Strategic Management of Sustainable Development of Tourism in the Coastal Areas by Using SWOT Model and QSPM Matrix (Case Study: Mazandaran Province)

In recent years, the uncontrolled tourism development trend in the coastal areas of Mazandaran province, without taking into account the sustainable development principles and land suitability, has led to adverse environmental impacts and further damage to this area. Therefore, the current study aims to organize tourism activities by providing a strategic plan and appropriate to the region to assist the land management process in mentioned coastal areas.
The present study has been carried out in three stages. In the first step, the Internal and External Factors Evaluation (IFE and EFE) matrices were prepared. In the second step, the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) matrix was developed, and accordingly strategies were presented. In the third stage, by preparing the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM), the strategies were evaluated and superior strategies were selected.
In the IFE matrix the highest weighted score was assigned to state of the environment studies and in the EFE matrix proximity to Tehran is the highest. According to the results, 25 strategies extracted from internal and external factors of strategic management of tourism in coastal areas of Mazandaran province. Based on comparison of mentioned strategies, SO3 strategy (coastal tourism development in the region based on the Integrated Coastal Zone Management) is the first step in the strategic management goals of coastal tourism. WT1 (Modifying tourism development policies based on strategic studies) and WT2 (implementation of environmental management mechanisms such as Strategic Environmental Assessment) strategies are respectively, in the second and third priority.