WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM?

Sustainable tourism is a process in which cultural integrity, ecological processes, biological diversity and life-sustaining systems are maintained by preserving the environment in which humans interact or do not interact without being degraded or changed, and at the same time, all resources are met in a way that meets the economic, social and aesthetic needs of people and tourists in the visited region. It is defined as an approach in which future generations are managed in a way that they can meet the same needs.

With sustainable tourism, it is aimed to contribute to the local economy, the protection of natural and cultural heritage, and to increase the quality of life of local people and visitors by minimizing the negative effects of tourism on society and the environment.

The concept of sustainable tourism does not essentially define a type of tourism, but rather the principles that should be adopted when carrying out activities to develop different types of tourism.

In this context, studies are carried out to develop different types of tourism within the framework of economic, cultural, social and environmental sustainability principles and to focus on the local economic development dimension of tourism with a community-based approach.

According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the principles of sustainable tourism are:

1) Economic Continuity: To ensure the local applicability of policies designed to ensure that tourism routes and initiatives can sustain their success and continue to provide benefits in the long term, and the competitiveness of businesses at national and international levels and in the thematic context.

2) Local Development: To increase the contribution of tourism to the host destination by supporting measures that increase the rate of visitors' overnight stays, meetings with local producers and service providers, and spending locally.

3) Employment Quality: To support professional specialization, without discrimination on issues such as race, gender, disability, and to increase the number and quality of local employment created by tourism by improving wage and service quality.

4) Social Participation and Gender Equality: To strive to distribute the economic and social benefits obtained from tourism activities widely and fairly, and to improve the opportunities, income and services provided to the economically and socially disadvantaged.

5) Visitor Satisfaction: To offer visitors a safe, satisfactory, sustainable and innovative experience, without discrimination of race, gender, disability, age or any other discrimination, and to support the concept of "responsible tourists".

6) Local Control: To ensure that local governments are in consultation with other stakeholders of tourism in the planning, management and implementation stages, to strengthen the local people/communities and civil society in the development of tourism in the region and to include them in the processes.

7) Social Welfare: To maintain and improve the quality of life of local people by ensuring their access to social structures and resources, facilities and life support systems without causing social degradation and abuse.

8) Cultural Richness: To respect the historical heritage, original culture, traditions and distinctive characteristics of the local people and to increase their value.

9) Physical Integrity: To maintain and improve the quality of urban and rural areas and to prevent physical and visual deterioration of the environment.

10) Biological Diversity: To support the protection of natural areas, habitats, wildlife, species and endemism (local species) and to minimize the damage to them, to increase their awareness by observing the protection-use balance during and after these practices.

11) Efficient Use of Resources: In the development and operation of tourism facilities and services, minimizing the use of limited and non-renewable resources, increasing local ownership and national and international awareness when it comes to natural, cultural and historical values, maintaining a balance of protection and use during and after these practices. to increase their awareness, taking into account

12) Environmental Impact: To minimize air, water and soil pollution and waste production caused by tourism businesses and visitors, to inform local people, business employees and guests about environmental impact, and to popularize concepts such as "responsible business" and "responsible tourist".