A Spatial Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Karkheh National Park for Ecotourism Development Using GIS

Development of tourism in National park has many advantages both for their management and for tourists. But we should consider that tourism activities can have negative effects on tourism experiences and tourist qualities and characteristics in the absence of an appropriate planning and management and without determining the capacity and capability of the area. Therefore, determining suitable areas for expansion and development of tourism in preserved areas and national parks is crucially important for sustainable exploitation of natural resources.

 The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate the ecological potential in Karkheh National Park with an emphasis on eco-tourism in 2013- 2014 time period. Karkheh National Park is located along Karkheh River. In the present study, a method of multi criteria evaluation called weighted linear combination (WLC) and AHP method, along with GIS technology, was used to locate the tourism suitable areas in Karkheh National Park.

The criteria used in the evaluation were 16 criteria which were classified in three categories of physical, biological and cultural socio-economic. According to AHP outputs, the criterion of vegetation coverage type accounted for the highest weight and the criterion of slope accounted for the lowest weight. Eventually, areas suitable for ecotourism were determined with different degrees of potential and utility. According to the classified map of ecotourism potential, about 35.82 percent of Karkheh National Park with an area of 2771.36 ha had a suitable potential and 37.86 percent of this park with an area of 2929.77 ha was not appropriate for tourism development.