Identifying community-based ecotourism development strategies in Qeshm Island from the perspective of ecosystem activists: A SOAR strategic model approach

Sustainability Ecotourism requires comprehensive participation of the host community in ecotourism projects. Community-based ecotourism is an approach in which the local community acts as the founder and promoter of ecotourism and comprehensively participates in its development. The purpose of this research is to identify community-based ecotourism development strategies in Qeshm Island from the perspective of ecotourism activists. This study used a descriptive-survey and applied research method using library studies and field studies (questionnaire and interview). It also used SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as well as the SOAR strategic model to develop a strategy for the development and description of strengths, opportunities, aspirations and results. The most important strategy resulting from SWOT analysis is a (conservative) review strategy that makes use of the advantages that lie in opportunities in order to compensate for the weaknesses. Among the SOAR model strategies, the first priority was organizing annual or seasonal meetings to measure tourism and providing new strategies and making accurate planning to identify the various capabilities of Qeshm Island in tourism with appropriate advertising. Therefore, based on both models, the development of community-based ecotourism in Qeshm Island requires an efficient management system.