Evaluating the Geotourism Potential of Geosites in the Babel Road Basin Using the M GAM Model

Today, geotourism and geosites are an important solution for economic development and one of the important ways of generating income for different regions and countries, which has been less addressed and therefore remains abandoned and unknown. Accordingly, considering the importance of the issue, In the present study, Babolrud basin was investigated due to the presence of many geosites and geotourist potentials. In order to know and study its tourist areas, in this research, 8 geosites are included (Babolsar Suspension Bridge, Babolsar Cable Bridge, Babolsar Rubber Dam (Arabkhel), Haft Tirkan Waterfalls). , Sajjadroud, Guru spa, Terez waterfall, Sanbalroud earthen dam) have been investigated and evaluated. According to what was said, the current research is practical and of a descriptive-survey type, in which the method of data collection was document and survey using a questionnaire of experts and tourists; Also, to analyze the data, M-GAM model and statistical tests using SPSS.26 have been used, and the findings show that according to the overall average and the resulting ranking, the geosite of Sanbalroud earthen dam is ranked first in terms of geotourism potential. After that, there are Terez waterfall, Grove waterfall and suspension bridge, and the cable bridge with a score of 74.87 has been assigned the last rank in terms of geosite characteristics for the development of geotourism in Babalrood basin, and the final results have shown that there is a lot of room for improving geotourism. In these places, especially in terms of tourism value