AN ASSESSMENT APPROACH FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN AMASRA’S RURAL AREA

Abstract

Sustainable rural tourism indicates a common relationship between tourism and rural landscape. Rural landscape, on the other hand, is the combination of natural and cultural landscape, which are among the main elements that attract tourists to a destination. Using rural landscape in a protective way for future generations also means successful sustainable tourism.In terms of rural tourism, Turkey attracts attention both with its coasts and back coast landscapes. With its natural beauties such as the mountains, highlands, water resources, plant cover Black Sea Region within the country has significant resources for tourism. Amasra, the field of this study, is one of the rural tourist attractions on the foothills of West Black Sea Mountains. The continuity of the natural and cultural values of rural landscape is of great importance for the sustainability of rural tourism in Amasra. In this context, the existing rural landscape features were assessed with the findings obtained through rapid rural assessment, face to face meetings with experts and authorities and field observations. Solution suggestions were made for the transfer of landscape values examined in Amasra rural area with a protection-utilization balance and the requirements for a successful sustainable tourism development were explained.