Prioritizing Tourism Areas of East Gilan Province for Planning Tourism Development

Prioritizing tourism areas based on scientific principles and decision making techniques in order to determine the potentiality of the area for planning, investment, and executing development project is one of the necessary approaches to achieve a sustainable development and to prevent wasting time and capital. This research was a descriptive – analytical research using 29 criteria to prioritize areas of East Gilan province regarding investment and tourism development. The obtained results from the AHP showed that Deylaman was ranked first as far as planning and development of tourism was considered. Lahijan with its natural beauty and man-made attractions was in the second rank and Ziaz and Sajiran were ranked the third. The results of cluster analysis showed that Deylaman, Lahijan, Ziaz and Sajiran, Ti ti, Shvyyl, and Abi nam were classified with the first priority for planning and were identified as a tourism pole. Halu Dasht, Leh Leh Rud, Khoseyl Dasht, Kelachay, Chaf and Chamkhaleh, Ali Sorud, Ab Sefid, Chaboksar and Amirkolaye were given the second priority for planning and becoming the tourist centers. Finally, Javaherdasht, Kia Kalaye, Mian Lengeh, and Serule were assigned the third priority for planning and becoming tourist centers.