Evaluation and Analysis of the Competitiveness of Geotourism and Geomorphological Potentials of Gilan Province (Case Study: Masal Township, Olsbelengah, Shanderman)

Nezafat Taklhe, Behrouz; Nezamivand Chegini, Mohammad; Mousavi, Seyyede Neda; Dehgani, Parisa

Evaluation and Analysis of the Competitiveness of Geotourism and Geomorphological Potentials of Gilan Province (Case Study: Masal Township, Olsbelengah, Shanderman)

Document Type : Origional Article

Authors

Behrouz Nezafat taklhe ¹

Mohammad Nezamivand Chegini ²

Seyyede Neda Mousavi ²

Parisa Dehgani ³

¹ Phd student of geomorphology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili. Ardabil, Iran

² Bachelor student of tourism, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, , Ardabil, Iran

³ Master of Science in Psychology, Payam Noor University of Ardabil, Ardabil, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Objective: Geotourism is a branch of tourism knowledge that focuses on the behavior of land surface systems or geomorphosites and attempts to identify, protect, and exploit the tourism-conservation values of dominant forms and processes in a place. The purpose of this research is to evaluate and analyze the competitiveness of geotourism and geomorphological potentials of Gilan Province (Case Study: Masal Township, Olsbelengah, Shanderman).
Methodology: The present study is applied in terms of descriptive-analytical purpose, and Pavlova, Kobalikova, and Feyolt geotourism models were used to evaluate the study areas. The Pavlova model evaluates the competitiveness of the studied regions and is based on the formation of positive and negative factors and their related calculations. The Kobalikova model, which emphasizes more on scientific, educational, economic, conservation and additional criteria, and finally the Feuillet model, which examines geotourism regions based on four criteria of origin, geographical distribution, tourism and accessibility.
Results and findings: Based on the results of the Pavlova model in the positive competitiveness factor, Masal Township has high competitiveness in the region by obtaining the highest scores in the sub-indices of natural wealth (4.9) and protected areas (4.54). Also, in the negative competitiveness factor, the Shanderman district has the highest score in the sub-index of lack of appropriate infrastructure in the region with a value of 4.33, indicating the weakness of the region in this regard. Also, according to the results obtained from the Kobalikova model, Masal Township has the highest geotourism value in the region with a score of (7.08). Also, the results obtained from the Violet model show that Masal Township is in a favorable situation in terms of management and tourism in the region with a score of (5.04). Therefore, it is concluded that this region has high potentials and capabilities for tourism and geotourism and is ranked first in terms of competitiveness at the provincial level

Keywords

Competitiveness

Geotourism Potentials

Gilan Province

Pavlovia Model

National Park Method

Subjects

Urban Tourism

Methodology: The present study is applied in terms of descriptive-analytical purpose, and Pavlova, Kobalikova, and Feyolt geotourism models were used to evaluate the study areas. The Pavlova model evaluates the competitiveness of the studied regions and is based on the formation of positive and negative factors and their related calculations. The Kobalikova model, which emphasizes more on scientific, educational, economic, conservation and additional criteria, and finally the Feuillet model, which examines geotourism regions based on four criteria of origin, geographical distribution, tourism and accessibility.

Results and findings: Based on the results of the Pavlova model in the positive competitiveness factor, Masal Township has high competitiveness in the region by obtaining the highest scores in the sub-indices of natural wealth (4.9) and protected areas (4.54). Also, in the negative competitiveness factor, the Shanderman district has the highest score in the sub-index of lack of appropriate infrastructure in the region with a value of 4.33, indicating the weakness of the region in this regard. Also, according to the results obtained from the Kobalikova model, Masal Township has the highest geotourism value in the region with a score of (7.08). Also, the results obtained from the Violet model show that Masal Township is in a favorable situation in terms of management and tourism in the region with a score of (5.04). Therefore, it is concluded that this region has high potentials and capabilities for tourism and geotourism and is ranked first in terms of competitiveness at the provincial level