Phys. Geog. Geom. 2026, 49(1): 47–55

https://doi.org/10.17721/phgg.2026.1/131.06

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Theoretical and methodological principles of assessing the functional potential of Geological and Geomorphological Tourist Resources

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Oleksandr V. Yakovchuk, Oksana V. Yaromenko, Andrii S. Romaniv

Academician Stepan Demianchuk International University of Economics and Humanities, 4, S. Demianchuk St., Rivne, 33027, Ukraine

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Abstract

The purpose of the study is to substantiate the theoretical and methodological foundations for assessing the functional potential of geological and geomorphological tourist resources and to test the authors’ methodology using the examples of the Dnister Canyon and Sviati Hory National Nature Parks. The study applies functional-tourism, systemic, comparative-geographical and matrix-based approaches. A classification of geotourist resources is proposed, comprising 10 groups and 50 resource factors. The study also applies a classification of 100 types of tourism, grouped into 25 groups and 5 functional segments. The assessment is carried out using the formula FP = R × T, where FP is the functional potential of a resource factor, R is the level of its impact on a particular type of tourism, and T is the status of the resource factor.

A matrix model was developed that makes it possible to establish relationships between specific georesources and types of tourist activity. Testing the methodology showed that Dnister Canyon National Nature Park has a higher total functional potential of georesources than Sviati Hory National Nature Park. The most significant resources for both areas are geomorphological resources, primarily plain and river-valley landforms. Dnister Canyon is characterized by a combination of canyon landscapes, karst caves, paleontological sites, waterfalls and rock outcrops, which support the development of cognitive, active, educational and underground tourism. In Sviati Hory, the defining resources are chalk outcrops, slopes, cave complexes and the valley of the Siverskyi Donets River, which before the war were used in religious, ecological, hiking and cognitive tourism.

The proposed approach makes it possible to assess georesources not only as natural objects, but also as functional elements of a tourism product. The methodology can be used to compare territories, determine the specialization of tourist destinations and design specialized tourism products.

Keywords

geotourist resources, geosites, tourism resource studies, matrix analysis, tourism specialization, national nature parks, Dnister Canyon, Sviati Hory

Received: June 12, 2026 / Accepted: June 19, 2026 / Published online: June 26, 2026