A B S T R A C T

Geomorphological processes, along with ethnic diversity, ecological resources, and cultural heritage, play a crucial role in creating or strengthening tourism attractions. This study aimed to identify the most important attractions and the criteria affecting their capabilities, while evaluating the geotourism potential of Sepidan County in Fars Province. Two methods were employed for data collection: library and field survey methods. The data collection tools included interviews and questionnaires, targeting a statistical population of elites, tourism specialists, geomorphologists, and geologists. For sampling, a purposive sampling method was utilized, involving 30 participants. The Pereira model served as the data analysis tool.According to the research findings, the average geomorphological rank of geomorphosites is 5.47, with an average management score of 3.95 out of 10. Despite the favorable geomorphological score, special attention must be directed towards management issues in the development of geotourism in Sepidan County. With the exception of Margoon Waterfall, the protection score of most sites is below 1.5, and in some instances, it is less than 0.75 out of 3. This indicates a pressing need for improved management of these locations. Furthermore, some sites lack the necessary infrastructure for overnight or multi-day stays, which diminishes their usability and consequently impacts the management scores of these geomorphosites.

1. Introduction

In addition to its recreational dimension, tourism is an opportunity for economic mobility; therefore, it has become a top priority in development planning (Chim-Miki et al., 2020). As a branch of tourism, geotourism emphasizes the identification of special tourist sites from a geological and geomorphological perspective (Mokhtari et al., 2020). It is based on the identification and exploitation of tourist attractions with an emphasis on landforms and processes, focusing on the combination of cultural, historical, and ecological heritage with special tourist sites (Mokhtari et al., 2020); The goal is to identify and prioritize attractions, assess their capabilities, and ultimately manage geomorphosites (Amini Gheshlaghi et al., 2022), to achieve sustainable development of this industry (Mokhtari et al., 2020).

The Iranian Plateau, with its geological background and unique geographical location, has diverse capabilities for geotourism development (Golimokhtari et al., 2018). It appears that the geomorphological attractions of Sepidan County, Fars Province, along with its cultural, social, and biological characteristics, have created a suitable potential for the development of geotourism. However, some of these geosites are not given due attention. In response to this issue, the hypothesis is proposed that despite the appropriate geomorphological attractions, more focus needs to be placed on geosite management issues in the development of geotourism. To address this, geosite evaluation models were used to examine the capabilities and criteria involved in the development of geotourism in the region, emphasizing two groups: intrinsic values and management values. An attempt was made to determine how management values influence the promotion of the geotourism capabilities of these geosites.

In general, the purpose of this research is to identify and introduce the most important attractions and criteria affecting their capabilities to enhance the geotourism exploitation of the region. Obviously, if the capabilities of geomorphological attractions are considered in the tourism development programs of the county, there will be a greater chance of success in increasing their geotourism values.

2. Methodology

Two methods, library and field survey, were used to collect the necessary data. The data collection tools included interviews and questionnaire completion. In completing the questionnaires, 30 individuals were selected from the statistical community of experts and related specialists using purposeful sampling. The Pereira model was also utilized as a data analysis tool.

First, potential geosites in the region were identified through library studies, field visits, and interviews with knowledgeable individuals. After identifying the geosites, they were evaluated based on the information obtained from field surveys and the opinions of experts (questionnaires), employing the Pereira method.

3. Results

In the final evaluation of the geotourism potential of Sepidan County, derived from the sum of the geomorphological and management factors, Margoon Waterfall is in the most favorable condition with a final value of 16.02. Chikan Waterfall ranks second with a value of 11.72, while Lake Barm Firuz is in last place with a value of 6.88.

In examining the geomorphological factors of the geotourism potential of the county, it is observed that Margoon Waterfall is in the most favorable condition, while Tang Gamil is in the worst condition. Additionally, in comparing the management factors of geomorphosites, Margoon Waterfall remains in the most favorable condition, whereas Chellegah is in the worst condition.

4. Discussion

The Pereira model was used to examine the geomorphological and management scores of selected geomorphosites in Sepidan County. In this model, the maximum geomorphological and management score that can be assigned to a geomorphosite is 10, resulting in a total score of 20. It appears that, apart from Margoon Waterfall, which ranks first by a significant margin, half of the selected geomorphosites have a relative potential higher than 10. The rest are in a condition relatively close to the average.

The average geomorphological score of the geomorphosites is 5.47, while their average management score is 3.95 out of 10. Despite the appropriate geomorphological scores, special attention must be given to management issues in the development of geotourism in Sepidan County. With the exception of Margoon Waterfall, the protection score of most of these sites is less than 1.5, and in some cases, it is below 0.75 out of 3, indicating that management of these sites requires improvement. Additionally, some sites lack the necessary infrastructure for overnight or multi-day stays, which has diminished their usability and consequently their management scores.

5. Conclusion

In general, it seems that the geomorphological capabilities of most selected sites have the potential to attract geotourists; however, their management scores and values need to be strengthened. It is essential to improve facilities and infrastructure, such as water, electricity, and roads, and to create a foundation for attracting private sector investment in developing welfare facilities at these sites.