Investigating the Effective Bioclimatic Factors on Tourism Industry ( Case of Study : Zanjan , Iran )

The tourism industry is one of the largest and fastest growing economic factors in the contemporary worlds. Many factors affect the tourism industry; one of the most important of them is climate. Unfortunately, tourism literature has not paid much attention to the effect of climatic factors on the industry as it worth. Therefore, in order to develop this area of global economic, it is necessary to recognize the capabilities and limitations of the climate area. In this research, in order to evaluate environmental conditions in there, indicators of effective temperature (ET), temperature-humidity (THI), Baker Index (CP), and physiological stress indicators, (Pphs) by using monthly statistic parameters of temperature, relative humidity wind and synoptic sampling stations during the period 2005 – 1955 are used. Results show that based on the parameters of ET, the maximum temperature in April, the minimum temperature in July and August and the average temperature can be seen in May. About THI index comfort conditions can be seen just in March and November and CP index indicates total bioclimatic comfort in summer. Index ( also found that only the months of June, September and has been neutral in terms of biological stress.


Introduction
Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors (Hamilton et al., 2005).This industry with more than 760 million tourists and some 622 billion dollars in 2004 and 700 billion dollars in 2006, allocates about 10 percent of global GDP (Ataei et al., 2010, p. 28).World Tourism Organization has also predicted that by 2020, the world population of tourists to one billion and its revenue to 6.1 billion dollars increases (WTO, 2006).Tourism is highly dependent on climate.So, it is surprising that tourism literature has paid little attention to climate and climate change (Hamilton et al., 2005).Although, most tourism studies focus on economic variables (Lim et al., 2008), climate is recognized as a driver key for tourism and as an important feature for destination (Hu and Ritchie, 1993).Also, climate is considered as a key resource for tourism (Kozak et al., 2008) or as a facilitator, which makes the tourism activities possible and enjoyable (Martin, 2005).Many factors affect the tourism industry, which climate is one of the most important of them.Along with geographic location, topography, vision, flora and fauna, climate as one of the most important local resource plays a role in the tourism industry.It can be said that the climate is an enormous natural wealth, which by impacting on environmental resources controls length and quality of tourism, health and even personal experiences of tourists (Tavousi & Yari, 2013).Climate as one of the main components of natural systems affects tourism industry in different ways and in interaction with this industry it proposes a new discussion with name of tourism ecology.Studies of tourist ecology are in an overview connected with concepts of climate and tourism.Climate has the concept of air in it and is recognized as a set of daily and seasonal weather conditions and events in a long time.Tourism, which includes concept of entertainment, is defined as act of travelling for leisure and entertainment and leisure is optional activities for personal interests and pleasure (De Freitas, 2003).Climate has significant impact on tourist behavior and plays a role for choosing place of travel and activities (Lin & Matzarakis, 2008).Leisure and tourist centers in both the past and present know their existence and values due to various factors including proper and gentle the weather conditions.On the other hand, bad weather conditions decreases the positive aspects and attractions of a tourist area and leaves adverse effects on tourism.Indication of each weather events can lead to disorder in tourism.The occurrence of storms and high winds may revolve blocking communication lines, such as air -land and sea and finally severe coastal breeze will create unpleasant conditions on sandy beaches, which create negative repercussions on tourism (Zadeh, 2008).The relationship between weather, climate and tourism is in different forms.On the one hand we are dealing with meteorological conditions that are very variable from one place to another and at intervals; on the other hand, tourism also is the multi-faceted phenomenon.Its interaction effects are a very complex and have made relationship between weather -climate -tourism issue as a very complex and controversial work.The main cause of the phenomenon of seasonal tourism is climate (Ataei et al., 2010).Tourism has been the biggest industry in the world, a fact that has been not mentioned in today's research (Lise & Tol, 2002).Therefore, it is necessary to study and identify the limitations and risks of climatic threats and also to be aware of the potential attractions and natural features and climate of each region in different seasons of the year in order to use them in different planning.Zanjan City in Iran also by having unique natural and man-made tourist attractions Such as KataleKhor cave (the second largest limestone cave in the world), Dome of Soltaniyeh, The world's first salt man, Laundry etc. is suggested as one of the Tourist attraction centers in the country and the world.According to the climatic conditions in the North West of the Iran, including the Zanjan, traditionally usually in warm period of the year this city is selected for tourism.Snow, ice and cold weather in cold period of year is usually considered as the main obstacle for tourism.This study was aimed to survey terms of climatic comfort by using several bioclimatic indexes.Results of this study can be used in setting time for the implementation of tourism programs and planning to increase the quantity and quality of tourism services by Organizations and agencies.

Research Background
In field of climate -tourism and the impact of weather conditions on human comfort many studies have been done up to now around the world.Achieving climate comfort conditions in each country is empirically possible, dependent on its climate conditions, but scientific study and documented climatic conditions and comfort of human goes to late 50's and 60 twentieth century.Ashrae Research Center in the years 1925 -1923 provided the effective temperature coefficient ET, which is raised from combination of three climate elements, humidity, temperature and wind conditions, through which the climatic conditions for human well-being can be calculated.Olgii was the first one, who presented a bioclimatic chart in 1963 and scientifically provided humidity and heat conditions in relation to human needs and climatic design.Tarjoung has in 1966 categorized bioclimatic areas of the United States of America based on convenience factor and the cooling effect of the wind.Baker (2000) has studied climatic conditions of 31 cities of South Africa's with regard to thermal feeling of the people from circumstance and came to the conclusion that maximum comfort conditions can be found in the Mediterranean region around Cape Town reigns.Ogunsote (2003) has begun to choose thermal index for architectural design with the climate in Nigeria.Hamilton (2005), by using a simulation model examined climate change and the International Tourism and also has analyzed base effects of population, capita income and climate change on entry and exit and this led to the conclusion that the impact of climate change is smaller than two other parameters.Lin and Matzarakis analyzed Climate -Tourism and thermal comfort index in Taiwan using physiological equivalent temperature.Dili et al. (2010) studied thermal comfort of residential buildings in the traditional Kerala using a questionnaire survey among residents of traditional and modern buildings.Also Weitz and Richard ( 2002) have been studied the climate impact on the tourism industry.In Iran, also several studies have been conducted in the field of tourism climate and climatic comfort, which are presented in following: Kaviani (1992) using Baker equation has obtained the map of bioclimatic summer and winter for the northern and southern of Iran.In 1993 during a comprehensive survey entitled "Survey and Mapping Environment -Iranian human climate" has provided Humidity, sunshine, wind efficacy, Tarjoung convenience factor and relevant charts and comfort index for January and July in Iran.Jahanbakhsh (1998) evaluated the scope of human bioclimatic provocations in Tabriz by Baker method.Zolphagharieh (2007) studied a suitable calendar for circulation in Tabriz, using indicators of physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and the average poll forecast (PMV).Mohammadi and Saeedi (2009) examined the comfort or discomfort of people in the city of Qom, Iran, based on bioclimatic models and indicators of Baker, Tarjoung, stress and Term hygrometric and came to the conclusion that area over the years in terms of bioclimatic conditions has incredibly hot to very cold climate.Bazrpash and Maleki (2008) in order to assess climatic condition of Babolsar, Iran in terms of outdoor thermal comfort for ecotourism offered a range of thermal comfort and optimum conditions for tourism in nature and open space from April to late October.Hezarkhani (2008)  Index effective temperature ET: The most accurate indicator, which has been presented for review climatic conditions from the perspective of human comfort, is the effective temperature.This scale was presented for the first time by Yaglou and Houten in cooperation with Ashrea Company in 1923 USA.The effective temperature is the temperature of saturated still air that can have the same effect as desired air without any radiation (Kotinsburg, 1989).Houtan or Yaglou define the effective temperature as follow: temperature in a standardized environment with relative humidity of 50% wind speed (V) of less than 0.5 meters per second and the air temperature is equal with the radiation temperature (ta = tr), so that a person experiences the same temperature that is experienced in the real environment (Kaviani et al., 2006) Baker bioclimatic index CP: Baker using some climatic elements, such as average wind speeds at a height of 2 meters and average daily temperature has calculated the cooling power (CP) and earned the bioclimatic situation of region.Baker believes that various climatic factors influence the human organism and reactions to that are different.Thus it is possible to have a correct assessment of the extent of bioclimatic stimulation, when detailed analysis of the organism reactions is available.Because between all significant elements related with bioclimatic stimulation of human, cooling power, which is a combination of temperature and humidity, is more suitable than all other elements.Baker has used following equation to calculate the cooling power (CP): 0.26 0.34 .

/ /
In which V is velocity of wind (meter per second) and T is average daily temperature.
In this equation cooling power is represented according to different between human body temperature and environment temperature.Baker has defined degree of environmental cooling power and threshold of bioclimatic stimulation of human in following table:

Results and Discussion
Effective temperature Index ET: Table 5 shows the effective temperature index values (ET) for Zanjan, Iran stations in different months of the year.As table indicates the lowest average of effective temperature for maximum temperature parameter in January Zanjan city is 3 degree Celsius, which according to table (1) expresses the very cool comfort factor.Also, the highest average of effective temperature for maximum temperature parameter is 39.8 degree Celsius in August and expresses very warm comfort factor (lack of comfort).As we can see, with the exception of April, other months have the conditions of thermal comfort.The lowest average of effective temperature for minimum temperature parameter is -8.2 degree Celsius in January and the highest average of effective temperature in 18.4 degree Celsius in July, which respectively represents cold comfort factor and thermal comfort.As it is shown, for this parameter, the two months of July and August have the conditions of thermal comfort.Also the lowest average of effective temperature for average temperature parameter is -2.8 in January and the highest temperature is 30.4 in July, which indicates cold and very warm comfort factor.Only May has the climatic comfort situation.

Conclusion
Attention to the characteristics and potential of climate can be more effective in order to take advantage of spatial abilities and to achieve sustainable development.Climate of one area effects tourism industry as an important economic dimension from various aspects.This affect has two negative and positive dimensions.Understanding or lack of understanding of climate patterns of an area can play a big role in motivating tourists.Thus, this study aimed to distinguish some suitable months, which have good feeling for tourists, based on some bioclimatic index.Results can be represented as follow: Calculations based on the effective temperature index shows that maximum temperature parameter except April has uncomfortable situation in other months.In minimum temperature parameter two months of July and August and in average temperature parameter May have the bioclimatic comfort situation.
Calculations based on the temperature humidity index shows that some month have equal situation and comfort condition can just be seen in November and March.
Using baker index about environmental cooling power it is resulted that June, July, August and September, are in bioclimatic comfort zones and during year only summer has bioclimatic comfort situation.
Biological pressure index also showed that there is in July and August, average thermal pressure and in April, March, October and November, average cooling pressure.And July and September have neutral situation.
reviewed and analyzed climate -Tourism in Qom, using indices, which is related to human comfort, thermal stress and psychological pressure.Parvane et al. (2011) studied the determination of climatic comfort on a scale of decades based on the bioclimatic factors in this index is mainly called index of human comfort, which was presented for the first time in 1959 in order to assess the summer situation in USA and it is a combination of temperature and humidity.Temperature -humidity Index is defined as the degree of discomfort felt by a typical worker.Therefore, aspects of radiation and air flow are not intended.Following amended equation is provided to directly calculate the index using dry and wet temperature in Celsius.

Table 3 .
Degree of environmental cooling power and threshold of bioclimatic stimulation of human The index shows roughly (with error less than 0.10) the intensity of physiological pressure on the human body, as a result of changes in temperature of environment and is calculated using amended equation of Blasi about thermal interaction between human and environment with MENEX -2002 model.It is only necessary to calculate the parameters of air temperature.This index based on the intensity is divided into 7 categories.Accordingly, if the calculated value is below zero, thermal pressure is high and if its value reaches to 8 the thermal pressure is very low.

Table 5 .
Values of effective temperature in different month of ear in Zanjan, Iran