Evaluation and Prioritization of Tourist Attractions in Kohgiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad Province Based on Tourist Attraction Potentials

Identifying the natural, economic and social potentials in an area improves the future plans for the area while preventing unexpected drawbacks in tourism development and environmental destructions. Of the important issues in tourism, identifying potentials, prioritizing infrastructures and tourism attractions in various areas of a city as well as the distribution of these infrastructures and facilities can be mentioned. Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province with its numerous natural, historical and cultural attractions can attract a lot of tourists each year. This article aims to prioritize Gorgan attractions using eight indicators of number of tourists, infrastructures, facilities and services, accessibility, attraction potentials, ability to attract tourists during different seasons, economic and environmental influences. The study is a descriptive - analytical one which was developed for the analysis of the data through combining AHP and FUZZY TOPSIS model. The population of the study consisted of 25 individuals who were experts in the tourism sector. The required data were collected using a questionnaire. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient reliability of the questionnaire was estimated to be .85. According to the results of the fuzzy TOPSIS model, tourism places of the mentioned province were prioritized from the highest to the lowest as follows : Yasuj Waterfall, Kuh Gol Lake, Mishi Spring, Dena protected area, Yasuj Forest Park, Belghis Spring, Kemer Dugh Waterfall,  Creek Village, Shallal Don Path, and finally Sarvak.