A modified Geosite Assessment Model (M-GAM) and its Application on the Lazar Canyon area (Serbia)

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

2 Universityof NoviS ad, Faculty of Sciences,D epartmento fG eography,T ourism and HotelManagement,T rg DositejaOb radovića3, 21000 NoviS ad,S erbia

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present a modified version of GAM (M-GAM) which should show
that the results gained by using this version are more accurate and realistic. The modification is based on the
inclusion of tourists and their opinion regarding the importance of indicators in the assessment process. The
assessment was done by using both versions of GAM and the results were compared and analyzed afterwards.
Both assessment methods were applied on the Lazar Canyon area located in eastern Serbia, a territory which
possesses a large concentration of geosites on a relatively small surface area and it has great potential for
geotourism development. The study revealed that the inclusion of tourists in the assessment process can have
crucial impact on the final results. By introducing the importance factor in the modified model we were able to
point out those values which are of paramount importance for tourists. This can be rather useful in the
improvement and planning of tourism activities as it exactly shows which of the lower values should receive
the most attention in the future based on their significance for tourists.

Keywords