Assessing the Ecotourism Potential of Urban Wetlands Using Strategic SWOT Analysis: A Case Study of the Aynak Wetland, Rasht
Subject Areas : ecotourism
Seyyed Mahmood Hashemi
1
,
Pooya Talebi
2
,
Fatemeh Hamivand
3
1 -
2 - Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Guilan, Iran
3 - Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Guilan, Iran
Keywords: urban wetland, ecotourism, SWOT analysis, sustainable development, Aynak wetland,
Abstract :
Urban wetlands, as sensitive ecosystems, play a vital role in mitigating the impacts of climate change and supporting sustainable development. Aynak Wetland in Rasht, as the largest urban wetland in Iran, faces multiple challenges, including industrial pollution, invasive species, and unregulated urban expansion. This study aimed to evaluate the ecotourism potential of the wetland and propose sustainable management strategies. A mixed-method approach was employed, incorporating field surveys (347 samples) and a strategic SWOT analysis. Internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats) were weighted and ranked using SPSS (version 22) and Microsoft Excel. The reliability of the questionnaires was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.84. The total weighted scores for strengths (1.719) and opportunities (1.829) exceeded those of weaknesses (1.38) and threats (1.169). Key strengths identified include proximity to the city center of Rasht, the presence of migratory birds, and the availability of permanent water resources. The main challenges were industrial pollutants, the spread of invasive species (such as water hyacinth), and the absence of an integrated management plan. Based on the SWOT matrix results, an aggressive (SO) strategy—focusing on the development of ecotourism infrastructure, the establishment of nature-based camps, and enhanced local community engagement—is recommended as the optimal approach. This study highlights the critical need to integrate urban planning with ecological conservation in the management of Iran's urban wetlands.
• جباری نوقابی، ه. و عرفانیان، م. 1398. تعیین حجم نمونه با نرمافزار SPSS. چاپ اول. انتشارات دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد. https://profdoc.um.ac.ir/book-abstract-223993.html
• سازمان حفاظت محیط زیست، دفتر حفاظت و احیا تالابها. 1403. از طریق آدرس زیر http://wetlands.doe.ir/
• سبحانی, پروانه ودانه کار, افشین. (1402). ارزیابی و پهنهبندی خدمات اکوسیستمی در جنگلهای مانگروی حوزة خمیر و قشم. مجله علمی, 15(2), 275-292.
• سروش نیا, شیوا. (1398). برنامه ریزی راهبردی برای توسعه پایدار منطقه حفاظت شده تالاب چغاخور. جغرافیا و روابط انسانی, 2(1), 202-213.
• لوکوربوزیه، 1382. منشور آتن: چهارمین کنگره بینالمللی معماری مدرن. نشر فضا. موسسه علمی و فرهنگی فضا. تهران
• مرکز آمار ایران. 1395. سالنامه آماری استان گیلان از طریق آدرس: https://amar.org.ir/
• Alikhani, S., Nummi, P., & Ojala, A. (2023). Modified, ecologically destructed, and disappeared–History of urban wetlands in Helsinki metropolitan area. Wetlands, 43(4), 33.
• Balsalobre-Lorente, D., Abbas, J., He, C., Pilař, L., & Shah, S. A. R. (2023). Tourism, urbanization and natural resources rents matter for environmental sustainability: The leading role of AI and ICT on sustainable development goals in the digital era. Resources Policy, 82, 103445.
• Berrone, P., Rousseau, H. E., Ricart, J. E., Brito, E., & Giuliodori, A. (2023). How can research contribute to the implementation of sustainable development goals? An interpretive review of SDG literature in management. International Journal of Management Reviews, 25(2), 318-339.
• Cheng, B., Huang, J., Guo, Z., Li, J., & Chen, H. (2023). Towards sustainable construction through better construction and demolition waste management practices: a SWOT analysis of Suzhou, China. International Journal of Construction Management, 23(15), 2614-2624
• Deng, Y., Shao, Z., Dang, C., Huang, X., Wu, W., Zhuang, Q., & Ding, Q. (2023). Assessing urban wetlands dynamics in Wuhan and Nanchang, China. Science of the Total Environment, 901, 165777.
• Fennell, D. A., & de Grosbois, D. (2023). Communicating sustainability and ecotourism principles by ecolodges: A global analysis. Tourism Recreation Research, 48(3), 333-351.
• Ganjali, S. K. Shayesteh, A. Ghasemi, H. Mohammadi (2014). Environmental and strategic assessment of ecotourism potential in Anzali Wetland using SWOT analysis. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, 12(1), 155-165.
• Ghosh, S., & Pal, S. (2023). Economic and socioecological perspectives of urban wetland loss and processes: A study from literatures. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(25), 66514-66537.
• Greif, L., Kimmig, A., El Bobbou, S., Jurisch, P., & Ovtcharova, J. (2024). Strategic view on the current role of AI in advancing environmental sustainability: a SWOT analysis. Discover Artificial Intelligence, 4(1), 45.
• Hall, C. M., & Lew, A. A. (2009). Understanding and managing tourism impacts: An integrated approach. Routledge.
• Heshmati, M., Gheitury, M., & Shadfar, S. (2022). Factors affecting possibility of ecotourism development and sustaining natural resources using SWOT approach in west Iran. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 10(2), 173-183.
• Jones, T. E., & Nguyen, M. H. (2021). Nature-based tourism motivations and visit profiles of domestic and international segments to a Japanese National Park. Quaestiones Geographicae, 40(2), 77–92.https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2021-0013
• Liu, Zili, Dong, Xinfa; Liu, Zhaotie; Liu, Qihai (2013), A Simple Analysis on Wetland Ecotourism Sustainable Development: Case Study for Jinyin Lake, Advanced Materials Research, Vol. 807 -809, Pp: 91091-4.
• Mondal, I., Bandyopadhyay, J., Hossain, S. A., Altuwaijri, H. A., Roy, S. K., Akhter, J., ... & Juliev, M. (2024). Evaluating the effects of rapid urbanization on the encroachment of the east Kolkata Wetland ecosystem: a remote sensing and hybrid machine learning approach. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1-33.
• Nikolaou, I.E and Evangelinos, K.I, (2010), “A SWOT analysis of environmental management practices in Greek Mining and Mineral Industry”, Resources Policy. 35: 226–234.
• Paliwal, R, (2006), “EIA practice in India and its evaluation using SWOT analysis”, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 26: 492–510.
• Puyt, R. W., Lie, F. B., & Wilderom, C. P. (2023). The origins of SWOT analysis. Long Range Planning, 56(3), 102304.
• Ramsar Convention Secretariat. (2010) Coastal management, wetland issues in integrated coastal zone management. In Ramsar handbooks for the wise use of wetlands, 4 th edition. Vol. 12. Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Gland, Switzerland.
• Ramsar Information sheet (2021) Ramsar Convention Ecosystem Services Benefit Factsheets. (accessed: 23 Aug. 2024).
• Samal, R., & Dash, M. (2023). Ecotourism, biodiversity conservation and livelihoods: Understanding the convergence and divergence. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 11(1), 1-20.
• Thommandru, M. Espinoza-Maguiña, E. Ramirez-Asis. 2020. Role of tourism and hospitality business in economic development, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.07.059
• Vogel, H. L. (2021) Travel Industry economics: A guid for financial analysis. Springer Nature.
• Wang, J., Huang, X., Gong, Z., & Cao, K. (2020). Dynamic assessment of tourism carrying capacity and its impacts on tourism economic growth in urban tourism destinations in China. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 15, 100383.
• Wang, Y., Yang, G., & Lu, Y. (2023). Evaluation of urban wetland landscapes based on a comprehensive model—a comparative study of three urban wetlands in Hangzhou, China. Environmental Research Communications, 5(3), 035004.
• Zhou, L., Guan, D., Huang, X., Yuan, X., & Zhang, M. (2020). Evaluation of the cultural ecosystem services of wetland park. Ecological Indicators, 114, 106286
