Esmaeil Aliakbari - Associate professor, geography and urban planning department, Payam nor university, Tehran, Iran
Neda Farsizadeh - M.Sc. Student in geography and urban planning department, Payam nor university, Tehran, Iran

Tourism is a complicated yet a profitable industry. In some ways it is the largest industry in the world. Tourism industry is an important and potential means of producing wealth and generating income which contributes to improvement of most economic indices. It has asignificant role in boosting employment, currency-generating and increasing income. This research deals with advantages and positive impacts of this industry, and studies its growingprogress. Also the obstacles before development of this industry in Iran are investigated. In this study, municipal district 22 has been taken as a case study for the future extension of theboundaries of Tehran. This municipal district has a great capacity for urban development. In order to achieve suitable urban planning in this zone, an interconnected system of green spaces is plannedwhich will provide an ecological network for the city according to landscape ecology principles. The research method is descriptive-analytical . In order to collecting data documental and field methods were used. Also, a SWOT technique was used.

Tourism industry, ecotourism, SWOT, Iran