Author(s): Engin ASLANâ Gül GÃNEÅ
The primary goal of sustainable development is; to ensure the consumption of environmental and social resources within a protection-utilization balance. Within a destination where a sustainable tourism development is in question; “the optimum utilization of environmental resources; respect towards the authentic structure of local people in terms of socio-cultural aspects; consistent and long term economic approaches and fair distribution of benefits amongst all shareholders” are also an issue. Within the Action Plan 2023 of Turkish Tourism Strategy; 35 Preservation of Culture and Tourism and Development Areas were formed, which still prevail, “to protect and use the areas where historical and cultural values highly exist and/or where tourism potential is high and to ensure sectorial progress and planned development”. One of these areas is the area which is declared as the Karakaya Dam Reservoir Culture and Tourism Preservation and Development Area in 2013 that encompasses Battalgazi, Kale, Pütürge, Baskil and Sivrice Counties of Malatya and Elaz?? Cities. It is very important to form sustainable destinations to minimize the negative effects of tourism especially in developing countries’ such as Turkey. This aforementioned area needs to show progress as a sustainable destination. From this point forth, the purpose of the study is; to reveal the unique tourism resource values of Karakaya Dam Reservoir which is declared as a Culture and Tourism Preservation and Development Area, to lay emphasis on the importance of sustainable tourism development for destinations and to develop guidelines for this area to make it a sustainable tourism destination. Qualitative methods were used for the study; data were obtained from literature reviews, observations and interviews.
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