Identifying optimal location of ecotourism sites by analytic network process and genetic algorithm (GA): (Kheyroud Forest)

The development of ecotourism as one of the most economical ecosystem services requires the evaluation, planning, and management of sustainable development. By considering the challenges facing the management of touristic zones, especially in forested areas, the need to use an integrated approach to optimize “recreational activities” versus “conservation of natural resources” is inevitable. Therefore, in this study location of appropriate areas for developing ecotourism was analyzed with the use of combined analytic network process (ANP) and genetic algorithm (GA). A three-level network comprising the target, five main clusters (biodiversity, climatic and climatic resources, soil and geology, topography, and socioeconomic factors), and sub-selection criteria in the studied forest areas, are designed. Subsequently, standardized and related maps were provided as selection criteria in the GIS. Accordingly, the genetic algorithm was found to consider feasible sites and 10 optimal responses including 5 appropriate and 5 inappropriate sites. In order to ensure the optimality of the proposed GA, the desirable ratio between the superior and inappropriate sites and the comparison of the results with the zones obtained by the WLC method was used. The comparative results confirmed the efficiency of GA for identifying appropriate sites for ecotourism.