Hybrid SWOT - ANP - FANP model for prioritization strategies of
sustainable development of ecotourism in National Park Djerdap, Serbia
Abstract
The paper presents the results of the research for prioritization strategies of sustainable development of ecotourism in National Park Djerdap (NPDJ), Serbia. Ecotourism as a possible type of tourism in national parks is observed through SWOT situation analysis of NPDJ, Serbia. Based on the results presented in the TOWS matrix - possible SO, WO, ST and WT strategies, which enable sustainable development of ecotourism in the national park, were defined. Using multi-criteria Analytical Network Process (ANP) and Fuzzy Analytical Network Process (FANP) the prioritization defined strategy was determined. It allows sustainable development of ecotourism in NPDJ, Serbia, through the promotion of EU standards for the NPDJ involvement of academic institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). By applying the defined prioritization of certain strategies, there is a possibility of a continuous increase of NPDJ performances which would contribute to the sustainability of the defined ecotourism concept.
Keywords
- Ecotourism;
- Prioritization of strategies;
- SWOT;
- ANP;
- FANP
- 1. Introduction Examples of international best practice confirms that with the development of ecotourism in national parks in addition to protection and conservation of biodiversity and cultural values, they can certainly improve regional development (Ceballos-Lascuráin, 1996; Hong and Chan, 2010; Sayyed et al., 2013; Puhakka and Saarinen, 2013; Öztürk, 2015; Cobbinah, 2015; Santarem et al., 2015). However, management of national parks could face with the main challenges that occur during the implementation of the concept of ecotourism in order to promote the potentials of national parks. Therefore, they have to address a functional way of management, which comprises compliance with social needs and development priorities, i.e. this means controlling the area of the national park, protecting biodiversity and making the connection between protection and economic development. Therefore, managers of many national parks in the world are under increasing pressure to attract more visitors and to provide adequate facilities for the different needs of visitors. The expansion of tourism in many national parks is causing serious concern for the safety of the natural environment (La Page, 2010). Numerous researchers dealing with this issue have noticed the tension that arises between the need of tourists for various recreational activities in protected natural areas and the need to preserve the environment (Bernard et al., 2009; Luo et al., 2016).
