Spatial Analysis of the Indicators of Rural Eco-resorts (Case Study: Sari County, Iran)

The development of eco-resorts is important for accommodation of domestic and foreign tourists, so their quality of indicators should be improved, regardless of its economic approach.  The purpose of this study is to spatially analyze the status of rural eco-resorts in Sari, so the present study seeks to answer these key questions: 1- What is the current status of rural eco-resorts indicators? 2- What is the level of the studied villages in terms of eco-resorts indicators?

The current study is descriptive-analytical and applied in terms of approach and aim, respectively.  Documentary and field study methods were used to obtain the required data.  The statistical population of this study consists of two groups, the first group, included experts in tourism who were selected with census method, and consequently, 15 people in total. The second group included tourists who have stayed in these eco-resorts. According to the Cochran's formula, with an error value of 0.07, 181 questionnaires were completed randomly. In order to analyze the data, descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation and variance), inferential (one-sample t-test) and VIKOR method were used.

Findings of the study showed that based on the significance level of the one-sample test, there is a significant relationship and difference between 7 indicators of the research. Late Letkan & Late Leteka, Tapurestan and Miansheh ranked first to third, and eco-resorts in Mah Joon (Q = 0.785), Senam and Saray Khan (Q = 0.828) had the lowest ranks. Therefore, it can be said that the resorts, which are at an acceptable level in terms of the studied indicators, have appropriate facilities and services in eco-resorts.