Feasibility of Ecotourism Development of Rural Communities of Darrehshahr

Iran taking into account its broad and varied potentials is being considered as one of the major tourism focal point. It is argued that, natural attractions, virgin landscapes, hospitable climate, all paved the ground for eco-tourism in Darrehshahr located in Ilam province taking into consideration its geographic location and possessing of ample eco-tourism potentials. However, due to many reasons, these opportunities have not been appropriately utilized. This study aims to propose some measures for an appropriate tourism management in Darrehshahr. It furtherer plan to identify, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in specific eco-tourism region. This study deals with strategic participatory planning using SWOT model. In order to prioritize principle strategy, complementary applied quantitative planning was used. This study suggests that despite of all of the tourism potentials, lack of tourism accommodations led to tourists, un-satisfaction. This in turn demands the proposition of some measures including the generation of the relevant infra structures for tourists.