Presentation of strategic management plan in ecotourism development through SWOT (Case study: Qeshm Island)

The aim of this research was to present the strategic management plan for ecotourism development in Qeshm, the largest Island of Persian Gulf, which was conducted from February 2006 till September 2007. To provide data on regional demands of local visitors the Clawson Questionnaire was used. The ecotourism development strategic management plan was suggested through SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) method. The above mentioned items were identified by Delphi method (expert evaluation) in this study. Four strategies, based on competitive situations are suggested to observe the results of the analysis in the shape of strategic management plans for ecotourism development's charts. in spite of Island's rich resources, the results show that it can be transformed the island into a recreational pole, inadequate socio-economic infrastructure, transparent flow of information in which appropriate marketing have placed its strategic situation into competitive conditions. Considering the technological, economical, social and cultural situations during the operating time which is called the Attractiveness Mark in SWOT Method, the strategy of using the settlement's facilities and services by Qeshm Development Organization to provide basic short-termed services to local visitors, can be the first and most effective strategy to reach a better situation at the moment.