Determining the Spatial Performance of Rural Areas in terms of Ecotourism Development Potential (Case Study: Ardabil County)

The tourism industry is considered as a vital factor for the economy due to job creation and income generation. But tourism, along with positive effects, especially in the economic field, can sometimes have negative effects. Considering the negative effects caused by tourism, the concept of sustainable tourism was born, and among the many approaches for sustainable tourism, ecotourism was proposed as the most compatible type of tourism with the greatest potential. This form of tourism has a deep respect for people, tourist places and objects that are visited, and in it, a special emphasis is placed on protecting natural and cultural resources, involving local people in planning processes and creating prosperity for this. Among the tourism opportunities available in rural areas, the presence of natural attractions, pristine landscapes and suitable weather strengthens the ground for the development of ecotourism in villages more than other aspects of tourism development and as a complementary economy. Rural is a useful solution to reduce poverty and reduce migration from rural to the city and increase the level of welfare of rural people, and it can have an all-round effect on the lives of rural people. Considering the importance of ecotourism in national and regional development and the fact that Ardabil county as the center of Ardabil province is prone to develop ecotourism at the country level, and since it has unique ecotourism features and these features and advantages can be considered the basis of sustainable rural development of the city if planned, according to the importance of this part of tourism, the present research was conducted with the aim of determining the spatial performance of rural areas in terms of the ability to develop ecotourism in Ardabil county.

In terms of purpose and nature, the current research is of applied type and analytical and descriptive methods respectively. The geographical area under study is 52 rural points with a population of over 500 people from the three districts of Somrin (7 villages), Markazi (34 villages) and Hir (11 villages) in Ardabil county and the sample size is 50 students and professors of tourism to determine the importance of indicators. Quantitative data used in this research was obtained through the information contained in the birth certificates of the settlements published by the Deputy of Rural Development and Underprivileged Regions of the country and was analyzed using Guttman's model.

According to the results of Gutman's model, out of 52 studied villages, 3 villages have been evaluated at the tourism pole level, 21 villages at the center level and 28 villages at the tourism point level. In this way, 54 percent of the villages are at the level of tourist spots, and the average of these villages is less than 3.65, and 40 percent of the villages are at the level of tourist centers. As a result, the studied villages have not benefited from the benefits of ecotourism in the same way. Also, the results of the analysis of the poles of ecotourism by different parts of Ardabil county showed that the average of Somrin part is equal to 3.65 and according to this, Somrin village with an average of 6.56 and the highest score as a pole is in the central part of Ardabil county. Anzab Alia village with a score of 6.22 as a tourism hub and Hir section with an average of 3.96 has the best performance among other sections. In this part, Aralavi Bozorg village with the highest average which is equal to 6.44 can become a tourist hub if planned. Also, in the meantime, the village of Qezal Qiyah with a score of 5.33 has a high potential to change the function of the tourism center to a tourism hub.

Since all villages do not have the ability to develop in the field of tourism or this ability is very weak, it is necessary to select the villages that have a higher ability in the field of tourism than other villages with knowledge. According to the results of the village of Somrin, Anzab Alia and Aralvi Bozorg were chosen as the tourist hub of Ardabil county. Villages that have the function of tourism poles are the first priority for investment in the development of ecotourism. Tourism centers are those villages that, if strengthened, have the ability to become tourism hubs. There are 21 rural spots in Ardabil county. The tourism spot is considered as the third priority in the discussion of ecotourism development. Out of the 52 studied villages, 28 villages have the spatial function of a rural spot, which needs to be strengthened during a long-term planning. Also, among the three districts of Ardabil county, in terms of average, Hir district is in the first priority with an average of 3.96, Somrin district is in the second priority with an average of 3.65, and Central district is in the third priority with an average of 3.51.