1185 | 670 | Identification of potential geographical locations suitable for the development of ecotourism in Međimurje county (Croatia) – GIS approach | Marica Mamut, Silvija Šiljeg, Jadranka Brkić-Vejmelka

Environmental changes due to anthropogenic influences, especially the influence of mass tourism, is giving theoretical framework for defining new ways of using (more or less) degraded environment. One of the possibilities that could responde on environmental problems is ecotourism that is based on the balance of preserving natural resources, economical development and spatial planning. In order to raise the value of the tourist offer of a certain area, it is desirable to determine spatially and map possibilities of potential changes in the current use of the environment. _x000D_
The aim of this research is elaboration of the environmental evaluation model through which priorities of tourist locations potentials of bigger capacity for the development of ecotourism in Međimurje county will be determined and identify. Using GIS and AHP, the model will enable a combination of analyses of geoecological, topographical and urban data in Međimurje county. In multicriteria GIS analyses, 5 groups of criteria will be used: geomorphometrics, climatic, ecological, antropogenics and limiting ones, and the weighting coefficients will be determined by the AHP method. Model will be reclassified in 5 classes: very inconvinient, inconvinient, moderate, convinient and very convinient for ecotourism development. Proposed methodology and approach could be used for identification of geographical locations in the areas of similair geographical features suitable for ecotourism development and also as a possibility for sustainable development management on all levels of public administration._x000D_

Marica Mamut, Silvija Šiljeg, Jadranka Brkić-Vejmelka
Department of Geography, University of Zadar, Croatia

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ID Abstract: 670