A GIS-based Multi-criteria Decision-making Approach to Identify Site Attraction for Ecotourism Development in Ilam Province, Iran

Geographical Information System (GIS)-based multi-criteria decision-making is greatly used in situations of complex, spatial decision-making involving simultaneous consideration of a variety of criteria. In the current survey, the GIS is used to identify and study the vulnerable zones and the ecotourism status in Ilam Province. In order to evaluate the geographical information of the province, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model was used as one of the most applicable multi-criteria decision-making methods to make a base for selecting of criteria. Based upon the selected criteria, the maps elevation, slope, land cover, springs, roads, recreational and residential areas were provided. After making the map layers GIS ready, the selected criteria were weighted using Expert Choice Software. In the final step, the weighted criteria maps were overplayed using GIS in which the suitable ecotourism areas were specified. The research procedure indicates that the GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making could be quite a capable approach to handle a variety of criteria affecting site attraction for ecotourism development. In general, this empirical research develops a new methodology that can greatly enhance ecotourism planning with respect to determining site-attraction characteristics.