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Eco-tourism as a purposive trip to natural settings and habitats and with the aims of cultural preservation and conservation is a viable economic alternative. Eco-tourism possesses some positive environmental, economic and social impacts among which conduction of environmental protection measures, income generation, creation of job opportunities, and promotion of host communities cultural values need considerable attention here.
Golestan province taking into consideration all of its physical peculiarities including the possession of outstanding national parks, spectacular scarps, gorges, trials, habitats, waterfalls, springs and marshes as well as its manifestation of vernacular cultures is being highly appreciated as the most viable and practical eco-tourism center. However, in order for eco-tourism to be beneficial in the province, sustainability issue needs to be included.
The major objective of this paper is first to introduce major Golestan ecotourism points of interest and second to propose a model in order to make it as a more sustainable form of development. It is argued that any efforts towards sustainability could greatly enhance the economic status of the province.