The Role of the Road Network in the Development of Archaeological Tourism in the Bani Walid Region: A Geographical Analytical Study

Abstract

This geographical analytical study examines the role of the road network in supporting and developing the archaeological tourism sector in the Bani Walid region of Libya. Bani Walid is one of the Libyan regions rich in archaeological diversity, qualifying it as a promising tourist destination. The study's challenge lies in the fact that the road infrastructure in the region suffers from poor geographical coverage, in addition to the deteriorating condition of some of its roads, and the lack of coordination between the authorities responsible for tourism and road planning. These problems make it difficult to access many tourist sites, which constitutes an obstacle to stimulating tourism and investment in this sector.

The study aims to analyze the geographical distribution of the road network in the region, measure its efficiency in connecting urban centers and tourist sites, and identify the most significant technical, natural, and organizational obstacles hindering its development. The study also seeks to propose practical solutions to improve the performance of the road network and integrate it into tourism development plans. The study relied on a descriptive analytical approach, supported by field methods such as questionnaires, in addition to the use of geographic information systems to analyze the spatial structure of roads and their relationship to tourist sites. The study concluded that there is a clear imbalance in the spatial distribution of roads and a weakness in connecting many tourist attractions to major roads, limiting the opportunities to exploit these resources for local tourism development. The study recommends the development of an integrated road network that meets the needs of the tourist movement by linking tourist sites to the main road infrastructure, improving road quality, and enhancing coordination between relevant authorities within a comprehensive spatial planning framework