Editorial
Authors
1
MSc of Ecotourism, University of Hormozgan
2
Assistant Professor of Climatology, University of Hormozgan
3
Associate Professor of Climatology, Razi University
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Nature-based tourism is a kind of tourism, including natural and anthropogenic attractions that is built in nature (rural and pastoral life styles). Nowadays these activities are one of the most important sections of tourism.
Based on the variety of natural and anthropogenic attractions, Iran has an excellent potential for natural-based tourism. Qheshm Island, the biggest Island in Iran and Persian Golf, is one of the most valuable regions for natural-based tourism having a long history, and historic and cultural heritage, has a volunteer potentials for natural-based tourism.
In this study we are going to answer to the following question: what are the most appropriate times for natural-based tourism activities based on metabolic heat and CLO for Qheshm Island by using SET* climate comfort index? The results show even in warm months (low season for tourism in this area) there is some potentials for natural-based tourism activities.
Introduction
A common characteristic of various kinds of natural-based tourism is physical activity of tourists in different environments and times with different intensities, having no control on climatic and atmospheric conditions. For this reason, unlike other kinds of tourism activities, for natural-based tourism and ecotourism, bioclimatic comfort conditions are highly depend on climatic and topographic factors, and on the rate of metabolic heat of natural-based tourist physical activity.
Materials and Methods
In this paper climate comfort condition of natural-based tourism activities is investigated for Qheshm Island using 30 years hourly data as input of SET* index.
Discussion and Results
One of the outcomes of this study is a new classification of natural-based tourism activities in five classes including; very light, light, moderate, semi-heavy, heavy activities.
Table (1): Classification of natural-based tourism activities based on metabolic heat (W/m2) and CLO[1]
Ecotourism activity level
Metabolic heat of Activity
Watts/m2
CLO Watts/m2
Natural-based activity
1- Very light
115- 144
For summer: 0.55
For winter: 0.96
115 W: Cultural tourism
116 W: Walking (less than 3.2 km per hour (2.0 mph))
2- Light
145- 174
For summer: 0.55
For winter: 0.96
145 W: Camping (including standing, walking, sitting, or light-to-moderate effort), Bird watching, Walking (3/2 km per hour (2.0 mph)), fishing (sitting in a boat)
162 W: walking(4 km per hour (2.5 mph)), walking on downhills
174 W: fishing, general, sailing, boat and board sailing, windsurfing
3-Moderate
175- 289
For summer: 0.55
For winter: 0.96
191 W: Canoeing
203 W: walking for pleasure
232 W: fishing from the river bank while walking, canoeing, trip on paddle boat
4- Semi heavy
290- 492
For summer: 0.55
For winter: 0.96
Diving with no clothes: 0.1
Diving with appropriate clothes: 0.59
Jet Ski: 0.18
290 W: hunting (in general), kayaking, snorkeling, walking grass track, whitewater rafting
348 W: jogging (less than 10 minutes), walking uphill (5.6 km per hour (3.5 mph)), hiking cross country, skiing on water, swimming on lake, ocean and river
406 W: rowing, jogging, swimming backstroke and freestyle, slow, moderate or light effort, hill climbing with 0 to 4 kg load (0 to 9 pound), diving, scuba diving
464 W: Running 8 km per hour (5 mph), climbing hills with 9.5 to 19 kg load (21 to 42 pound)
Continued Table (1): Classification of natural-based tourism activities based on metabolic heat (W/m2) and CLO[2]
Ecotourism activity level
Metabolic heat of Activity
Watts/m2
CLO Watts/m2
Natural-based activity
5- Heavy
493- 957
For summer: 0.55
For winter: 0.96
Diving with no clothes: 0.1
Diving with appropriate clothes: 0.59
493 W: mountain biking
696 W: canoeing (with a high rate of activity), rowing, (>9.6 km per hour) >6 mph,
725 W: moderate Skin diving
928 W: fast skin diving
957 W: skiing cross country on hard snow, mountaineering uphill in a maximum snow amount
Outcomes show that although some month are not suitable for some kind of activities (based on SET* index), but there is some restricted suitable times for some kinds of activities.
In warm months the most comfortable times for natural-based tourism activities are 6:00, 18:00 and 21:00 and in cold months are 9:00, 12:00 and 15:00. Therefor there is suitable times for natural-based tourism activities in all around the year.
Conclusions
Therefore, even in warm months (low season for tourism in this area) there is some potentials for natural-based tourism activities. Unlike Nohegar and Hoseinzadeh (2009) we believe that climate is one of the strengths of Qheshm Island for development of natural-based tourism, and is not a weakness of it.
The results show that there is no suitable times all around the year in Qheshm Island for heavy activities such as mountain biking, diving with high rate body activity and …. Therefore for heavy activities SET* index is needs to be calibrated.
Keywords: Nature-Based Tourism, Heat Comfort, SET*, Qheshm Island.
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[1] 1 CLO = 0.155 K·m²·W⁻¹
[2] 1 CLO = 0.155 K·m²·W⁻¹
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