Quantitative analysis of the geotourism potential of Shirvan Darresi (located in Meshkinshahr County, Ardabil Province)

Extended Abstract



Introduction

Today, in many countries, the tourism industry is the main source of income, employment, private sector growth, and infrastructure development (Movahed and Kohzadi, 2014: 182). In this context, one of the important sub-sectors of the tourism industry is geotourism (Ahmadi et al., 2018: 2). Geotourism is referred to as tourism that has geological, morphological, and cultural attractions, and the correct and optimal use of these attractions in different regions requires knowledge of other aspects. The main purpose of the present study is to investigate and analyze the geotourism potential of sites in the Shirvan Darresi region. This region, with its enormous natural potential, has various natural and pristine geosites in Meshkinshahr County. The results of this research can evaluate the geotourism potential of the region's geosites and identify the most important strengths and weaknesses of the region. This approach can lead to positive feedback and growth of the local economy for the development of a geotourism strategy in mountainous areas such as Shirvan Darreh.



Methodology

The research method is mainly adjusted to the nature of the subject and the objectives of each research. This research is applied in terms of purpose and its approach is a combination of descriptive and analytical methods, the information and data required for which were obtained from documentary reviews and field studies. To identify and evaluate the geographical location of the region, physical tools such as topographic and geological maps, satellite images, and conceptual tools including ARC GIS software were used. In this study, based on the dynamic Hadzik model, the required information regarding the sub-indices of scientific value, sub-indices of surplus values, and indicators of vulnerability assessment of geosites for the Shirvan Darresi region has been collected based on the opinions of 30 tourists of that region and 30 specialists and experts familiar with the area. Excel, SPSS.26, and Smart PLS4 software have been used for statistical analysis of the data. SPSS.26 software was used for nonparametric tests based on questionnaire results, and PLS4 software was used for structural equation modeling (SEM) tests.



Results and Discussion

Based on the results of the scientific value, surplus, and vulnerability assessment by experts and tourists, the geotourism areas of Shirvanchay River, Atgoli Lake, Jeirangoli Lake, and waterfalls have average geotourism potential with values of 32.45, 27.79, 27.63, and 22.85, respectively, and the geotourism potential of the rocky sites and Shabil hot spring is 47.95 and 41.10, respectively, which indicates the good geotourism potential of these two sites.

According to the structural equation model and the results of confirmatory factor analysis of the variables, the path coefficients of all components are confirmed and the excess values have the highest values. This means that the effect of these factors is greater than the others. The results of factor analysis showed that the variables of the questionnaire components have a factor load of more than 0.5 and are significant, and as a result, all variables and components of the questionnaire are confirmed. According to the research findings, the reliability values of the construct of each component have acceptable ranges and numbers, and all factors are confirmed. The AVE rate for each construct is greater than the shared variance between that construct and other constructs in the model, and accordingly, these values indicate that a construct in the model has more interaction with its indicators than with other constructs. Therefore, the research model is also confirmed in terms of discriminant validity.



Conclusion

In this regard, it can be acknowledged that despite the potential and actual potential of the entire study area for geotourism purposes, only the Shabil hot spring geocomposite has received more attention, and due to its distance from human centers and lack of proper access routes and insufficient introduction, the potential and capacities of other geocomposites are not utilized to the maximum. Therefore, the fundamental issue of the lack of tourism in the region is the lack of infrastructure, and the city authorities should consider that with coherent and scientific planning, they can turn this area into a model tourism area at the provincial, national, and even global levels, considering its natural attractions, which requires investment and government support. We should not ignore the attractiveness of the erosion walls and cliffs of the Shirvan Darreh area, At-Goli Lake, Jeirangoli, and waterfalls in attracting tourists. In fact, such potentials are mostly found in unknown regions and sectors that are rarely mentioned in research. However, paying attention to these potentials in terms of attracting geotourists can be fruitful in helping to grow the local economy, reduce the migration of neighboring villagers, create new infrastructure, etc.