Assessment of ecotourism potentiality in GHNPCA, Himachal Pradesh, India, using remote sensing, GIS and MCDA techniques

Abstract

The present study focuses on the identification of potential ecotourism site using remote sensing, geographical information system and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques in Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA), Himachal Pradesh, India. This research incorporates 12 thematic layers, i.e. slope, topographic roughness, vegetation, surface water accessibility, groundwater, elevation, visibility of snow peak, proximity to villages, trekking route, climatic suitability, habitat suitability and lake proximity. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) among different MCDA techniques was used to determine the weights of various themes to identify different ecotourism potential zones. The research concluded that the southwestern and central parts of the Great Himalayan Area (GHNPCA) have high to very high ecotourism potentiality which incorporates the eco-development zone, Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary and Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary and mid-western part of Great Himalayan National Park. Finally, a total of 77 ecotourism potential sites have been identified within very high potential zone.