Evaluate the natural capacity of winter sports tourism development in rural areas Zab basin using GIS and MCDM

Sports tourism is one of the ways sustainable rural developments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the environment in rural areas to develop tourism Zab catchment Winter sports using GIS and multi-criteria decision-making models (MCDM) is. First, data and environmental parameters such as topographical maps of 1: 25,000, elevation data, slope, slope, land use, watershed divisions, road communication, geology, urban and rural centers were obtained from national mapping agency. Compare the test and evaluation of each layer by sports experts, natural resources and the environment was conducted. Using the software, Idrisi, normal matrix to determine the final weight of each layer and extraction was applied in the respective layers. Then, information, digital maps were prepared in the ArcGIS system and environmental parameters were classified. Overlay function operation was performed using a combination of informative layers and map geographic area with the characteristics of each unit was created. Finally, the peripheral rural areas Zab basin was assessed. The results showed that, taking into account all environmental parameters about 4% of the total land area of less than 5 Km² for development of winter sports tourism in rural areas are suitable Zab basin. Another consequence is that the areas with the greatest potential in the North West (villages of West Piranshar) and Southeast (villages of East Baneh) were identified. In addition, the proportion of secondary catchment area is 2450 Km² and the average proportion is 2450 Km².