Geography and Human Relationships

Geography and Human Relationships

Feasibility Study of Developing Photography Tourism in Gilan Province with Emphasis on Environmental Capacities and PESTEL Analysis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Habib Mahmoodi chenari 1
fatemeh sabetnazar 2
mohamad alizadeh 3
1 Environmental Research Institute of Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research(E RI of ACECR)
2 Master's Student in Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Art, University of Gilan, Rasht, Iran. ```
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Iranian Studies, Faculty of Iranian Studies, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran.
10.22034/gahr.2025.553052.2612
Abstract
This research aims to conduct a feasibility study for the development of photography tourism (phototourism) in Gilan Province, focusing on the assessment of environmental capacities and essential prerequisites. Applied in purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature, this study employed a mixed-methods approach (qualitative and quantitative) through a three-phase design: documentary analysis, expert interviews, and administration of a researcher-developed questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the PESTEL framework and evaluation of six key environmental capacity indicators—landscape diversity, natural phenomena, astronomical photography potential, historical architecture, engineering structures, and cultural-economic dynamism. Findings reveal that Gilan Province exhibits exceptional environmental capacities, including diverse landscapes, unique natural phenomena, and cultural richness. PESTEL analysis identified the social dimension (mean: 3.14) as the primary strength and conducive foundation for development, while the technological (mean: 1.96) and political (mean: 1.94) dimensions emerged as the main challenges; furthermore, a strong correlation between technology and legislation (r = 0.82) underscores the necessity for concurrent reforms in both domains. The study concludes that despite unparalleled environmental capacities, sustainable phototourism development in Gilan urgently requires strengthening technological infrastructure, ensuring policy stability, and establishing transparent legal frameworks.
Keywords
Phototourism
Photography Tourism
Environmental Capacity
PESTEL Model
Gilan Province
Subjects
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Geography and Human Relationships
Volume 9, Issue 1 - Serial Number 33
Winter 2026
Pages 468-494

  • Receive Date 13 October 2025
  • Revise Date 19 November 2025
  • Accept Date 26 November 2025