In 6 Articles What Is Sustainable Tourism?

In today's world, where transportation and communication facilities are developed with technology, tourism is a growing sector. The number of people traveling in developed societies, where vacation is now seen as a basic need, is increasing. The widespread of tourism and its adoption by the masses have also opened the debate on its impact on environmental resources and brought up the sustainable tourism approach.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM?

Sustainable tourism takes into consideration the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism for today and in the future. This is a tourism approach that responds to the needs of the visitors, the sector, the ecological balance and the communities that host the visitors.

What does it do?

It advocates the most proper use of environmental resources, which play a key role in the development of tourism, and considers economic balance, natural heritage and biodiversity. It respects the socio-cultural structure of host communities, preserves cultural heritage and traditional values, and supports intercultural tolerance and understanding.

It advocates sustainable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders and ensures a fair distribution of resources. As well as stable employment and income opportunities, it also contributes to poverty reduction in host communities with social responsibility actions.

Why is it important?

Tourism has exceptionally positive economic consequences and is one of the most important sources of employment and economic gain in the world. On the other hand, it is a very complicated sector and sometimes there are many stakeholders with conflicting interests; this requires to correct and fair use of resources. Depending on how tourism is managed, it can have very positive results. Sustainable tourism plays a positive role in the social, cultural, economic, environmental and political development of destinations and provides significant development opportunities for many countries or communities. Uncontrolled tourism development can also have devastating effects as such natural resources, consumption behavior, pollution and social systems. The need for sustainable planning and management is vital to the survival of the sector.

WHICH ITEMS DOES IT COVER?

Environmental effects

The quality of the natural or human-shaped environment is indispensable for tourism. When tourists choose their destinations to go, they primarily consider the natural, architectural or cultural beauty of there. On the other hand, the relationship between tourism and the environment is complicated. Many activities in the sector can have negative effects on the environment.

Construction of roads and airports, facilities such as large hotels and resorts, restaurants, golf courses and marinas can damage natural resources, which is the main cause of tourism. Sustainable tourism requires a balance between sectoral activities such as these and the protection of natural and sociocultural heritage. When properly managed, tourism can provide that these resources are not depleted, but transferred to future generations with best protection.

Sociocultural effects

The sociocultural effects of tourism includes the direct and indirect relations of host communities with tourists and their interactions with the tourism sector. For many reasons, host communities are weaker in dealing with guests and service providers. The impact of tourism on these communities may not always be directly visible and is difficult to measure.

The effects of tourism on host communities may be more visible through cultural changes, differentiation and losses in lifestyle and traditions (change or forgetting of some traditions, differentiation in language, etc.), even moral changes. While some stakeholders perceive these changes as positive, others may call them destructive. On the other hand, when tourism is managed correctly, it can become a supportive force in terms of maintaining peace, transferring cultural traditions to future generations and preventing migration by creating employment.

Economic impacts

The tourism sector provides substantially economic benefits to host countries and to the countries from which tourists come. Especially in developing countries, the fact that certain regions become tourism destinations accelerates economic development seriously. As with other elements, economic development can have both positive and negative effects. From water and electricity consumption to garbage production, detergents used in tourism facilities, washed pillows and towels and consumed foods, sustainable tourism provides a balance between economic development and correct use of resources by addressing in detail the effects of sectoral activities on nature, culture and social texture.

WHY SHOULD BE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN TURKEY?

Tourism largely based on natural, cultural and historical heritage in Turkey where the absence or have a couple of touristic elements such as casinos, theme parks or many modern architectural works.

Like natural beauty, clean sea and sandy beaches, natural attractions convenient to outdoor activities, historical monuments, cultural heritage and culinary elements form the backbone of Turkey's tourism sector. Therefore, the protection of these resources are vital for the continuance of the tourism sector, which is of great importance for the national economy. This is essential not only for the host communities but also for the existence of the direct sector itself.

What are the issues that should be addressed sustainable tourism in Turkey?

One of the most important environmental problems in Turkey is the pollution of water resources. Various studies have shown that the country is at risk of serious drought in the future. The tourism sector is one of the sectors that have a share in this situation with the wastes of accommodation facilities, the wastes of yachts and ships, and the water consumption. In addition, in the Black Sea problems such as building highways on tableland and forests that attract visitors due to their natural beauties  region, and building structures that are incompatible with the architectural texture of the region have been the subject of debate in the public in recent years. Especially in the Mediterranean, the shrinking of agricultural areas due to tourism facilities is one of the important problems. It is inevitable for the future of the natural resources and the sector that such issues should be addressed by the tourism sector and the legislators as soon as possible and switched to sustainable tourism management.