The study of Geotourism capabilities of geosites using Comanesco method, Case study: geosites of Bukan city

Geotourism is a sort of tourism based on nature in terms of landscape and landforms, which focuses the sustainable use of geosites, including geomorphosites. Geological and geomorphological landforms which receive scientific, aesthetic, cultural and economic value from the human perspective, considered as geosites. The development of geotourism on geomorphosites could be conducted after the evaluation of geomorphosites in a tourist environment. In this paper, Bukan city has been studied and evaluated to determine the potential and identify geosites for the development of geotourism. To this aim, a qualitative method has been applied to identify geosites and the Comanesco model has been used for quantitative assessment of geosites. The results of the research indicate that the area of Bukan city has a high potential for the development of geotourism in all dimensions. Among the 12 selected geosites, Bukan dam with a score of 70 out of 100 has the highest quantitative value, and the coastal park with a score and value of 69 has a high potential for more attention in planning now. In addition, the medium to high value and the potential of the geosites of Kiwerash, Simine River, Qalaichi hill and Sotaw Hamamian plain can attract the highest rate of geotourism and tourism industry. Finally, it is concluded that with proper exploitation, creation of facilities and development of welfare infrastructure in the geotourist areas of Bukan city, a codified plan will be formed, and detailed planning and the use of geographic and environmental science experts to achieve this goal is the basis.