Author:
Abstract
In today’s tourism sector where natural, cultural and historical values are used as sources, ecotourism is recognized as one of the sustainable approaches, coming into open as an alternative method against the negative impacts on the environment in particular. Ecotourism is characterized as sustainable tourism within the scope of making use of the natural and cultural resources, as well as being oriented at the nature itself. Ensuring the sustainability of natural resources, while also enabling the economic development of the locals and protecting the socio-cultural values, ecotourism is a nature-based tourism activity bearing the liability of protecting the ecological system and handing the same down to the next generations. With its mountain ecosystems, forest landscapes, wild life and plantal diversity, geomorphological structures, tablelands, canyons, waterfalls, rural architecture that is harmony with the nature, cultural and history and structures of the villages and temperate climate, Bilecik provides the tourism opportunity for various nature-oriented events and activities. In the study, SWOT analysis ad questionnaire forms were used for examining the natural, historical and cultural values of the research area within the scope of ecotourism. Conducted on the locals and visitors is to form an opinion on the relation between environment and tourism, the main objective of the questionnaire forms is to analyze the recreational and touristic activities, experiences of the locals and visitors, and accordingly their effects on the environment. Additionally, it is aimed at set forth the attitudes towards the development of tourism and the protection of environment. In line with the findings obtained, it is suggested to analyze Bilecik in terms of ecotourism after carrying out researches on its natural and cultural characteristics, as well as developing alternative tourism activities.
Keywords
Abstract
In today’s tourism sector where natural, cultural and historical values are used as sources, ecotourism is recognized as one of the sustainable approaches, coming into open as an alternative method against the negative impacts on the environment in particular. Ecotourism is characterized as sustainable tourism within the scope of making use of the natural and cultural resources, as well as being oriented at the nature itself. Ensuring the sustainability of natural resources, while also enabling the economic development of the locals and protecting the socio-cultural values, ecotourism is a nature-based tourism activity bearing the liability of protecting the ecological system and handing the same down to the next generations. With its mountain ecosystems, forest landscapes, wild life and plantal diversity, geomorphological structures, tablelands, canyons, waterfalls, rural architecture that is harmony with the nature, cultural and history and structures of the villages and temperate climate, Bilecik provides the tourism opportunity for various nature-oriented events and activities. In the study, SWOT analysis ad questionnaire forms were used for examining the natural, historical and cultural values of the research area within the scope of ecotourism. Conducted on the locals and visitors is to form an opinion on the relation between environment and tourism, the main objective of the questionnaire forms is to analyze the recreational and touristic activities, experiences of the locals and visitors, and accordingly their effects on the environment. Additionally, it is aimed at set forth the attitudes towards the development of tourism and the protection of environment. In line with the findings obtained, it is suggested to analyze Bilecik in terms of ecotourism after carrying out researches on its natural and cultural characteristics, as well as developing alternative tourism activities.