Investigation of ecotourism opportunities for Eskipazar (Karabuk) settlement

With the increasing understanding of tourism and environmental awareness of people, time has turned towards nature, exploration and search for different activities. This leads to an increase in the interest in ecotourism as well as the number of ecotourists. His research area is Eskipazar; natural vegetation, Sığırcık Suyu, Akkaya Thermal and Travertines, Hadrianoupolis Antique City, Asar Antique City, Deliklikaya Tombs, yellow travertine quarries and highlands with natural, historical and cultural landscape is a settlement rich in original values. The aim of this research is to develop ecotourism suggestions in order to reveal the natural and cultural landscape potential of Eskipazar District of Karabük Province in the Western Black Sea Region and take its place in the tourism sector and increase the number of ecotourists. In this context, surveys were conducted in line with the opinions and opinions of local people, visitors and experts (local administrators). With SWOT and A'wot analyzes, the strengths and weaknesses of the district and priority ranking of opportunities and threats were calculated. The population of the research consists of local people and local administrators living in Eskipazar district. The survey sample was determined as 95 local people and 5 key experts (local administrators). 20 visitor surveys were evaluated as in-depth interviews due to insufficient survey participants. In the research, natural and cultural characteristics of Eskipazar, local dishes, attraction points to serve ecotourism and the expectations of the survey participants were included.