Geography and Natural Resources

LANDSCAPE ZONING OF THE GUBA DISTRICT: A CLUSTER-BASED APPROACH TO TOURISM POTENTIAL

S.T. Kazimova

Institute of Geography named after academician H.A. Aliyev, Ministry of Science and Education. Baku,  Azerbaijan

[email protected]

DOI: 10.59423/gnr.2025.77.95.006

Abstract

This article examines the landscape zoning of the Guba district of Azerbaijan with a focus on its tourism and recreational potential. Considering the abundance of natural and cultural resources in the region, the study aims to identify promising zones for the development of tourism infrastructure through the use of cluster analysis and geographic information systems (GIS). The main objective is to classify the natural landscapes of the Guba district and optimize their utilization for various types of tourism. The research results show that effective territorial planning and management can contribute to the sustainable development of the tourism sector and improve the quality of life for local residents.

ƏDƏBİYYAT

  1. Astashin A.E. et al. (2016) Landscape structure as the basis for tourism and recreational assessment of the territory (using the example of the Gorodetsky district of the Nizhny Novgorod region). International Scientific Research Journal, No. 1(43), pp. 111-115.
  2. Ataev Z.V., Paizullaeva G.P. (2014). Recreational potential of natural regions of the Republic of Dagestan: Assessment and prospects of use. “Alef”, Makhachkala, 161 pages.
  3. Budagov B.A. (1988) Modern landscapes of Azerbaijan. “Elm”, Baku, 136 pages.
  4. Dergahov V.S. (2008). Recreational and tourist resources. “MBM”, Baku, 214 p. (in Azerbaijani).
  5. Jain A.K., Murty M.N., Flynn P.J. (1999) Data clustering. ACM Computing Surveys, No. 31(3), pp. 264-323.
  6. Imrani Z.T. (2018). Potential opportunities and zoning of tourist-recreational resources of the northern region of Azerbaijan. Prospects for the creation of tourist-recreational zones in the Republic of Azerbaijan: Republican scientific-practical conference. Baku, pp. 8-13. (in Azerbaijani)
  7. Kudryashov V.S., Kuliyev A.Yu. (2019) Tourist clusters: features and development prospects. Scientific notes of the Tambov branch of RoSMU, pp. 29-36.
  8. Kuchinskaya I.Y. (2013) Dynamics of changes in the landscape-ecological situation in the Greater Caucasus (within Azerbaijan). Geography and Water Resources, No. 3, pp. 50-58.
  9. Kuchinskaya I.Ya. (2011) Landscape-ecological differentiation of mountain geosystems (using the example of the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus). Baku, 195 pages.
  10. Kazimova S.T. (2023) Assessment of the natural tourist-recreational potential of landscapes in the Guba district. Proceedings of the Dagestan State Pedagogical University. Natural and Exact Sciences. Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 42-49.
  11. Smith M. (2015) Sustainable tourism and regional planning. Tourism Studies, No. 22(4), pp. 45-60.
  12. Tarikhazer S.A. (2006) Features of exodynamic processes manifestation at various altitudinal geomorphological belts. Proceedings of the Azerbaijan Geographical Society, Baku, pp. 238-242.
  13. Shikhlinsky E.M. (1963) Climatic maps. Atlas of the Azerbaijan SSR. Baku-Moscow, pp. 41-64.
  14. Shikhlinsky E.M. (1969) Heat balance of the Azerbaijan SSR. “Elm”, Baku.
  15. Everitt B., Landau S., Leese M., Stahl D. (2011) Cluster Analysis. John Wiley & Sons, London, 330 pp.
  16. Eyyubov A.D. (1960) On the nature of snow cover distribution and duration in the Azerbaijan SSR.

Accepted for publication: June 10, 2025

Download article

S.T. Kazimova – Landscape zoning of the Guba district: a cluster-based approach to tourism potential. Geography and Natural Resources, №1 (23), 2025, səh. 38-46.