This e-portfolio was created by me, Tannishtha Venkatesan (you can read more about me later). I’ve always been curious about the Hyrcanian Forests and drawn to places and communities that don’t get talked about enough like Mazandaran, Iran and the Bedouin communities in Jordan.
Overtourism has been one of those topics that sits in the back of my mind eternally because I strongly believe in the “tourism paradox.” Tourism can spread awareness, culture, and appreciation for nature… but once you go past carrying capacity, the negative impacts start showing up fast.
That mix of passion and concern became the reason behind this project. I wanted to understand what’s happening in Mazandaran, Iran — a place that’s beautiful, locally popular, and also under pressure — and explore it through proper tourism research and global comparisons. The process wasn’t easy at all, and the research definitely threw a few curveballs my way, but here I am, finally ready to share my findings, reflections, and my ideas for a more sustainable future for Mazandaran.