From Riverbank to Region: Green–Blue Infrastructure, Cultural Heritage and Ecotourism Spatial Integration in Bihor County, Romania

Climate change, urban heat islands and climate hazard risks are putting pressure on tourism in the historic quarters. This study assesses the spatial preconditions for a resilient ecotourism infrastructure in Bihor County, Romania. By examining ecological and cultural resources and low-impact accessibility across three scales (the county, the metropolitan area and the city of Oradea, particularly its historic quarter), together with land surface temperature variations, the study identifies the weakest points in the region’s ecotourism potential. A multi-scale GIS framework was applied, overlaying ecosystem services, blue–green infrastructure (BGI) components, cultural heritage assets and land surface temperature (LST) data. The results indicate that Bihor County holds a fragmented but genuine foundation for an ecotourism network, with the Crișul Repede River as the main connector. GBI can support low-impact ecotourism routes within Oradea, but only partially in the current configuration, as the historic quarter presents insufficient green connectivity. Moreover, the most important ecological areas are vehicle dependent. The multi-scale assessment further reveals a complex interdependency between tourism potential, urban planning policy, mobility infrastructure and climate exposure.