Designing an ecotourist information guide for the sustainable use of natural areas

Abstract

The article examines the ecotourist information guide as a tool for environmental education, interpretation of natural heritage, and “soft” visitor management on ecological trails within protected natural areas. An ecotourist guide is defined as a specialized tourism information resource that provides navigational and informational support for visitors in protected natural areas. The relevance of the study is обусловлена by the need to foster environmentally responsible tourist behavior under increasing recreational pressure and global environmental challenges. The paper substantiates a methodology for designing an ecotourist information guide based on the use of GIS technologies, route mapping, and the integration of principles of environmentally responsible behavior, including the Leave No Trace concept. Practical experience in developing a guide for routes in Charyn State National Natural Park is presented. It is shown that the ecotourist information guide contributes to increasing visitors’ environmental awareness and can be regarded as an effective instrument for the sustainable development of ecotourism.