Thermal heritage and wellness tourism development in the trans – Himalayas using GIS site suitability analysis. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dada, Zubair Ahmad; Baba, Sabreena Nawaz; Qureshi, Reyaz A.
• Is Part Of: International journal of spa and wellness. Volume 6:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 131
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Site suitability -- GIS -- wellness tourism -- hot springs -- thermal heritage; Health resorts -- Periodicals; Health resorts -- Management -- Periodicals; Well-being -- Periodicals; Self-care, Health -- Periodicals; Lifestyles -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; 613.12205
• DOI: 10.1080/24721735.2023.2171697
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2472-1735

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study aims to incorporate satellite remote sensing techniques and GIS-Suitability Analysis into a multidisciplinary approach to identify appropriate sites for developing wellness tourism in the Trans Himalayan region of Ladakh. In the suitability analysis of wellness tourism, five criteria, including topography, land use, land cover, distance from roads, and proximity to thermal heritage, were extracted from previous literature. Data were analyzed using the "Weighted Overlay" command in the ArcGIS 10.8 Software, and potential tourism sites, level of suitability, and rate of coverage were determined. Results reveal that out of the total area, 18.6% was moderately suitable, 5.6% was suitable, 2.7% was most suitable, 64.7% was marginally suitable, whereas 8% of the land was least suitable for wellness tourism. Consequently, the chosen criteria could enhance the wellness tourism scenario of the study area, and wellness tourism development is possible in the future with remote sensing and GIS. The methodology proposed helped identify wellness sites by linking the criteria deemed necessary with the existential resources of the province. This research discusses some conceptual aspects of wellness tourism, identifies potential sites for wellness tourism development in Ladakh, and highlights the novel application of GIS-Site Suitability for effective wellness tourism planning.