Application of SWOT-TOWS Matrix and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in the Formulation of Geoconservation and Geotourism Development Strategies for Mama Bhagne Pahar: an Important Geomorphosite in West Bengal, India

Mama Bhagne Pahar is an important geomorphosite in West Bengal because of its high scientific, aesthetic, cultural, and economic values in respect to human perception. But at present the site is highly deteriorated by several anthropogenic stressors like human habitation, advertisement on the rocks, and garbage disposal by the tourists. Moreover, most of the local people of the concerned site are also suffering from unemployment and poverty. Therefore, in the present study an attempt has been made to formulate geoconservation and geotourism development strategies for the concerned geomorphosite that will protect the site from human activities and will promote local tourism in a sustainable way respectively, and for that, first of all, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) to the study area have been studied. In the next stage combined strategies have been formed by using TOWS matrix and AHP method has been applied in order to prioritize strategies and to find out the most suitable strategy among them. During strategy formulation especial attention has been given on the geoeducation, promotion of tourism, economic development of the local people, and legal protection of the site.