A GIS-BASED ANALYSIS FOR ECOTOURISM SUITABILITY IN A GEOLOGICAL COMPLEX AREA OF CARPATHIANS

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 km2 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.