Research Information System
Operational Research, vol.26, no.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Ecotourism is a form of sustainable tourism aimed at minimizing environmental impact and preserving nature, making it one of the eco-friendly branches of tourism. Ecotourists engage in their touristic activities by choosing this tourism. There are numerous ecotourism areas (ETAs) worldwide, and their numbers are steadily increasing. The primary objective of this research is to propose a model for ecotourists’ approaches to selecting ETAs. In the first stage of the proposed model, the influence levels of experts involved in the evaluation of ETAs are calculated using type-2 neutrosophic number (T-2NN) sets. In the second stage, based on a comprehensive literature review and consultations with industry stakeholders, the selection criteria for ETA have been established, and the importance levels of these criteria are calculated using a novel T-2NN-level-based weight assessment (LBWA) method, an extension of the LBWA method for neutrosophic sets. In the third stage, ETAs are identified as alternatives, and the ranking of ETAs is determined using a newly proposed T-2NN-root assessment method (RAM), an extension of RAM for T-2NNs. In the fourth stage, the model is tested through comparison and sensitivity tests. This proposed model is referred to as the T-2NN-LBWA-RAM hybrid model. This model is applied to a case study on ETAs located in the Marmara region of Turkey. The case study results support the meaningful outcomes of the model. Based on the case study findings, implications for future research and the ecotourism industry are developed. The proposed model directly contributes to ecotourists in their ETA selection process, aiding them in making informed decisions.