Assessment and Prioritizing of Water Geotourism Spaces with Emphasis on Urban Management (A Case Study of Damavand Region)

Geotourism is one of the important types of ecotourism. Assessing geotourism spaces and its prioritizing can be effective in present suitable geotourism landscape. Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the distinctive geographical character of a place—its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture, and the well-being of its residents. Cities and villages have an important role in measuring the priorities and values of tourism land spaces. By making decisions and engaging urban institutions and facilities and services, urban tourism can be effective in providing the desired landscape of tourism, and can also promote sustainable development and sustainable protection. Damavand region, having rivers, waterfall and lake water processes, is one of the geotourism destinations. In this article, assessment and prioritizing of geotourism spaces and sites related water processes of Damavand region based on role of urban management is done in order to present suitable landscape for geotourism management. Therefore, the necessary data was prepared based on the theoretical and expert studies as well as the assessment done by experts. The criteria were weighted by Atrophy model and the sites were prioritized using COPRAS model. The obtained results show high suitability of Lar Lake and Haraz Abask River as first priority of geotourism. Also, the city of Pleur and Rino and its urban management have been able to play an effective role in strengthening some services, capital and facilities of tourism land, but have also brought threats in return.