Identify potentials and compiling a strategic tourism development plan using the integrated approach of SWOT and AHP Analysis (Case study area: Oshtorankh Protected Area)

The protected area can provide broad areas for tourism industry development which be available to planners, executive and local people. In this research, the tourism potential of Oshtrankouh protected area and the appropriate strategies for tourism development have been addressed.

Methods and Materials:

 Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were identified using the SWOT model, after field visits, interviews with experts and local communities, and distributed between experts, environmentalists and tourists in the form of a questionnaire. Then, weighing and prioritizing criteria and sub criteria were carried out by the AHP matrix to provide strategies for tourism development.

Strengths with a weight score of 0.313, weaknesses with a score of 0.376, opportunities with a weight of 0.148 and threats with a weight score of 0.163 were identified. To determine the strategies, the defensive strategy with a score of 0.539 with the highest score and review strategy, diversity strategy and aggressive strategy were ranked in the order, respectively.

  The current status of the tourism in Oshtaranku Protected area is not proportional to its potential and capabilities and planning sustainable tourism is essential for real protection of the region.