The current situation assessment of Antalya Kaleiçi region within the framework of sustainable tourism indicators

Sustainability is a sensitive issue for the tourism sector since the concept of sustainability includes the protection of natural resources and cultural heritage. As the tourism activity in a destination increases, it becomes more important to manage the tourism effects in that destination. Because touristic destinations have a life cycle and may lose their touristic attractiveness after a certain time. Some indicators are needed to monitor the effectiveness of tourism development, evaluate the current situation, and take the necessary measures. The most comprehensive indicators for the evaluation of sustainable tourism in destinations have been prepared by the UNWTO. The aim of this thesis is to examine the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability of the Antalya Kaleiçi region by taking as a reference the basic sustainability indicator determined by UNWTO. The main problem of the research is 'How is the current situation of Kaleiçi within the framework of sustainable tourism indicators?' In line with the purpose of the study, a qualitative research method and a case study approach was designed for the purpose of the study. To acquire data richness with data triangulation and to reduce methodological weaknesses, in addition to the interview, which was determined as data collection technique document analysis, observation notes, and photographs taken in the field were used. In this research, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 5 local people, 7 local officials, 17 private sector business owners or employees (accommodation, food and beverage, souvenir businesses, taxi drivers), 1 academician at Akdeniz University and 1 non-governmental organization representative (NGO) among Kaleiçi stakeholders. Within the framework of socio-cultural sustainability indicators, the research revealed the negative changes in the demographic structure and changes in lifestyles of Kaleiçi caused by tourism, the lack of participation of the local people in the decision-making processes, the insufficient protection of the cultural heritage of the destination, controversial restoration practices, and security problems. In addition, the inability of the tourism sector to provide economic benefits to the local people reveals the failure of economic sustainability. Finally, findings have been discovered about environmental sustainability problems due to insufficient protection of the natural environment and water resources, lack of noise level control, poor solid waste management, and not controlling the intensity of tourism development.