Identifying, Monitoring, and Evaluating Sustainable Ecotourism Management Criteria and Indicators for Protected Areas in Türkiye: The Case of Camili Biosphere Reserve

Abstract

Although many criteria and indicator sets have been developed for sustainable ecotourism management in many countries around the world, such a set of criteria and indicators has not been developed in Türkiye yet. The aim of this study was to develop sustainable ecotourism management criteria and indicators specific to Türkiye’s social, economic, and ecological differences and to investigate the possibilities of using this developed set in the sustainable management of the Camili Biosphere Reserve Area. The set that consisted of 12 criteria and 68 indicators prepared based on WTO and UNWTO criteria and indicator sets was used as a starting point. Within the scope of the Delphi method, as a result of three stages of repeated questionnaires, a set of criteria and indicators consisting of 11 criteria and 101 indicators was reached, based on the suggestions and consensus of four expert groups. In the next step, the adaptation and prioritization of the national sustainable ecotourism management criteria and indicator set for the Camili Biosphere Reserve Area were realized using the Analytical Hierarchy Process method, depending on the opinions of four local expert groups. As a result, it was concluded that the ecotourism activities carried out in the Camili Biosphere Reserve received a total score of 95.4 and that the ecotourism activities in the area were positively sustainable, with an average of 69.1%. It was determined that ecotourism activities in the Camili Biosphere Reserve are positively sustainable in terms of “level of awareness and perception of the field”, “socio-economic benefits to the local people”, “local participation”, “financial structure”, “environmental education and practices“, and “visitor satisfaction” criteria. However, in order to ensure the sustainability of ecotourism activities both at the country level and at the local level, studies should be carried out with a participatory approach by establishing a balance between the expectations of the local people and the income obtained from ecotourism, by providing a central authority, and by making improvements in the financing structure.

Protected Natural Areas and Ecotourism—Priority Strategies for Future Development in Selected Serbian Case Studies

“…The study by Aydin and Öztürk [69] aimed to investigate sustainable ecotourism in the Camili Biosphere Reserve in Turkey based on management criteria. First, twelve criteria and sixty-eight indicators were selected, which were defined by the World Tourism Organization, and then eleven criteria and 101 indicators were determined within the framework of the Delphi method and the attitudes of four expert groups.…”

Ecotourism Development in the Russian Areas under Nature Protection

“…Aydin, I.Z. and Öztürk, A., conducted a study to evaluate ecotourism activities in the Camili Biosphere Reserve (Turkey) and developed sustainable ecotourism management criteria and indicators, specific to the social, economic, and environmental conditions of Turkey [25].…”

“…and Tchamba, M.N., indicate that there are few studies on ecotourism management in PAs [23]. Studies that examine ecotourism development in PAs as an illustration of national ecotourism policy implementation are mainly case studies [23][24][25]. In Russia, as in other countries, there is an urgent need to constantly study the various practices of implementing ecotourism activities in protected areas.…”