USING GIS FOR MOUNTAIN WILD ROUTES ASSESSMENT IN ORDER TO QUALIFY THEM FOR TOURISM VALORISATION

Mihai VODA, Lucian MOLDOVAN, Adrian TORPAN, Adriana HENNING

ABSTRACT: Mountain wild routes represent the most spectacular ways into the heart of nature. No matter how far or difficult to reach, they are and always will be the most desirable places for adventurers. Using GIS techniques we selected and analyzed six pedestrian trails and seven motor/bike/auto routes from the Transylvanian Mountains. We consider that proposed routes are the best in terms of tourism valorisation in the near future. The lack of maps and geographical information did not stop foreign tourists from visiting and exploring our natural beauty. The aim of this paper is to help local communities to organize and better manage the mountain wild routes for the benefit and prosperity of their own people. Taking into account the environmental problems and protection, we determined the exact entry-exit points with no off-tracks on route in order to minimize the negative impact and increase the physical support capacity. Downloadable GIS data for tourists’ GPS devices and two smart phone application proposals constitute the outcomes of this paper.

Keywords: GIS techniques, mountains, trail, trekking, off-road, adventure tours.

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