Determination of Sustainable Areas for Ecotourism Using GIS-Based AHP

Abstract

The study aims to select locations suitable for ecotourism, which has become an important concept for developing countries because of its significance in biodiversity conservation, the growing awareness of sustainability, and the increasing demand for nature-based experiences. This study determined suitable ecotourism locations using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) within the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) framework in an area with a typical Mediterranean climate. All data used for analysis were open resources. Thirteen criteria were considered to determine suitable areas, while restricted areas were identified based on a literature review and expert opinions. Findings determine that 65.01% of the total areas are unsuitable for ecotourism, 20.28% are moderately suitable, and 14.71% are highly suitable. Areas near forested lands and open water bodies were found to be the most suitable regions, while the distribution of the most favourable places for ecotourism varied by district across the province. The study provides a fundamental framework as a benchmark for ecotourism planning in similar regions and offers valuable information for future sustainable tourism development initiatives.