Planning of ecotourism using GIS: A case study of Gadabay, Azerbaijan

Tourism is a main and the fastest growing part of the economy and ecotourism is a sub-part of tourism. Есоtоurism has rесеivеd аs аn imроrtаnt tооl fоr achieving sustаinаblе dеvеlорmеnt. Currently, information technologies and tourism are an inseparable part of the economy. Information technologies are a necessary tool for planning of tourism, mapping of tourism destinations, identifying of untouched ecotourism areas and etc. This thesis focus on analyzing tourism and ecotourism potential of Azerbaijan gives information about Geographic Information System and defines the role of GIS on ecotourism field. Tourism potential of Azerbaijan has been explored and ecotourism places of Azerbaijan were created on GIS technology. In the practical part of the paper Gadabay district of Azerbaijan was selected as a case study. The amazing nature, climate, forests, and other features give an opportunity to implement ecotourism activity in this district. During this research, the information of the State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan and the data of other official sources were analyzed and had been shown in this paper. SWOT analysis was carried out for defining effects of multiplier tourism.