Using GIS Technologies for Assessing a Region’s Tourism Potential (A Case Study of Lori Province, Armenia)

The article presents methodological guidelines for assessing the territory of Lori Province (Republic of Armenia) based on the results of an analysis of the tourism potential (TP) of its natural resources. The assessment methodology, based on scientific data, uses a scoring system that allows taking into account natural resources reserves. The features of applying methodological tools for obtaining an integral assessment of the region’s TP are considered. The study area is fragmented into a network of square operational territorial cells (OTCs). After that, centroids to which the calculated scores corresponding to the selected criteria are attached are calculated for each square. On this basis, further analysis and mapping are carried out using the Spatial Analyst Tools set. When assessing and mapping the TP of natural resources in Lori Province, ArcMap 10.8 is used. A multifunctional method for a generalized assessment of all the selected components of natural conditions and resources is proposed. It is shown that the method makes it possible to form an idea of the natural resource reserves of Lori Province and determine the fundamental areas of tourism activity. Most attention is focused on describing the development of standards for the selected assessment criteria; the scoring system is analyzed. It is recommended to use this method for regions whose TP has not previously been analyzed and assessed.