{
  "abstract": "Blue-green tourism provides prospects to merge water-based recreation opportunities, natural landscapes and sustainable regional development in places with not yet fully exploited tourism potential. Using GIS-based spatial suitability approach, this study evaluates the potential of blue-green tourism in the Central Aran economic region of Azerbaijan. The administrative boundaries, together with water features (OpenStreetMap) and land-cover data (ESA WorldCover 2021) were harmonised in a common projected coordinate system and processed using QGIS. In total, two main spatial indicators were created: water proximity suitability and green and natural land-cover suitability. Water proximity was assigned five suitability scores based on the distance to rivers, reservoirs and other water bodies and land-cover classes were reclassified using a tourism suitability scale of 5, based on the relative recreational and ecological value of tree cover, shrubland, grassland, cropland, built-up areas, sparse vegetation and wetlands. The results show a clear spatial clustering of high water-related suitability values along the Mingachevir Reservoir and along the Kura River corridor, and further local suitability values in proximity to secondary water features. Land-cover suitability exhibits a more geographically diverse pattern related to the agricultural, semi-natural and urbanised nature of the area. Overall, these spatial patterns suggest that there is a great potential for blue-green tourism development in Mingachevir, Yevlakh and Kura River corridor, while other districts need to be planned more carefully regarding landscape, infrastructure and recreational aspects. The results offer a territorial basis for prioritizing actions and investments for sustainable tourism in the region.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Mingachevir State University",
    "The Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan",
    "University of Technology of Azerbaijan"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Nushaba Qadimli",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8774-2423"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ulvi Mammadov",
      "orcid": "0009-0002-5824-8626"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Elvin Hasilov",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-0455-1795"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Ulduz Yagublu",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-7277-0288"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cdprn9grpghph.bib",
  "cited_by": 10,
  "doi": "10.68210/jgeor.a39",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "cdprn9grpghph",
  "issns": [
    "3136-7968"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.68210/jgeor.a39",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2308|Soil and Land Suitability Analysis"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7212048278",
  "pdf_url": "https://jgeor.org/index.php/jgeor/article/download/vol1-si1-pg84-89/vol1-si1-pg84-89",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-09",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cdprn9grpghph.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T13:21:16Z",
      "native_id": "W7212048278",
      "source": "openalex",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.68210/jgeor.a39"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "openalex:2308|Soil and Land Suitability Analysis",
      "subfield": "environmental-science"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Spatial assessment of blue-green tourism potential and sustainable development priorities in the Central Aran economic region of Azerbaijan",
  "title_text": "Spatial assessment of blue-green tourism potential and sustainable development priorities in the Central Aran economic region of Azerbaijan",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-04T13:21:16Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cdprn9grpghph",
  "venue": "Journal of Green Economy and Optimization Research",
  "versions": []
}