Presenting and Prioritizing the Management Strategies of Sustainable Ecotourism Development in Vennaei Watershed using SWOT and QSPM Analytical Matrix

Ecotourism was defined as the responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education. To achieve sustainable development in the watersheds with a comprehensive management approach, it is important to identify the important key elements and parameters. The main purpose of this study is to present and prioritize the best management strategies to achieve sustainable ecotourism in the Vennaei region. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the region were identified via descriptive-analytical-developmental method. The SWOT analysis matrix was used to codify the best strategies for the region. Quantitative programming matrix were applied to arrange strategies. Therefore, first internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats) of the region have been identified and evaluated based on the field visits and expert judgments. The results of this study showed that the final score for internal factors and external factors are 2.43 and 2.51, respectively. Accordingly, the strategic position of the study area is conservative type (WO). Based on the results, four strategies were proposed for the study area including using the active and young force of the village to provide tourism services, increasing the information of the tourist attractions of the region through the cooperation and participation of local people, developing case infrastructure of ecotourism with the help of the government and the attraction of public participation, and increasing capital and income by providing accommodation centers for travelers and tourists. The results of prioritizing strategies using quantitative planning matrix revealed that the development of infrastructure required for the development of sustainable ecotourism with government assistance and attracting public participation is the top management priority for the Vennaei Basin with a final attractiveness score of 4.92.