Site suitability analysis for Ecotourism potential using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and GIS in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand

A study identifies potential zones for sustainable ecotourism in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, leveraging the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information System (GIS). The research maps suitable areas by analyzing factors like slope, elevation, road proximity, river closeness, and distance to protected sites, including Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks. This approach offers a data-driven strategy for balancing tourism development with ecological conservation, particularly in disaster-prone regions such as Chamoli, which faces risks like landslides and floods. The resulting ecotourism potential map serves as a tool for guiding sustainable resource management and minimizing anthropogenic impacts on fragile Himalayan ecosystems.

Das, R., Singh, M., Roy, S., Malhotra, V., Pandey, K., & Karnatak, H. (2023). Site suitability analysis for Ecotourism potential using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and GIS in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. Journal of Geomatics, 17(1), 22–36. https://doi.org/10.58825/jog.2023.17.1.35