Prioritization of Tourist Attractions with the View of Tourism Development Using AHP Method (Case Study: Khoy City)

Given the significance of tourist attractions as tourism resources in any region, the initial steps toward the development of tourism in a particular area involve recognizing, prioritizing, and ranking these resources for tourism attraction programs and marketing. Khoy City, endowed with abundant historical, cultural, and natural resources, stands out as an ideal region for tourism development, given its proximity to Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Moreover, the presence of the tomb of Shams and its proximity to Rumi's mausoleum in Konya can effectively contribute to cultural tourism. Therefore, this research, employing an analytical-descriptive approach, utilizes the AHP and TOPSIS models and collects field data through questionnaires to examine and determine the ranking of tourist attractions in this city. The results indicate that based on the seven criteria (legal, infrastructural, geographical, socio-cultural, environmental, tourism product impact, economic) in the Khoy urban area, "Khoy Bazaar" and "Shohada Hill" are ranked first to second. In the suburban area of Khoy City, the "Qotour Suspension Bridge," "Imamzadeh Taj al-Din," and "Mirfataah Pilgrimage Site" are ranked first to third. Investing in the creation of human-made attractions, including recreational, sports, and entertainment attractions, can complement nature-based tourism, which is the main advantage of the city. Alongside this, the presence of necessary facilities and equipment (accommodations, transportation infrastructure, etc.) and facilitation of access to the region can enhance various tourism aspects in this city.