Assessing site suitability for ecotourism in Imphal Valley, Manipur using GIS and AHP

Robert Oinam (), Bidyarani N. Chanu (), Loitongbam Bishwanjit Singh and M. Bobo Singh
Additional contact information
Robert Oinam: Manipur University
Bidyarani N. Chanu: NIT Manipur
Loitongbam Bishwanjit Singh: Manipur University
M. Bobo Singh: Manipur University

Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, 2024, vol. 17, issue 1, No 30, 19 pages

Abstract: Abstract Manipur is undergoing rapid socio-economic transformation with ecotourism being a major contributor. The state displays a high potential for the development of ecotourism. It is crucial for the state to identify potential ecotourism sites to maximize benefits for local residents while minimizing associated costs. This paper examines potential ecotourism sites in four districts of the valley using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies. AHP was utilized to assign weights to eleven criteria in the assessment of potential ecotourism sites. These criteria include elevation, slope, proximity to rivers, land use and land cover (LULC), precipitation, temperature, drainage, tourist attractions, road access, population density, and habitat. The results show that Bishnupur district is the most suitable area, followed by Imphal West. This area is primarily located in and around the protected lake called Loktak. To maximize the benefits, the state government should conduct an awareness campaign among local residents to emphasize the significance of ecotourism development in these areas.

Keywords: Ecotourism; GIS; AHP; Tourism; Economic development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C88 Q56 Z30 Z31 Z32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12076-024-00394-8 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:lsprsc:v:17:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s12076-024-00394-8

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/economics/journal/12076

DOI: 10.1007/s12076-024-00394-8

Access Statistics for this article

Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences is currently edited by Henk Folmer and Amitrajeet A. Batabyal

More articles in Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().