Currently, tourism has become one of the most important components of economic development and welfare of the most countries and it is anticipated that soon this industry will be the largest industry and economic activity in the world. In fact, tourism is a complex economic activity that has penetrated all pores of human life. Due to this, attention to the various capacities and strategies of tourism can have very positive aspects for creating advancement and replacing new sources of revenue rather than other sources, especially oil resources; So that development of it for developing countries facing with problems like high unemployment rate, constraints of exchange resources and mono-product economy has a great importance. In this industry, Religious appeals, shrines and holy places every year attracts a large number of tourists. This has a lot of economic, social and physical benefits for religious tourists in the community. For this purpose, planning with strategic approach can be one of the methods to utilize these opportunities for areas with religious and cultural capacities. The current research has investigated this issue with an applied- developmental approach and by combination of descriptive-analytic and field methods for the purpose of feasibility and development of this industry in the central part of the village of Seyyed Hassan and the village of Shahid Modarres Shushtar in Khuzestan province that have a high capacity from aspect of attracting religious tourism due to their special situation. This research studies the 305 residents of the village, and completes appropriate information and investigates them by using ArcGIS, SWOT, and EXCEL models and software. The results has demonstrated that the vulnerability of the village of Seyyed Hassan is high in terms of tourism development. Prominences and benefits of Seyyed Hassan village is very high. Distribution and reallocation of resources in rural areas regarding the limited opportunities and high weaknesses are vital. Also, Shrine of Seyyed Hassan and natural landscapes are considered as advantages for tourism development. It is emphasized the optimal use of these factors on the development of religious and natural tourism and ecotourism. Among the weaknesses, inadequate facilities and residential facilities, amenities, services and transportation were a priority that these issues as tourism development barriers have been removed with the participation of local people and the public and private sectors. From external threats, water and soil pollution, the rural environment by tourists are considered as external threats. In general we can say that if the country religious tourism wants to achieve stability and play positive role in the lives of rural people, needs to determine and develop specific strategies, environmental management, development of local participation, clear rules and strong, sustainable marketing and realistic plan.
Keywords: Feasibility, Rural tourism, SWOT, Village of Seyyed Hassan
