Impacts of tourism developments of natural environment in South Antalya region proposals for sustainable tourism

In this research, negative environmental effects of tourism were examined in the South Antalya region where Turkey's first integrated tourism project had been carried out with plan, programme, finance and management objectives. The study examined two subjects; important coastal biotopes and sustainable environmental management. 1/25.000 scale Physical Land Development Plans dated 1974, 1988, 1990 and 1996 were compared to determine land loss, which was a serious environmental effect of tourism. In order to find out the loss of important coastal biotopes, a biotope mapping study based on the European Union Natura 2000 system was performed. To point out possibilities for sustainable tourism implications, present practices in travel agencies, hotels and recreational areas for environmental protection and management such as water and energy saving, solid waste disposal were examined and it was found that there is an existing substructure for sustainable tourism management, particularly in hotels. As a result of tourism developments since 1970's 519,3 hectare of land mainly characterised by natural coastal dunes and forest was transformed into tourism facilities. Sand dunes of 20,1 hectare in Beldibi, 32 hectare in Göynük, 40,5 hectare in Kemer and similarly natural coastal forest of 111,4 hectare in Beldibi, 43,1 hectare in Göynük, 46 hectare in Kemer and 12,2 hectare in Tekirova have disappeared. Research results based on ecological data would be helpful for the regions with similar problems in Turkey depending on mass tourism. Also sustainable tourism practices used as an effective tool in controlling negative tourism effects would be beneficial for regional tourism and the national tourisrn sector in the long-term.Keywords: Tourism, Environment, South Antalya, Biotopes, Sustainable Tourism