Ecological Model of Ecotourism Development in Hormuz Island with Emphasis on the Sustainable Development

One of the most important steps in managing and planning for ecotourism development is having sufficient knowledge of the environment of that area. The present study was conducted on the island of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, which has unique natural attractions. The aim is to determine the appropriate ecological model and zones for the development of ecotourism in Hormuz Island according to the principles of sustainable development.

In this research, technique (SWOT), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information System (GIS) have been used. First, the SWOT technique showed the current state of the island's tourism in a competitive environment, then, 5 criteria and 16 sub-criteria were selected by regional tourism experts to evaluate the ecological potential of the island, and after evaluating these criteria by AHP method, the ecological model Was determined And the digital layers related to the criteria and sub-criteria were prepared and integrated in GIS environment, which finally led to the zoning map of Hormuz Island ecotourism criteria in four categories.

Findings indicate that 8 square kilometers of land in Hormoz are in a very suitable floor, 13 square kilometers in a suitable floor, 15 square kilometers in the middle floor and 6 square kilometers of these areas are in a poor floor. These areas include the central, eastern, southern, northern and western areas in order of priority, so the island has a high ecological potential.

The development of ecotourism on the island of Hormuz, promotes the level of the region's economy and sustainable use of natural resources. These results can serve as a roadmap for managers and other related organizations in the field of tourism and help to create a comprehensive tourism management plan in the region according to the principles of sustainable development.Keywords: Ecological Model of Ecotourism, Sustainable Development, Persian Gulf, Hormoz Island