As more and more people become aware of the costs of damaging the environment, many people are looking for holidays, which literally don’t ‘cost’ the earth. Eco tourism, a fast growing sector of the tourist industry offers visitors with a conscience for conservation and the environment the opportunity to enjoy a fulfilling holiday experience whilst reducing their carbon footprint. Whilst many tourists associate the word “eco” with green issues this emerging tourism market allows a holiday experience with environmental benefits and Turkey has successfully combined its traditional tourism with its natural assets to create a thriving eco tourist industry.
A Natural Location
Turkey’s perfect geographic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia Minor offers visitors a country rich in wildlife and nature. Rare fauna and flora uncommon and sometimes non-existent in other European countries flourish here. Ancient forests provide homes to deer, elk, fox, wild goat and boars. Lush valleys thrive on the temperate climate, which provides the landscape with a stunning display of wild flowers. Over the last five years eco tourism has increased thanks to a number of local and regional initiatives designed to promote the country’s nature conservation programs, local traditions and culture. Eco tourism contributes to biodiversity conservation, sustains the well-being of the local population and promotes responsible actions on the part of tourists and the tourism industry.
A Growth Industry
In the last ten years, this new style of vacation has increased its share of world tourism. Year on year, visitors are becoming increasingly aware of their impact on the world.They now demand cleaner and more environmentally forms of transport, and they want to enjoy all the benefits of travel without impacting our fragile planet. It is believed that, although still in its infancy, eco tourism accounts for one tenth of world tourist revenue. It’s not just the landscape and natural resources that are responsible for this new trend in holidaymaking, hotels are also able to make their own contribution to attract this form of tourist revenue too. Eco tourism is predominantly developed in places, whose nature is unaffected by industrialisation and civilisation and Turkey boasts many untouched areas of natural beauty and wonder like the breathtaking Nemrut and Aladag Mountains and the untouched Eastern Black Sea coast. The development in tourism in these areas has lead to many inaccessible and panoramic areas being opened up by means of eco trails allowing visitors to take in the stunning landscapes and participate in activities such as bird watching, climbing, rafting, kayaking and trekking.
Key Projects
A project in conjunction with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the Kure Mountains National Park in 1998, aims to conserve and care the ecological community’s natural features and resources and to generate sustainable rural conservation projects. This along with hefty promotion of the area and research conducted here has boosted tourism to the region. The Turkish government has banned hunting, construction, the felling of trees and restricted grazing to designated sites after pressure from the WWF. The park has been opened up to tourists who are accompanied by trained local guides and this has involved the local community in the ecological programme to protect their heritage. Sedat Kalem, Director of the Turkish WWF’s Forest Programme explains how the project has had a positive effect on previous destructive practices, “Many people moved to urban areas, abandoning their beautiful, authentic wooden homes. Others came and destroyed many of the homes and erected ugly concrete residences in their place. One of our preservation activities is to stop practices like this.” The indigenous population of this region are amongst the best carpenters in the country, but their lack of environmental awareness has lead to the near extinction of boxwood trees in the area. The WWF have instigated an education programme to make these people aware of how to create different, more lucrative items from other wood.
Turkey’s First Eco Centre
In 2002, the WWF opened Pinarbasi Pasha Konagi, the first Turkish eco-tourism centre. It is located in Pinarbasi village in the Kure Mountains and comprises of a well-maintained, two-storey, wooden mansion, which can house up to 20 guests. The mansion has been fully restored to its former glory preserving some of the region’s traditional architecture. The Zumrut project is turkey’s largest eco-initiative. The remote village of Zumrut is now home to a riding stable and recreation centre, which is run exclusively by members of the local community. Visitors to the village will experience Turkish culture and hospitality at its best with villagers dressed in traditional costume, a wide range of local cuisine available and a host of traditional festivals. The area is the perfect place to relax and enjoy picturesque hikes and walks amidst some of the world’s most amazing scenery. Places to visit in the vicinity include the Valla Canyon, which is 10 km long and the enormous Ilgarini caves.
Such initiatives and there are many, have given Turkey have strengthened Turkey’s position at the heart of the ecological tourist sector and provided a competitive advantage in this growing sector.
Eco tourist destinations appeal to their visitors all year round, the changing of the seasons brings something new and exciting to explore and discover, so if you are looking for an alternative way to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of this fantastic country why not give it a try?
