Evaluation of the Ecotourism Potential of Kolah Ghazi Park Using Freeman Strategic Planning Model

Ecotourism or natural tourism is one of the tourism areas that has the most compatibility with nature and is significantly considered by nature lovers in recent years. But sometimes, ecotourism development has been done only for economic benefits and regardless of ecological values in different areas. Hence, in order to better manage and preserve the environmental values, it is necessary to develop with planning and based on the specific strategies of each region. Kolah Ghazi National Park, located in the south of Isfahan province, which has multiple genetic resources and unique landscape and diverse habitats can be a destination of tourists and create the ecotourism development. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the factors of strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats and providing appropriate strategies for the development of ecotourism in the region by a descriptive-analytical approach. To analyze the data and to determine the strategies for developing ecotourism, SWOT model was applied. At the end, to avoid the limitations of the model and quantifying the values and prioritizing strategies, AHP and Freeman methods were used. Freeman matrix called the matrix of stakeholders which is prepared based on the economic, social, cultural and ecological priorities of the park. The results showed that the region's strengths are more than the weaknesses and threats are in the region are more than opportunities. Therefore, considering the park's situation, it is necessary to use competitive strategies. In order to maintain park health and sustainable development in the region, two strategies for establishing a comprehensive management plan for protecting species diversity and ecotourism development in the region with a score of 107 and elaborating long-term environmental monitoring programs for the park in order to identify the polluting and destructive resources with a score of 104 as the main strategies required for the region. The planning based on the proposed strategies can ensure the ecotourism development of the region in keeping with the environmental conditions and reducing the threats and improving the weaknesses.