Landscape evaluation for the purposes of ecotourism - case study of Burgenland

Abstract

The objective of this paper is the landscape evaluation of Burgenland (federal state of Austria) for the purposes of ecotourism, based on the Quantitative method of diversity (V-Wert method), where the natural elements of landscape (forests, water surfaces, relief, climate) and land use of considered area are taken as the main criteria for the evaluation. The research was carried out using modern mapping methods and GIS software. By applying this method, more or less favorable surfaces are determinated for the given purposes, with the aim of identifying landscape units which have a high degree of convenience for the development of different types of sustainable and ecotourism, where the main motives of tourist activity are natural heritage and natural touristic values, which are making that landscape more exclusive and more attractive among tourists and visitors. The results of geospatial analysis and landscape evaluation of considered spatial entity in this paper could greatly contribute to an additional tourist valorization of Burgenland.