Tourism Potentials in the Western Mountain Region: A Study of Tourist Attractions in the Cities of Nalut, Gharyan, Jadu, Yafran, Kikla, and Al-Rajban Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Abstract

This study aims to identify the natural and human tourism resources in the Western Mountain region, focusing on the cities of Nalut, Gharyan, Jadu, Yafran, Kikla, and Al-Rajban, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques to analyze the spatial distribution of tourist attractions.The region possesses significant tourism value due to its diverse natural resources and rich historical and cultural heritage, making it one of the most promising tourist destinations in Libya. The study adopted adescriptive-analytical approach in addition to cartographic techniques using GIS to produce and analyze tourism maps. The results showed that the Western Mountain region possesses numerous tourism potentials, including a relatively mild climate, natural diversity, archaeological sites, and architectural and cultural heritage. However, the utilization of these potentials remains limited due to weak infrastructure, insufficient tourism promotion, lack of tourism services, and poor security and administrative instability. The study recommended the development of tourism infrastructure, strengthening promotional campaigns, encouraging local and international investment in the tourism sector, and employing GIS applications in tourism planning.