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Geospatial Analysis of Geo-Ecotourism Site Suitability Using AHP and GIS for Sustainable and Resilient Tourism Planning in West Bengal, India

Author

Listed:
  • Aditi Acharya

    (Department of Geography, Adamas University, Kolkata 700126, India)

  • Biraj Kanti Mondal

    (Department of Geography, Netaji Subhas Open University, Kolkata 700064, India)

  • Tuhin Bhadra

    (Department of Geography, Adamas University, Kolkata 700126, India)

  • Kamal Abdelrahman

    (Department of Geology and Geophysics, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Prabuddh Kumar Mishra

    (Department of Geography, Shivaji College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110027, India)

  • Anuj Tiwari

    (Discovery Partner Institute, University of Illinois System, Chicago, IL 60606, USA)

  • Rima Das

    (Department of Geography, Bhangar Mahavidyalaya, South 24 Parganas, Bhangar 743502, West Bengal, India)

Abstract

The current study intended to geospatially analyze the potentiality and site suitability of geo-ecotourism in West Bengal, India. The state of West Bengal is a great platform for diverse tourism and has enormous potential to cultivate geo-ecotourism, as has come up in recent years. The current effort throws some valuable light on the possibility of turning the many geologically, geomorphologically and ecologically significant tourist spots of West Bengal into geo-ecotourism sites, aided with geospatial techniques. The study deals with the qualitative and quantitative investigation of the potentiality of the whole state by dividing it into several geo-ecotourism zones, based on its physiographic setting and Land Use Land Cover (LULC) features, using satellite image data. The application of geospatial technology combined with Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) was employed for this geospatial analysis to portray the potential zones using cartographic and statistical techniques. Furthermore, nine criteria were selected to run the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to determine the site suitability for geo-ecotourism. The present submission attempts to record the mapping and analysis of geo-ecotourism of West Bengal employing a secondary database, an expert’s opinions and primary observations, with the application of the AHP method and GIS. The outcomes of the study were found to be very significant, as they indicate a proviso for geo-ecotourism development in the state and will contribute to the formation of location-specific planning and the sustainable management of geo-ecotourism.

Suggested Citation

  • Aditi Acharya & Biraj Kanti Mondal & Tuhin Bhadra & Kamal Abdelrahman & Prabuddh Kumar Mishra & Anuj Tiwari & Rima Das, 2022. "Geospatial Analysis of Geo-Ecotourism Site Suitability Using AHP and GIS for Sustainable and Resilient Tourism Planning in West Bengal, India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-25, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:2422-:d:753894
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ľubomír Štrba & Jana Kolačkovská & Dušan Kudelas & Branislav Kršák & Csaba Sidor, 2020. "Geoheritage and Geotourism Contribution to Tourism Development in Protected Areas of Slovakia—Theoretical Considerations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, April.
    2. João Vitor Roque Guerrero & António Alberto Teixeira Gomes & José Augusto de Lollo & Luiz Eduardo Moschini, 2020. "Mapping Potential Zones for Ecotourism Ecosystem Services as a Tool to Promote Landscape Resilience and Development in a Brazilian Municipality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Sigala, Marianna, 2020. "Tourism and COVID-19: Impacts and implications for advancing and resetting industry and research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 312-321.
    4. Madhumita Das & Bani Chatterjee, 2015. "Ecotourism and Empowerment: A Case Analysis of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 4(2), pages 136-145, July.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jingru Chen & Hengyuan Zeng & Qiang Gao, 2023. "Using the Sustainable Development Capacity of Key Counties to Guide Rural Revitalization in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-26, February.
    3. Destina Samani & Keith Bosak & Sarah J. Halvorson, 2023. "Community-Centered Sustainable Ecotourism Planning in the Bossou Forest Reserve, Guinea, West Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-24, March.

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