Site selection of ecotourism areas with GIS-Based MCDM-AHP method: A case study of Camlıhemsin District

Sustainable tourism types have begun to develop in the search for solutions to the harmful effects of mass tourism, a form of "irresponsible" travel and unconscious consumption, which disrupts the world ecosystem balance. Ecotourism is a form of "responsible" travel that is an indispensable part of the tourism industry due to its positive features such as being able to act consciously towards the environment, reducing the negative effects of mass tourism, and using natural and cultural tourist attractions in a sustainable manner. Despite its ecotourism potential, & Ccedil;aml & imath;hem & scedil;in is under threat in terms of sustainability as it is exposed to rapid tourist flow and unconscious tourism use. Ecotourism planning is required for a tourism activity that will be implemented without creating pressure on fragile ecosystems, causing habitat degradation, loss of biodiversity and loss of sociocultural values. As a matter of fact, the creation of the "& Ccedil;aml & imath;hem & scedil;in district ecotourism suitability model" that can be used in these plans; Conservation is essential for developing tourism in the right direction, balancing development, empowering local residents socially and economically, and thus ensuring the long-term sustainability of the region. To determine the areas of & Ccedil;aml & imath;hem & scedil;in suitable for ecotourism, the Geographic Information Systems-based Multi-Criteria Decision Making- Analytical Hierarchy Process method, the data set prepared from the expert opinion survey, MS Excel Macro and Geographic Information Systems ArcGIS 10.8 software were used. With the final suitability model obtained, areas suitable for ecotourism throughout the district were determined and their current uses were evaluated and important suggestions were made for planning and practices in the field of tourism.

Journal

GEOMATIK

Year

2024

Volume

9

Issue

2

Pages

185-206

eISSN

2564-6761

DOI

10.29128/geomatik.1419623

WoS UID

WOS:001358063700001