Journal of Yaşar University

Yazarlar: Hidayet KIŞLALI, Mustafa KÖSE

Konular:Sosyal

DOI:10.19168/jyasar.803894

Anahtar Kelimeler:Sustainability,Sustainable Tourism,Göller Highland,Landsat Imagery

Özet: Considering sustainable tourism as a broad endeavour to make all forms of tourism sustainable, in this research we try to shed a light onto current developments in one of the most prominent highlands in Mediterranean region. In this research, Göller Highland is chosen to explore effects of highland settlements on ecological environment. Acknowledging multi dimensionality of sustainability, this study focuses on environmental sustainability in highlands. One of the most important tourism activities in Turkey, i.e. Highland Tourism is discussed with multidisciplinary lenses. When nature-based tourism activities in developing countries are studied, it may not be surprising to find that vast majority of them do not fall in line with sustainable tourism practices. With increasing tourism activities, Turkey can be considered one of these destinations that need significant improvements to make tourism activities more sustainable. In order to better grasp details of current situation in highlands, conventional research methods do not seem to be appropriate because of the limits in terms of financial resources and time. Therefore, visual research methods are chosen to analyse developments and changes. Analysis of Landsat imagery shows that in the last three decades the area faced dramatic changes in terms of land use. From 1987 to 2019 the land for cultivation shrank in unprecedented levels and residential areas grew exponentially. These changes are discussed in the light of sustainable tourism development.

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