Architectural tourism potentials in desert areas (Case study: Yazd city)

Tourism industry is one of the economic activities with dramatic prevalence around the world and has undertaken faster growth than other economic sectors in many countries. in Arid areas, because of climate conditions and lack of water, development of agricultural, animal husbandry and industrial activities have been restricted. Thus tourism industry is important to sustainable development and creating employment opportunities in these areas. Since long ago, many tourists and merchants have travelled to Yazd city, because it is neighboring Iran central deserts and it is near the country’s most important roads. In order to become compatible with the hard environmental conditions, Yazdi architects have designed various sections in buildings to create a proper place for living and now it is considerable from tourism viewpoint. Applying clay and straw mortar (recoverable) for making various building parts, designing the Badgir, porch, pool, basement, sash doors, grape tree scaffolding in the houses are samples of Yazdi people coexistence with desert areas. Basically, the architecture of historic constructions of Yazd city has been founded on the basis of the utilizing of the natural factors like: wind, evaporation, the direction of sunshine, thermal capacity of substances and pedology of area. Searching various types of tourism attractions in Yazd city, we found that the most tourism attractions are among architectural and urbanism attractions not any other types of remarkable potentials (natural and sport attractions). So, Yazd special architecture is important for attracting the tourists and subsequently it will increase the income and employment for this desert city.