IRAN, The Centre of Geotourism Potentials

Nowadays, geotourism is one of the fields of specialization of tourism, which identifies attractive geological phenomena and their tourism merit. Given its climatic and geological conditions, Iran has multiple geosites of novelgeological phenomena such as the biggest salt cave of the world, the largest Kaluts of the world, beautiful mud volcanos and… If, in an area, there are several geosites with historic, cultural works and different living natures (ecosystems), that area is called geopark . Naturally, these regions are Iran's geotourism potentials. Attribution of geosite and geopark to each region requires such necessary infrastructures to be provided as efficient management, training of local individuals, tourist attraction based on education of geological-recreational concepts and protection of phenomena. Given numerous talents of Iran in this field, this research, after providing theoretical concepts, introduces and describes the features of those regions which are potentially ready to become geosite or geopark, and provides suggestions for geotourism development and achieving the above goals. Certainly, through providing the necessary infrastructures, a long step will be taken towards presenting invaluable geological heritageof Iran to geotourism enthusiasts in the world. This also will have direct effect on geotourism development and sustainable development

Keywords:

Iran , Geotourism , Geosite , Geopark , Sustainable Development