Investigating the effect of economic potential of rangelands medicinal plants on tourism development (case study: Abdanan region of Ilam province)

Medicinal plants, in addition to their role in improving health and human quality of life, can have a positive impact on tourism capacity and tourist attraction. In this study, the economic potential of medicinal plants and its impact on tourism development in Abadanan city of Ilam province was investigated. The study method was descriptive-analytical with data gathering in the library and field through the distribution of a researcher-made questionnaire. The social classes studied in this study included businessmen, ordinary people, students and teachers. The collected data were analyzed using statistical tests and for a better comparison, the results were presented using structural modeling method by AMOS software. The results showed that the medicinal plants tourism affects the economic indicators item with a weighted regression of 0.52. Also, the economic potential of medicinal plants with the factor loading of 0.494 and family income through the sale of medicinal plants with the factor loading of 0.130 had the highest and lowest indirect impact on tourism of medicinal plants, respectively.