Choreme-Based Spatial Analysis and Tourism Assessment in the Oltenia de sub Munte Geopark, Romania

The chorematic method represents an innovative and contemporary approach for organizing tourist space, supporting the sustainable regional development of the future UNESCO Geopark, and guiding research, evaluation, and tourism monitoring activities in the area. This study applies Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to develop a chorematic model illustrating the influence of county capitals, using Oltenia de sub Munte—an aspiring UNESCO Geopark in Romania—as a case study. The area’s complex geographical characteristics make it an ideal context for demonstrating the capabilities of GIS-based spatial analysis, including the use of the Reilly–Converse gravity model, which posits that a city’s influence increases with its population size and decreases with distance. The theoretical and methodological framework integrates spatial analysis and statistical visualization through the use of thematic maps and diagrams to explore the chorematic model and to assess tourism supply and demand. Accordingly, spatial representations based on chorematic modeling are presented, and the dynamics of tourism demand and supply from 2015 to 2024 are analyzed, focusing on the number of tourist arrivals, overnight stays, and the overall tourism offer within the Oltenia de sub Munte Geopark.