Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for Prioritizing and Ranking of Ecological Indicators for Monitoring Sustainability of Ecotourism in Northern Forest, Iran
Journal Title: Ecologia Balkanica - Year 2011, Vol 3, Issue 1
Abstract
Ecotourism has been identified as a form of sustainable tourism which is expected to contribute to both conservation and development. Unfortunately, due to inadequate environmental assessment, many ecotourism destinations tend to be both hazardous and self-destructive. Indicators are an important tool to provide a means toward sustainability. Among all different aspects of indicators, ecological indicators are significant for monitoring and evaluating sustainable management of ecotourism. In this study criteria and indicators were identified by using the Delphi approach through an expert panel from different fields. At the end of the process, a consensus of 9 criteria and 61 indicators was reached. For prioritization and ranking the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Expert choice software was used. The 9 criteria include identified :1- Conservation of Natural resources & biodiversity 2- Maintenance of sceneries ,natural &physical features 3-Conservation of soil & water resources 4- Maintance of heritage & cultural diversity 5- existence of legal, institution, legislation and policy frameworks for empowering Ecotourism 6-promoting economic benefits & poverty alleviation7- Educational affairs and public awareness 8- Maintenance of hygiene& tourist safety 9- Tourists & local people satisfaction. The results showed that, out of the 9 criteria, the first three, which we labeled as Ecological criteria and comprised 21 indicators, stood as the top highest priority. We also continued the ranking of indicators with related criterion and then all of the indicators were ranked and prioritized by AHP method and using of expert choice software.
Authors and Affiliations
Godratollah Barzekar, Azlizam Aziz, Manohar Mariapan, Mohd Ismail, Syed Hosseni
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP92313
- DOI -
- Views 172
- Downloads 0
In Memoriam - GEORGI KANCHEV BACHVAROV (1934-2010)
Natural Plant Oils and Terpenes as Protector for the Potato Tubers against[i] Phthorimaea operculella[/i] Infestation by Different Application Methods
For protecting potato tubers from the potato tuber moth (PTM) infestation during storage, different concentrations of ten natural plant oils and three commercial monoterpnes were tested, some as fumigants or dusts agains...
Artificial Nesting of Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula on the Park Lake in Puławy (Eastern Poland)
The number of breeding pairs of Common Goldeneye in Lublin region was estimated to approx. 15. The survey in 2012 was conducted to estimate the breeding and the non-breeding population of the species on the Vistula oxbow...
Effects of a High Intensity Fire on the Abundance and Diversity of Reptiles in the Eastern Rhodopes Mountains, Southeastern Bulgaria
The numerous fires during the past decade in the Eastern Rhodopes (southeastern Bulgaria) resulted in extensive loss of habitat for multiple species. In this study on the reptilian fauna found near Kolets village (Haskov...
Върху консумацията на плодове от язовеца (Meles meles) (Mammalia: Mustelidae) през есенния период в Средна гора (България)
Проучването е проведено на базата на общо 1357 отделни идентифицирани плодове, събрани като костилки в екскременти от едно семейство язовци ([i]Meles meles[/i]) в Средна гора, северно от град Стара Загора през ноември, 2...