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Assessing Sustainable Ecotourism Opportunities in Western Rajasthan, India, through Advanced Geospatial Technologies

Author

Listed:
  • Rajeev Singh Chandel

    (Centre for Climate Change and Water Research, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur 302017, Rajasthan, India)

  • Shruti Kanga

    (Department of Geography, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bhatinda 151401, Punjab, India)

  • Suraj Kumar Singh

    (Centre for Sustainable Development, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur 302017, Rajasthan, India)

  • Bojan Ðurin

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University North, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia)

  • Olga Bjelotomić Oršulić

    (Department of Geodesy and Geomatics, University North, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia)

  • Dragana Dogančić

    (Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Zagreb, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia)

  • Julian David Hunt

    (Energy Climate Group at the Climate and Livability Initiative, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

The present study focuses on finding potential sites for ecotourism development using GIS and remote-sensing-based weightage sum overlay techniques in Western Rajasthan, India. Ecotourism is one of the fastest growing and revenue-making sectors incorporating a sustainable future. Western Rajasthan has a broad scope to develop tourism-based activity in various ways, mainly through cultural heritage, historical and archaeological wonders, and rare wildlife. Weightage sum overlay analysis is a useful and simple tool to compare each thematic layer. These values are based on various factors and understanding taken during the study. For this purpose, different data types have been taken from the USGS website. Arc GIS 10.8 and ERDAS Imagine software 2015 have been utilized to process the data. This research incorporates seven thematic layers, i.e., elevation, proximity to streams, land use/cover, population density, road connectivity, proximity to protected areas, and heritage hotspots. Based on the physical and cultural characteristics of Western Rajasthan, the weightage of each thematic layer has been decided, which is finally overlaid using Arc GIS software. After processing all the thematic layers, we finally get an outcome in the form of a suitability map. The final suitability map represents five suitability classes that divide the total area into the following categories, very high (37.31%), high (26.85%), moderate (7.89%), low (0.83%), and very low (27.12%), which represents the potential of ecotourism in Western Rajasthan.

Suggested Citation

  • Rajeev Singh Chandel & Shruti Kanga & Suraj Kumar Singh & Bojan Ðurin & Olga Bjelotomić Oršulić & Dragana Dogančić & Julian David Hunt, 2023. "Assessing Sustainable Ecotourism Opportunities in Western Rajasthan, India, through Advanced Geospatial Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:14:p:11473-:d:1201531
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    References listed on IDEAS

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