The difference between Turkish and European sustainable tourism and recommendations to improve the Turkish sustainable tourism

Due to the tourism's direct and indirect positive impacts on countries' economies, the governments have formed a large number of policies for tourism developments. However, as a result of unplanned and rapid development of tourism, cultural and natural resources which enable the development of tourism have been rapidly depleted and destroyed. Turkey is also one of these countries which consume the natural and cultural resources for tourism development. In consequence of Tourism Promotion Law numbered 2634, which aims to boost the development of Turkish Tourism, most of protected and forested areas have deteriorated. Shortly, because of the fact that natural and cultural resources have faced the risk of being destroyed, the problem of transferring the resources to next generation arises. Sustainable Tourism concept has been conflicted with the country's economic benefit. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the differences between Turkish Tourism Policy development and European Sustainable Tourism Policies and to recommend policies in accordance with these differences for improving Turkish Sustainable Tourism. Key Words: Sustainability, European Union Sustainable Tourism Policies, Turkish Tourism, Sustainable Tourism