Strategic planning for ecotourism development in rural

Bisheh station, located in Lorestan Province, is a village that has a lot of ecotourism development capabilities. Despite of having a lot of naturally environmental potentials in this village, there are no fundamental planning for tourism. The purpose of this article is to achieve ecotourism development strategies in this village through applying strategic planning process by giving questionnaire to people, tourists and officials. This study was a survey done by random sampling method. The finding of this process is indicated through quantity strategic planning matrix table and final findings show that, among the weakness-opportunity strategies, from the view point of the three groups, the best strategy is to arrange the special rules of best using of attractions, prevent these attractions from destroying, polluting and disappearing in order not only to attract more tourists but also prevent attractive and natural environment from destroying. Among strength-opportunity strategies, from the point of view of the three groups, the best strategy is to create tourism fairs in order to show different kind of cultural geography such as different kind of crafts, art, local clothes, foods, music, customs and local celebrations. Achieving sustainable development depends on the attention to the economic, social, cultural and environmental factors in a community. Tourism as an effective element in development needs further research. The complexity and density in urban life turn many people’s attention to the nature and in the meantime, areas with valuable natural capacity are paid more attention. Thus, the flows of tourism are formed in order to use the peace and beauty of nature. Tourism has different forms which are different in regard to environmental conditions. It is believed that tourism is a green activity and therefore; it does not damage the environment. Towns in terms of natural and historical circumstances, highland areas with beautiful perspective, lush gardens, environmental characteristics, altitude, beautiful topography and landscapes and landmarks in villages provide a good ground for the development of rural ecotourism with planning, proper management, and suitable investment. Rural Ecotourism is one of the most important approaches of tourism which is in line with the optimal productivity of natural resources and rural ecosystem. Protection and retention of environment and natural resources are essential. Although the Bisheh station village has many potentials for attracting tourists in terms of natural environment (for example: Cezar river), but there is no planning for tourism in this village. Bisheh village and Biesheh waterfall can be used for water sports and fishing, but this work has not been done yet. Attractive places should have been paved for tourists, but they are still bumpy. Understanding, planning and attention to ecotourism potentials of Bisheh can attract tourists and promote the rural economy through creating jobs and income and help income distribution in this village as well. Promotion of village ecotourism level is one of the benefits of this study which is effective in sustainable development and elimination of village deprivation. This study not only gives strategies and helpful tips for planning the village ecotourism but also it can enrich the literature of ecotourism, promotion of education, introduction of culture and ecotourism attractive places of this village. In this study, attractions, facilities and services of rural tourism in Bisheh were identified according to the sources, document’s information, and field of studies. In addition, a list of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of village ecotourism were identified through investigation of the internal and external environment. Then these factors were weighted through opinions of people, tourists and officials using questionnaires and targeted interviews and finally through setting the internal and external strategic factors which are bases in adjusting strategy, swot matrix was extraced and situation of ecotourism of the village was identified in interal and external matrix. And after matrix formation, the quantitative strategic planning was prioritized. At last the final strategies for ecotourism development in the village were identified. It is worthy of note that the sample in this study which contained three groups: 127 people in the village, 140 tourists and 44 officials were chosen randomly by Cochran. Discussion and Conclusion: In analyzing the internal environment, natural attractions and particular ecosystems ( Bisheh waterfall, oak and poplar forests, Cesar river, beautiful valleys, and plants and animals’ species) are known as a major strength with the mean of 4.45 from the officials’ viewpoint, 4.3 from of the people’s viewpoint, and 4.5 from tourists’ perspective. The harmony of these three perspectives for identification of the most important strengths of village indicates that these strengthns are such clear that all three groups identify it at first. From the perspective of people and officials, pollution of natural resources caused by garbages and lack of proper sewage disposal system with the means of 4.18 and 4.25 respectively. Also from tourists viewpoint, inappropriate and dangerous rout of Khorramabad to Bisheh with 3.96 mean were identified as the most important weaknesses of village ecotourism. In analyzing the external environment, providing more and better services to tourists compared with recreational areas for example Gerrit village with the mean of 4.39 (from the officials view point), strengthening the rail traffic and designing of wagons for tourists with the mean of 3.81 (from the people perspective), and easy and safe access to rural areas through Khorramabad road (from tourists viewpoint) are the most important external opportunity which were identified. Increasing facilities and services in competitor’s recreation areas such as Gerrit village (from the officials perspective), increasing the tendency of tourists to travel to these regions instead of traveling to the Bisheh village with the mean of 3.95, and pollution of Cezar river and Bisheh waterfall, loss of plants and the extinction of fish because of hunting (from the perspective of people and tourists) with the mean of 4.11 and 3.8 respectively are the most important external threats.