Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
PhD Student in Geography and Rural Planning, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran
2
Professor, Department of Human Geography, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
3
Associate Professor, Department of Human Geography, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
10.22059/jtcp.2025.391277.670499
Abstract
Rural tourism, as one of the most important strategies for sustainable development, plays a key role in enhancing the economic, social, and cultural conditions of rural areas. With its diverse territorial capabilities, Khuzestan Province has a high potential for rural tourism development. However, the optimal use of these capabilities requires proper identification and prioritization. Therefore, the present study focuses on the typology and prioritization of territorial capabilities for rural tourism development in Khuzestan. In line with the research goal, a purposive sample of 35 experts from seven provincial organizations was selected to answer the questionnaire. At first, a geodatabase was created based on statistical data from censuses, statistical yearbooks, and provincial plans to identify the types of territorial capabilities needed for rural tourism development in the province. Then, the collected data were classified according to an indexation process. The result of this method’s implementation was the extraction of 280 variables in the form of 14 indices representing territorial capabilities. For prioritizing these indices, the final coefficients obtained from the average scores of multi-criteria decision-making weighting methods showed that natural, agricultural, and handicraft capabilities received the highest coefficients, ranging from 0.26 to 0.24. Moreover, the results of implementing multi-criteria decision-making ranking techniques and the aggregation method for counties zoning based on territorial capabilities related to rural tourism development revealed that Dezful, Ahvaz, and Andimeshk, with scores ranging between 0.00 and 2.00, achieved the best rankings. Additionally, the analysis of the final territorial capabilities map using a Geographic Information System showed that the share of high, medium, and low capabilities classes in the province was 33.3% or ten districts, 23.3% or seven districts, and 43.3% or thirteen districts, respectively. This means that nearly half of the province is in an unfavorable condition regarding the availability of such capabilities.
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