Innovative Ecotourism Product Development Based on the Use of Geographic Information Technologies

Abstract

The tourist product is a specific product that has a number of features such as in- separability from the source of formation, complexity, insensitivity, impossibility of storage and warehousing of the tourist product. These features should be taken into account when developing an ecotourism product, as it is a specific integrated product provided in the natural environment, considering regional characteristics, local culture, gastronomic events and caring for the environment. The role of the relevance, timeliness of the information provided on a particular tourist product is growing. Ecological tourism has features, as the objects of tourist activity are little-visited natural-territorial complexes, characterized by a certain spatial distribution in the territory. It requires the use of geographic information technologies, remote sensing systems, global positioning in order to organize tourism facilities, which determines the relevance of this study. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the significance of creating innovative ecotourism products based on the use of modeling systems and modern technologies, including geoinformation, determining the value of ecotourism and the study of competitive advantages for tourism enterprises which enable them to make a profit from the provision of ecotourism services. The research methodology involves statistical methods of data processing, cartographic research methods using geoinformation technologies, the method of spatial analysis, as well as systemic, general scientific and informational approaches. The importance of ecological tourism is proved on the basis of the analysis of its basic values, advantages and opportunities. Proposals to improve the situation in the ecotourism services market have been developed. Offers of ecotourism products are suggested on the basis of detailed typology (division into cognitive, recreational, business, cultural, educational groups of ecological tourism). Prospects for the use of geographic information technologies in the development of innovative ecotourism products are studied. For the first time, the authors have developed the geoportal model of Zhytomyr district ecolocations , which lists the main possible locations for the devel- opment of ecological tourism The authors have conducted a survey of Zhytomyr region residents after the implementation of the first stage of the decentralization reform in 2014 – 2019 and segmented the interests of potential ecotourists. Potential sources of income for protected areas and other ecotourism participants are identified. The concept of ecological tourism development is formed.