Spatial Analysis of Tourism Effects on Physical Transformations of Rural Settlements in Rezvanshahr County

Tourism as a booming and rugged activity of the present century has a significant impact on rural areas. One of the special characteristics of the tourism effects system, especially in rural areas, is its various and wideness economic, social, cultural, political, institutional, and environmental effects. Such impacts, depending on different spatial situations, can vary in intensity and direction. The present research aims to spatial analysis of tourism effects in rural settlements of Rezvanshahr county. Based on aim, this research is an analytical descriptive study. The statistical sample is rural settlements of Rezvanshahr. The analysis of built environment in rural areas was done using remote sensing data. GIS and the maximum probability with two user's algorithm were used for data analysis. The results of the study showed that intensity of rural tourism effects in Rezvanshahr county is different according to various spatial units. Therefore, the physical effects of rural tourism (such as second homes, service units, land use changes, and land prices) in coastal areas are more intensive than those in plains and foothills areas.