Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02633-z ORIGINAL PAPER Identifying optimal location of ecotourism sites by analytic network process and genetic algorithm (GA): (Kheyroud Forest) J. MirarabRazi 1  · I. Hassanzad Navrodi 1  · I. Ghajar 1  · M. Salahi 1 Received: 21 November 2018 / Revised: 10 December 2019 / Accepted: 14 January 2020 © Islamic Azad University (IAU) 2020 Abstract 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, fve 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 confrmed the efciency of GA for identifying appropriate sites for ecotourism. Keywords Ecotourism location · Analytic network process (ANP) · Weighted linear composition (WLC) · Genetic algorithm (GA) · Optimization · Kheyroud Introduction Today, tourism is known as a high-performing industry in the global economy. The recent worldwide increased demand for recreation and tourism experiences has faced the managers with some challenges regarding the efects that visitors may have on the natural and environmental resources of protected areas. Recreation is one of the psychological requirements of modern life that eliminates exhaustion through relaxation. Among diferent types of tourism, eco- tourism is one of the worldwide broadest activities that have experienced substantial growth (Bali et al. 2015). The most important features of this type of development are the lack of infrastructure, facilities, and macroeconomic investments. Ecotourism development is one of the efective factors that provide many direct and indirect economic, social, cultural, and environmental benefts to the hosts (Ghahroodi Tali and Sadoogh 2012). On the other hand, mismanagements in the feld of eco- tourism development in protected areas have shown dam- aging the ecotourism and culture of local communities. Therefore, in order to create reasonable and optimal balance and facilitate ecotourism administration, it is necessary to develop and use criteria according to dominant conditions and situations in that area, keep sustainability to preserve the environment in a way that maintains it for the use of future generations, and fulfll current recreational needs. Forest is one of the most crucial ecotourism resources. In this regard, Caspian forests located in the north of Iran ofer a tremendous genetically, ecological, and landscape variety, enriched by the presence of various microcultures and life- styles (Ahmadi et al. 2014). Accordingly, the recreational opportunity of ecotourism should be utilized as a parallel approach for forest exploitation, sustainability maintaining, and natural resources protection while providing economic Editorial responsibility: M. Abbaspour. * I. Hassanzad Navrodi iraj.hassanzad@gmail.com 1 Department of Forestry, Natural Resources Faculty, University of Guilan, P/O Box 41635-19141, Rasht, Iran