An Analysis of Regional Natural Potentials in Achieving Sustainable Tourism in Plain Cities in the Postmodern Era (Case Study: Sari City)

Sustainable tourism, as a modern approach, contributes to preserving the environment, local culture, and enhancing the quality of life for local communities. The aim of this research is to examine regional natural capacities in achieving sustainable tourism in Sari during the postmodern era. The research method was descriptive-analytical, with data collected through library and field studies. The main tools included interviews and questionnaires. The statistical population comprised citizens of Sari and experts. A sample of 380 citizens was selected using Cochran's method based on the 2016 census, and 30 experts were sampled through random sampling. The data were analyzed using SPSS software with descriptive, inferential, and VIKOR methods, and GIS software was employed for map analysis. The research findings showed that regional natural capacities have a significant impact on achieving sustainable tourism in the lowland city of Sari. In districts 2 and 4, averages above 3 and low significance levels indicate the high potential of these regions for attracting tourists and sustainable development. In region 1, districts 1 to 3 did not show a significant effect from natural capacities, while district 4 had a positive impact. Furthermore, districts 2 and 3 in region 2 and districts 1 and 2 in region 3, with the highest scores, demonstrated strong water resources, natural attractions, and favorable infrastructure. Therefore, the results emphasize the importance of economic, social, cultural, environmental, and infrastructural factors in strengthening sustainable tourism and show that sustainable development requires comprehensive and participatory attention to all these factors.