Abstract:
Geospatial techniques are being applied in different part of the world (especially
developed nation) in so many spatial related issues ranging from manual analysis up to
real-time analysis in number of discipline including ecotourism.However, in case of
Ethiopia their application too minimum. Ecotourism is expressed as when ecotourists are
attracted to a given geographic area (i.e. space). Therefore, space is an elementary part
of ecotourism activities. This spatial relevance make geospatial techniques preferable
environment in this issue in order to identify the available ecotourism resources and to
manage tourism activities in line with the issue of sustainability by considering different
parameters. Hence, the aim of this study is to identify potential ecotourism sites in Menz
Gera midir district. To this end, three criteria and five factor maps are identified,
namely: landscape/land use land cover map, topography (elevation and slope map) and
accessibility (road and river map). Those identified factor maps first ranked based on the
expert opinion, and then the weight of influence to each was computed by pair wise
comparison technique that is one of AHP method. The image classification was operated
in ERDAS imagine software using supervised Image classification method. Its overall
accuracy and kappa coefficient was 84% and 0.80. The result showed that11, 75.6, 13
and 0.06% is highly, moderately, marginally and not suitable area. Therefore, this study
proved that the district has good ecotourism potential that can help to maintain
sustainable development and the application of geospatial techniques integrating with
MCE useful for ecotourism site selection. Additionally, this study may also serve as a
base for comprehensive planning and complex studies in the future by incorporating
additional criteria and factors.
