The effects of ecotourism on development in Amasya province

The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the ecotourism potential of Amasya Province and its impacts on the province's development. With its deep-rooted history and cultural heritage, Amasya is one of the prominent tourism centers of the Central Black Sea Region. In addition to its historical and cultural tourism, the province has an increasing potential in the field of ecotourism. Thanks to its natural environment and climatic features, Amasya has become a suitable destination for ecotourism enthusiasts. In recent years, with the support of institutions engaged in development-oriented initiatives, the province's ecotourism potential has become more visible. Various studies have revealed that Amasya is particularly suitable for activities such as hunting, sport fishing, mountain biking, botanical tourism, nature sports, hiking, birdwatching, orienteering, paragliding, highland tourism, farm and agricultural tourism, camping and caravan tourism, photo safaris, and festival tourism. Furthermore, during the years 2020–2021, the global pandemic, which forced people to spend most of their time at home, significantly transformed their holiday perceptions. Research has shown that individuals have increasingly turned to vacation options such as caravans and tents, where they can maintain personal space more comfortably, thus reshaping tourism habits. In addition, natural disasters such as earthquakes, which have directly affected people's lives both in Türkiye and worldwide, have further strengthened the tendency to move away from urban life and to prefer detached houses. Although many individuals cannot abandon city life due to economic reasons, they have demonstrated a willingness to reconnect with nature, at least during short-term holidays. Therefore, under the influence of the pandemic and natural disasters, people's holiday preferences have changed, and ecotourism has gradually gained greater importance. The purpose of this study is to investigate, through qualitative research methods—particularly interviews—whether the development of ecotourism contributes to the socio-economic development of Amasya Province. Although previous studies have examined Amasya's ecotourism potential, the issue has not been addressed within the framework of regional development. Likewise, other research has focused on the role of tourism in regional development through the case of Amasya, but without emphasizing ecotourism specifically. In this regard, this thesis aims to fill a significant gap in the literature and make an original contribution to the field.