A study of an ecologically based recreation and tourism planning approach: a case study on Trabzon Calkoy high plateau in Turkey


Pirselimoğlu Z., Demirel O.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND WORLD ECOLOGY, cilt.19, sa.4, ss.349-360, 2012 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

Özet

The Calkoy high plateau settlement, located in a pristine landscape, is thought to have considerable potential for recreation and nature tourism. This study focused primarily on the natural and cultural values of the area and their prospective utility for recreation and tourism. Additionally, the behaviours and activities of local people in terms of recreation and those of visitors in terms of tourism were examined and their environmental impacts were assessed. Interviews were conducted with four different groups comprising visitors, local people, local administrators and public authorities. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis was employed to determine the key aspects that could be used to inform the planning of local, ecologically based recreation and tourism. The method enables stakeholders and local people to give their perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of the area along with opportunities and threats. These factors were then applied to a TOWS (Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses and Strengths) matrix to identify those features that need to be strategically enhanced or ameliorated in the planning context. The result of the study, according to the SWOT/TOWS analysis, is that Calkoy village pasture is one of the suggested places for high plateau tourism. Cal village plateau has exposed a variety of current and future challenges. There will be an increase in tourism activities in Calkoy village.