areas to attract tourists were classified into two groups. These two groups included the critera related to environmental and climatic characteristics and to recreational services infrastructures. Each criteria included some sub-criteria.
In this study, using a multi-criteria decision systems and geographic information systems (GIS), the identified criteria and sub-​criteria related to the target area were weighted and combined.
According to the obtianed results, the study area has a high potential for ecotourism development.