The effects of the presence of tourists on environmental resources in mountainous areas (case study: Bistoon protected area, Kermanshah province)

Today, tourism development strategy has attracted the attention of planners and policy makers. However, tourism is one of the events that has many effects on the surrounding environment, among which we can mention the environment. Today, rural tourism has developed a lot and has the most interaction with the natural environment in terms of relationship with the environment. In this research, the studied area includes Biston protected area, which has high environmental capabilities in addition to tourism features. Therefore, tourism has a direct and indirect impact on the region. The research method is descriptive and analytical. The research tool is using the Pastakia matrix. Also, a questionnaire was used to collect information. Research data has been obtained using laboratory methods as well as existing data of organizations and bodies. Also, 72 people from environmental, geography and tourism experts were used to collect data. The results of the research show that tourism has positive and negative environmental effects on the region, and the total of its positive effects on the environment (clear and positive effects and changes = 4, positive effects and changes = 12, insignificant positive effects and changes = 8) It has more negative effects (insignificant negative effects and changes = 3, negative effects and changes = 2, medium negative effects and changes = 6). The findings show that the quality of water, soil and air as well as animal and plant species have been damaged in the area. Meanwhile, the traffic in the area has also increased, which has caused damage to the environment.
 
Extended Abstract
 
Introduction
Tourism development and tourist activity in a region can have various impacts on the environment. Experience has shown that in developing and underdeveloped countries, the presence of tourists has so far resulted in more negative environmental consequences. In recent years, environmental advocacy groups and organizations supporting social justice have made significant efforts to influence tourism policy. The growth of tourism and ecotourism reflects an increasing involvement of natural resource conservation groups in activities such as monitoring, promoting, and even organizing tourism initiatives, particularly with an emphasis on environmental preservation in developing countries.The Bisotun complex is an extensive area around Kermanshah County and a significant part of the Zagros mountain range. Traveling to this mountainous region offers visitors a view of beautiful spring flowers, springs, water sources, and numerous caves, alongside the magnificent historical monuments of Bisotun. This area, covering approximately 100,000 hectares, is a highly accessible and suitable destination for tourism. As a protected, historical, and touristic area, Bisotun attracts a large number of tourists annually. However, this widespread tourist presence has created numerous environmental challenges and concerns that must be addressed.Accordingly, the central question of this research is: What are the environmental impacts of tourist presence on natural resources in the mountainous and protected region of Bisotun?
 
Methodology
The research method is descriptive-analytical and utilizes a questionnaire as the tool for data collection. The research data were obtained through laboratory methods as well as existing data from organizations and agencies. Additionally, 72 experts in environmental science, geography, and tourism were involved in data collection. The Pastakia method is based on the analysis of a matrix of activities and environmental components. The initial framework of this method was established by Pastakia in 1998, and it employs a semantic standard for important criteria in evaluation. One of the advantages of this method, known as the Pastakia Quick Matrix, is the short time required to carry out the process. Moreover, the presentation of results in a graphical format facilitates easier comparison of options, which is considered one of the strengths of this method.In this method, the project activities must first be identified, followed by determining their impacts on each environmental component. Each environmental component is assigned a score based on the defined criteria. The important evaluation criteria are classified into two categories:

a) Criteria that are considered important in terms of significance and can be assigned a score or rating;
b) Criteria that reveal the status or condition value but do not independently affect the scoring process.

 
Results and Discussion
The research results indicate that tourism has both positive and negative environmental impacts on the region, with the total positive effects (significant positive effects and changes = 4, positive effects and changes = 12, minor positive effects and changes = 8) outweighing the negative impacts (minor negative effects and changes = 3, negative effects and changes = 2, moderate negative effects and changes = 6). The findings show that the quality of water, soil, and air, as well as the local animal and plant species, have been damaged. Additionally, increased traffic in the area has contributed to environmental harm.
 
Conclusion
Tourism is a developmental phenomenon that has multiple impacts on the affected region. This study aimed to examine the environmental impacts of tourism in the Bisotun area, assessing 22 physical-chemical, biological-ecological, socio-cultural, and economic-technical variables. The results showed that among these variables, 8 had negative effects on the environment, while the rest had positive or no significant impacts. Overall, tourism development in Bisotun has had more positive environmental effects than negative ones, although the negative impacts should not be overlooked. This research highlights the importance of environmental sustainability in the tourism industry and demonstrates that the environment and geotourism provide a suitable space for sustainable development and tourism. With increasing population and pressure on natural resources, tourism can cause adverse effects such as soil erosion, loss of natural habitats, groundwater pollution, and threats to human health. Based on the findings, it is recommended to provide appropriate education to tourists to improve water, soil, and air quality; address increased traffic and its related environmental issues through measures by the municipality and district administration of Bisotun; and ensure the protection of the damaged ecosystem, especially its fauna and flora, through effective and ongoing interventions by the Environmental Protection Organization.