A Study of Post- Covid-19 Ecological Reconstruction Strategies, Case study: Mazandaran Rural Areas

The emergence and prevalence of COVID-19 affected all tourism activities, including ecotourism. What has prevailed so far in the literature of this field of study is indeed, the study of ecotourism development in order to reduce the negative effects of COVID-19 and to start the development measures. However, the relatively long cessation of ecotourism activities in the country raised the question of how to resume ecotourism activities in the post- COVID-19 era. In this regard, the present study seeks to answer the questions in the fields of ecotourism activities, the effects of the coronavirus and the strategies for rehabilitation of ecotourism in the post- COVID-19 period. The statistical population of the study consists of ecotourism areas in the east of Mazandaran, and the purposeful sampling method was used to select the samples. A qualitative interview method was used for data collection, in which a number of eco-lodge owners were interviewed. The results showed that: (1) Beneficiaries did not see the need to complete recession of ecotourism resorts and believed that the operation and use of ecotourism was possible due to observing natural social distance by observing minimum health protocols; (2) The health safety of ecotourism resorts is the same as staying at home; (3) At least a three-year period is required to return to the normal situation, since the peak return period is not expected in the near future; (4) The re-creation of ecotourism activities requires the establishment of a strong regional organization such as the East Mazandaran Ecotourism Corporation, in order to establish a constructive interaction with the government; (5) Providing financial facilities for the newly established ecotourism, so that it can resume ecotourism activities. While other studies have used secondary data at the national and macro levels to examine COVID-19chr('39')s effects on economic indicators, the present study uses primary data and field study findings to analyze original personal experiences of the economic impact of COVID-19 on ecotourism at the local community level.