Requirements for Establishing Ecolodges in Geoparks as Geotourism Destinations

The establishment of ecolodges within geoparks represents a critical yet underexplored strategy for advancing sustainable geotourism while ensuring the conservation of geoheritage. We develop a framework for ecolodge establishment in geoparks through semi-structured interviews with 15 experts, comprising 8 academics and 7 practitioners in Iran. Our analysis revealed six themes: protection of geosites, architecture compatible with geomorphology, sustainable resource management in a natural context, geotourism education and interpretation, local community participation and empowerment, and carrying capacity and spatial justice. These themes encompass 18 concepts articulating the multifaceted requirements for ecolodge development within geopark territories. This study extends value-led conservation principles and vulnerability management frameworks to ecolodge infrastructure development. It also serves as an operational guideline for geopark managers, policymakers, architects, and entrepreneurs, offering actionable criteria for harmonizing tourism development with geoheritage conservation.