Prioritization of effective components on the development of forest-based tourism (Case study: Arasbaran forests)

Due to the increasing demand for tourism activities in forest areas, it is necessary to develop forest-based tourism based on proper planning and in accordance with the needs of tourists and the natural capacities of these areas. Therefore, in this study, the effective components of the development of forest-based tourism were identified and prioritized. In this research, to identify the effective factors on the development of tourism in proportion to the forest areas, the documentary method and the questionnaire were used to prioritize them using the TOPSIS method. The panel of experts in the study included university professors, tourism graduates, experts in the Cultural Heritage, Arts and Tourism Organization, and Natural Resources administration. According to the results, the components of ((review of concentrated tourism areas based on carrying capacity)) with a weight of 0.947, ((Development of the tourism value chain in tourism destinations)) with a weight of 0.933 and ((improving the transportation network)) with a weight of 0.893 are the first to third priorities. The most important component known in the present study was ((review of concentrated tourism areas based on carrying capacity)) which showed that any development including value chain development, infrastructure, and economic and social development of forest tourism areas without considering the carrying capacity is not appropriate. The final result showed that considering the environmental aspect for the development of forest-based tourism has critical importance.