Identifying and Presenting Strategies for Developing Ecotourism Businesses in the Tourist Villages of Qeshm Island

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohmmad Ali Jafari 1
Mehdi Ghorbani 2
sharareh Pourebrahim 3
Leila Avazpour 4
Golbarg Bakhshesh 5
1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
2 Professor, Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
3 Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
5 Department of Natural Resources Policy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
10.30470/jrdes.2025.2069571.1092
Abstract
Ecotourism business is one of the most effective ways to economically develop coastal areas. The aim of this research is to strategically evaluate ecotourism businesses on Qeshm Island using the SWOT approach. Initially, ecotourism businesses were identified in five selected tourism villages including Souza, Ramkan, Salkh, Soheili, and Tabl on Qeshm Island, and then, from the statistical population (ecotourism lodge business owners) to produce the required data, sampling was carried out using full network method, and 17 valid questionnaires were completed and used for data analysis. Strategies to improve the current status of the ecotourism business in SO strategies, strengthening the ecotourism brand with an emphasis on natural attractions and local culture, and developing educational and cultural tours in cooperation with universities and local organizations, In WO strategies, upgrading communication and transportation infrastructure by attracting support from the government and local institutions and training the local workforce in the field of tourism services using educational tours and government support, ST strategies include creating local cooperative networks to sell local products, supporting nomadic businesses, and developing accommodation services while maintaining authenticity and utilizing traditional architecture to compete with luxury hotels. And in WT strategies, targeted financial planning and marketing have been proposed to deal with economic fluctuations and financial problems of resorts and to create supportive frameworks and local laws for environmental protection and sustainable development of ecotourism. These strategies provide a suitable platform for the development and sustainability of ecotourism businesses in the tourist villages of Qeshm Island.
Keywords
Marine-based Economy
Sustainable Development of Coastal Areas
Sustainable Business
Ecotourism
Qeshm Island
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  • Receive Date 25 August 2025
  • Revise Date 01 October 2025
  • Accept Date 03 January 2026
  • Publish Date 22 December 2025