Forest Tourism and the Use of AI Technologies Towards Clean and Safe Environments: The Cases of Turkey, Lithuania, and Morocco

The rapidly expanding use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in recent years presents significant opportunities for achieving sustainable, clean, and safe environmental objectives. This study aims to comprehensively examine the potential use of AI technologies for clean and safe environmental goals in forest tourism areas in Turkey, Lithuania, and Morocco, and to conduct comparative analyses specific to each target country. The research was conducted using a qualitative methodology within a case study design. In line with purposive sampling principles, the sample was limited to a total of 72 participants from the three countries (24 from Turkey, 24 from Lithuania, and 24 from Morocco). To identify expert opinions relevant to the study objectives, semi-structured interviews were conducted across the three country samples, and the collected data were processed and analyzed using NVivo 14 software. The data were transformed into findings through descriptive analysis and content analysis. The results indicate that AI technologies are employed in forest tourism areas for diverse purposes and objectives related to clean and safe environmental management. In Turkey, AI applications are primarily directed toward proactive measures addressing pressing environmental issues, such as forest fires. In Lithuania, as an EU member state, AI technologies are utilized in a more strategic, institutional, and comprehensive manner across multiple areas and objectives. In contrast, Morocco appears to lag in AI adoption, focusing on international collaborations to enhance digital infrastructure and facilitate technology transfer.