Recreational Zone Classification of Hassan Abad Forest Park Using Multi-Criteria Analysis and Model Makhdoom

Recreation use assessment is considered as an important tool for sustainable tourism development and also ecotourism management development causes local economic growth and biodiversity conservation‎.The main objective of this study is to identify and prioritize the potential ecotourism site in Hassanabad forest park.

Analysis system Makhdoom and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) combined with Geographic Information System (GIS) was used.
In AHP method after identification effective factors on recreational potential, a matrix is formed and factors were compared by the experts in the form of questionnaire. Next factors were weighed and ranked the regions for recreational potential. In Makhdoom method after identifying ecological sources, the data were collected and analyzed to ecological homogenous units. Finally the map of final resorting capacity was provided by comparing ecological traits of each unit with Makhdoom tourism ecological model. Eventually maps obtained by the two methods in GIS were overlapped.

Results of AHP model showed that the total area of the park (434/6 ha) has recreational potential of medium to high class. This area has no zone with very low recreational potential. In makhdoom method, this area includes all of recreational classes except concentrated recreational potential zone of first class.  

In both methods, the recreational potential classes have 50% overlapping. Since after applying two methods, the park has no inappropriate zones for tourism, this area is suitable for the development of ecotourism plans.