A RESEARCH UPON THE SUSTAINABLE NATURE-BASED TOURISM: CASE OF WESTERN BLACK SEA REGION OF TURKEY

Abstract

Natural and cultural assets are among the most important resources that generate the tourism supply. Tourism trends are changing rapidly from mass tourism to alternative tourism and in recent years there have been significant initiatives concerning sustainable and environmentally sensitive tourism in Turkey. The Western Black Sea Region has a great potantial for nature-based tourism with its biodiversity, unspoiled nature, lakes, waterfalls, National Parks and Protected Areas. National Parks, Nature Parks, Natural Areas are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Water Affairs and Forestry in Turkey. Many types of tourism and activities such as ecotourism, nature tourism, hunting, trekking are carried out under the control of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks.The aim of this study is to evaluate the strategy of General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks for sustainable nature-based tourism and to reveal sustainable nature-based tourism strategy for the Western Black Sea Region. For this purpose, "Master Plan of Nature-Based Tourism of Sinop " examined by document analysis method which was prepared by 10th Regional Directorate for the Province of Sinop. And also In-depth interviews conducted with the 10.th Regional Director of Forestry about their activities and strategies about sustaniable nature-based tourism. Findings show that Forestry has many activities and practices sush as ―Enhancing Forest Protected Areas Management System‖,and ―DisabledFriendly Accessible National Park Project‖.