SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL HERITAGE TOURISM POTENTIAL IN THE SHEKI-ZAGATALA ECONOMIC REGION, AZERBAIJAN

This study analyzes the spatial distribution and environmental determinants of cultural heritage tourism in the ShekiZagatala economic region of Azerbaijan using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Cultural heritage sites, including historical monuments, museums, and archaeological locations, were used as point data to evaluate spatial concentration patterns through Kernel Density Estimation (KDE). The analysis aimed to identify the main spatial clusters of cultural heritage tourism and to examine the influence of environmental and infrastructural factors on their distribution. In addition to KDE mapping, several spatial variables were integrated into the analysis, including elevation derived from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), slope gradients, road accessibility buffers, and river proximity zones. Overlay analyses were conducted to quantify the relationship between KDE values and these environmental variables, while correlation analysis was applied to assess the influence of elevation and slope on heritage tourism density. The results reveal a polycentric spatial structure of cultural heritage tourism, with the most significant concentration located in the Sheki district, followed by secondary clusters in the BalakanZagatala and Gabala districts. The analysis indicates that the highest tourism densities occur in foothill environments between 500-1000 m elevation and within relatively accessible valley systems. Cultural heritage density gradually decreases with increasing altitude and terrain steepness, reflecting the influence of topographic constraints. Furthermore, proximity to transportation corridors and river valleys plays an important role in shaping the spatial organization of heritage tourism. These findings demonstrate that the distribution of cultural heritage tourism in the Sheki-Zagatala region is strongly influenced by the interaction of historical settlement patterns, environmental conditions, and infrastructural accessibility.