Assessing Ecotourism Potential of Traditional Wooden Architecture in Rural Areas: The Case of Papart Valley

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of this study is to reveal the resource values that the rural areas host, and with a very disciplined approach, to discuss opportunities to benefit from those values in terms of ecotourism practices specific to Papart Valley. As a first step in this study, we took an inventory of natural and cultural assets of Papart Valley in Eastern Black Sea Region, Artvin province. Then, a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis was conducted with the participation of all stakeholders and the current situation was analyzed in terms of ecotourism practices. In light of SWOT results, along with observed natural resource assets in the region, the traditional wooden houses were seen to have potential in terms of ecotourism and it was detected that there were a large number of wooden homes and home plans suitable for both the settlement of the local people and accommodation of guests. On the other hand, it was determined that there was a lack of information for sufficient protection and care of wooden houses, and despite their potential, there was a lack of regulations and positive attitudes towards accomodation businesses in traditional wooden houses. In order to eliminate these deficiencies, proposals for the protection of traditional building stock were developed, by first determining the causes of material degradation in the wooden houses. Also, to emphasize the worth and importance of these structures, dendrochronology studies were conducted in order to determine the antiquity of the structures and potentially to make them more attractive for eco-tourism.

Land-Use Changes of Historical Rural Landscape—Heritage, Protection, and Sustainable Ecotourism: Case Study of Slovak Exclave Čív (Piliscsév) in Komárom-Esztergom County (Hungary)

“…The idea of shifting the position of sustainable ecotourism to four pillars, i.e., environmental, social, economic, and cultural, is beginning to appear in the works of experts in ecotourism in Europe from the 90s of the 20th century, e.g., in France [37,38], Germany [39,40], Finland [41,42], Croatia [43], Greece [35], Russia [44,45], Romania [29], Scotland [46,47], and Turkey [48,49].…”

Evolution of approaches to wooden architecture preservation

“…В каждой рассматриваемой ситуации анализируются сильные и слабые стороны памятника, а возможности и угрозы являются факторами внешними. Этим инструментом пользуются при разработке стратегического управления историческими объектами международные специалисты при создании экологических маршрутов с привлечением деревянных памятников [26,27]. Такой подход был применен при реставрации церкви Преображения Господня Кижского погоста (рис.…”

Multicultural Language Education for Local Communities: Enhancing Ecotourism

“…We should bear in mind that ecotourism is a format where natural and cultural assets are conserved. Taner et al [23] following other researchers propose to divide ecotourism activities into two types: natural and cultural. At the same time, natural resources can be subdivided into several components: topography, climate, hydrology, wildlife, vegetation, and location.…”