Using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for prioritizing and ranking of ecological indicators for monitoring sustainability of ecotourism in northern forest, Iran

Ecotourism has been identified as a form of sustainable tourism which is expected to contribute to both conservation and development. Unfortunately, due to inadequate environmental assessment, many ecotourism destinations tend to be both hazardous and self-destructive. Indicators are an important to...

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Main Authors: Barzekar, Godratollah, Aziz, Azlizam, Mariapan, Manohar, Ismail, Mohd Hasmadi, Hosseni, Syed Mohsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Union of Scientists in Bulgaria – Plovdiv and the University of Plovdiv Publishing House 2011
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23883/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23883/1/23883.pdf
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author Barzekar, Godratollah
Aziz, Azlizam
Mariapan, Manohar
Ismail, Mohd Hasmadi
Hosseni, Syed Mohsen
author_facet Barzekar, Godratollah
Aziz, Azlizam
Mariapan, Manohar
Ismail, Mohd Hasmadi
Hosseni, Syed Mohsen
author_sort Barzekar, Godratollah
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Ecotourism has been identified as a form of sustainable tourism which is expected to contribute to both conservation and development. Unfortunately, due to inadequate environmental assessment, many ecotourism destinations tend to be both hazardous and self-destructive. Indicators are an important tool to provide a means toward sustainability. Among all different aspects of indicators, ecological indicators are significant for monitoring and evaluating sustainable management of ecotourism. In this study criteria and indicators were identified by using the Delphi approach through an expert panel from different fields. At the end of the process, a consensus of 9 criteria and 61 indicators was reached. For prioritization and ranking the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Expert choice software was used. The 9 criteria include identified :1- Conservation of Natural resources & biodiversity 2- Maintenance of sceneries, natural &physical features 3- Conservation of soil & water resources 4- Maintenance of heritage & cultural diversity 5- existence of legal, institution, legislation and policy frameworks for empowering Ecotourism 6- promoting economic benefits & poverty alleviation 7- Educational affairs and public awareness 8- Maintenance of hygiene& tourist safety 9- Tourists & local people satisfaction. The results showed that, out of the 9 criteria, the first three, which we labeled as Ecological criteria and comprised 21 indicators, stood as the top highest priority. We also continued the ranking of indicators with related criterion and then all of the indicators were ranked and prioritized by AHP method and using of expert choice software.
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spelling upm-238832017-04-27T01:21:19Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23883/ Using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for prioritizing and ranking of ecological indicators for monitoring sustainability of ecotourism in northern forest, Iran Barzekar, Godratollah Aziz, Azlizam Mariapan, Manohar Ismail, Mohd Hasmadi Hosseni, Syed Mohsen Ecotourism has been identified as a form of sustainable tourism which is expected to contribute to both conservation and development. Unfortunately, due to inadequate environmental assessment, many ecotourism destinations tend to be both hazardous and self-destructive. Indicators are an important tool to provide a means toward sustainability. Among all different aspects of indicators, ecological indicators are significant for monitoring and evaluating sustainable management of ecotourism. In this study criteria and indicators were identified by using the Delphi approach through an expert panel from different fields. At the end of the process, a consensus of 9 criteria and 61 indicators was reached. For prioritization and ranking the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Expert choice software was used. The 9 criteria include identified :1- Conservation of Natural resources & biodiversity 2- Maintenance of sceneries, natural &physical features 3- Conservation of soil & water resources 4- Maintenance of heritage & cultural diversity 5- existence of legal, institution, legislation and policy frameworks for empowering Ecotourism 6- promoting economic benefits & poverty alleviation 7- Educational affairs and public awareness 8- Maintenance of hygiene& tourist safety 9- Tourists & local people satisfaction. The results showed that, out of the 9 criteria, the first three, which we labeled as Ecological criteria and comprised 21 indicators, stood as the top highest priority. We also continued the ranking of indicators with related criterion and then all of the indicators were ranked and prioritized by AHP method and using of expert choice software. Union of Scientists in Bulgaria – Plovdiv and the University of Plovdiv Publishing House 2011 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23883/1/23883.pdf Barzekar, Godratollah and Aziz, Azlizam and Mariapan, Manohar and Ismail, Mohd Hasmadi and Hosseni, Syed Mohsen (2011) Using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for prioritizing and ranking of ecological indicators for monitoring sustainability of ecotourism in northern forest, Iran. Ecologia Balkanica, 3 (1). pp. 59-67. ISSN 1314-0213; ESSN: 1313-9940 http://eb.bio.uni-plovdiv.bg/en/archive/2011-vol.-3-issue-1
spellingShingle Barzekar, Godratollah
Aziz, Azlizam
Mariapan, Manohar
Ismail, Mohd Hasmadi
Hosseni, Syed Mohsen
Using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for prioritizing and ranking of ecological indicators for monitoring sustainability of ecotourism in northern forest, Iran
title Using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for prioritizing and ranking of ecological indicators for monitoring sustainability of ecotourism in northern forest, Iran
title_full Using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for prioritizing and ranking of ecological indicators for monitoring sustainability of ecotourism in northern forest, Iran
title_fullStr Using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for prioritizing and ranking of ecological indicators for monitoring sustainability of ecotourism in northern forest, Iran
title_full_unstemmed Using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for prioritizing and ranking of ecological indicators for monitoring sustainability of ecotourism in northern forest, Iran
title_short Using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for prioritizing and ranking of ecological indicators for monitoring sustainability of ecotourism in northern forest, Iran
title_sort using analytical hierarchy process (ahp) for prioritizing and ranking of ecological indicators for monitoring sustainability of ecotourism in northern forest, iran
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23883/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23883/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23883/1/23883.pdf