A Gis-Based Analysis for Ecotourism Suitability in a Geological Complex Area of Charpathians

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the sustainable development of ecotourism through spatial analysis. The aim of the study was to identify suitable locations for various types of ecotourism activities and infrastructure development. This was achieved using multiple criteria analysis and spatial thinking as the foundation for decision-making. The principles of sustainable development were applied and translated into specific criteria and factors for a study location in the Carpathians. The presence or absence of criteria was transformed into GIS data as logical layers, which were later combined to produce the final results. The outcome offers several scenarios for the effective utilization of the ecotourism potential in the protected area of the geological complex. Spatial analysis identified locations suitable for eight types of ecotourism activities, represented in ecotourism suitability maps. The combined suitability map for ecotourism activities and infrastructure covers an area of 113 km 2 in the study area, the geological complex of Racos (Romania) and can be used by authorities for their various spatial development plans. Given that the results are feasible, we believe that this methodology can be adapted to other locations by adjusting the parameter values for various factors.

Attractiveness Assessment Model for Evaluating an Area for a Potential Geopark—Case Study: Hațeg UNESCO Global Geopark (Romania)

“…In applying the methodology, the selection of criteria for evaluation is as important as the evaluation itself. While criteria play a very important role in determining attractiveness, it should be noted that defining criteria can sometimes involve a subjective approach [73]. In the matching process, the selection involves a careful analysis of the given case studies in order to combine them in terms of their geopark attributes.…”

The Valuation of the Urban Ecotourism Potential of the Volcanic Geomorphohydrosite Băile Tuşnad in Harghita County, Romania

“…At the end of the 20th century, ecotourism became a field that began to gain increasing global importance, aimed at utilizing and, at the same time, preserving the natural heritage (Dombay et al, 2008), for example the protected areas (Bálint-Bálint et al, 2019;Lakatos et al, 2023), the caves (Molnár & Magyari-Sáska, 2023) and the cultural-historical heritage of a region (Dombay et al, 2008).…”

“…Ecotourism is one of the most intensely developing forms of tourism (Lakatos et al, 2023), as it has rapidly gained popularity under the banner of sustainability (Sobhani et al, 2022), being a form of nature-based tourism that contributes to social and environmental wellbeing. It is also referred to as green tourism due to its environmentally friendly and educational nature (Dincă et al, 2023).…”