An investigation of ecology based planning approach and opportunities for alternative tourism at Altindere valley (Trabzon-Maçka)

Rapid developments in the communication and transportation technologies in the globalizing world has not only caused major changes in the understanding of tourism causing a decrease in the collective tourism activities but also created a need for a kind of tourism sensitive to the environment and in harmony with the nature for those participating in tourism activities in addition to their normal life and habits. This dissertation study was carried out in the Altındere Valley of Trabzon city at the Maçka Province, Yazlık Village settlement which is rich in tourism activities and possesses very rich natural and cultural resource values. The study is based on putting forward the potential for tourism activities at the study sites in the light of the data by determining the natural and cultural structure. In the study, various methods which support each other were used in order to determine the use of high plateau areas and surrounding settlements of Yazlık Village located in Altındere Valley for ecologically based tourism and alternative tourism activities. The study was carried out in three phases. In the first phase of the study, by carrying out field surveys, data was collected regarding the natural, historical and cultural values of the study area. The obtained data was evaluated in the second phase of the study by using the ?V-Wert? method and ?ecological evaluation method?. In the third phase of the study, a map of ?Potential for Site Use for Alternative Tourism? was obtained by combining the tourism potential maps prepared. As a result, among the fields which have emerged 7.94% was found to have