Urban Tourism and its Functional Linkage with Ecotourism (Case Study: Kurdistan Province)

Urban areas are important for tourism because they are destinations in their own right, gate ways for tourist entry, and centers for accommodation and bases for excursions. The high volume of tourists (about 2.5 million parson/year) into the Kurdestan imposes tremendous pressure on the natural environment. Many studies revealed that with out any complementary alternatives for natural areas, their sustainability would be in danger in a short time. Kurdestan province with its urban centers is one of the main destinations for many tourists. The present situation of urban amenities shows that the area needs an enforcement of the cultural and historical sites, which in turn could attract tourists to spend some of their leisure time apart from the ecotourists attraction. It is clear that complementary recreation in the urban areas can create job opportunities and, more revenues. This paper tries to evaluate the cultural and historical sites with general utilities in this Province.