تقييم ملاءمة المناخ للسياحة في محافظة العلا بمنطقة المدينة المنورة باستخدام مؤشر المناخ السياحي (TCI)

Amal Almushayt

doi:10.35516/Hum.2025.7970

Authors

Amal Almushayt Department of Geoygraphy, College of Arts & Humanities, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8356-6146

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2025.7970

Keywords:

Temperature, Relative Humidity, Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Wind, Tourism Climate Index.

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to evaluate the suitability of the climate for tourism in AlUla Governorate using the Tourism Climate Index (TCI). This involves a spatial analysis of the elements of the TCI and an assessment of thermal comfort for tourism activities.

Methods: The study used a descriptive analytical approach within Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and utilized a quantitative method to process data obtained from NASA. This data was used to derive climate element maps and determine thermal comfort using daily and daytime comfort indices. Based on the results of comfort indices, precipitation, radiation, and wind, the TCI was applied to identify the climatic comfort zones across different seasons.

Results: The study's findings indicate that the TCI during winter ranges from 68%, where the climate is suitable, to 91%, where the climate is ideal for tourism, with a spatial average of 77%. In spring, the index ranges from 74%, where the climate is "very good" for tourism, to 93%, where the climate is ideal, with an average of 87.9%. In summer, the index ranges from 70%, where the climate is "very good," to 92%, where the climate is ideal, with an average of 82%. In autumn, the index ranges from 77%, where the climate is "very good," to 93%, where the climate is ideal, with an average of 86.2%..

Conclusions: The climate in most areas of AlUla Governorate is characterized by suitability for tourism, ranging from very good to excellent across different seasons. This is corroborated by the TCI values, which range from 77% in winter to 87.9% in summer.

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