Determination of visitor carrying capacity in recreational areas of an urban beach and application of LAC model

Antalya province is one of the important centers of the tourism sector with its many features. It has become attractive for tourists with its beaches. In order to evaluate the negative effects and reflections due to the excessive use of recreational activities on beaches, various recreational activity analyzes are carried out, especially on Antalya Konyaaltı Beach. In our study, it was aimed to determine the tourist/user carrying capacity of an urban beach in recreation areas through the example of Antalya Konyaaltı Beach. In determining the recreational carrying capacity of Konyaaltı Beach, the current ecological and social conditions were evaluated together and the real state of the recreation quality was tried to be determined. While calculating carrying capacities, the LAC (Acceptable Change Limits) model was used and compared with the recreational carrying capacity in tourism. Four stations that could represent the study area were determined. LAC model results, calculated by determining all and real areas of the stations as beach and swimming areas, were compared with recreational carrying capacity calculations (physical carrying capacity (PCC), real carrying capacity (RCC) and effective carrying capacity (ECC)). It was determined that there was a difference in the calculation results. The results obtained for both calculation methods clearly show that there is an overcapacity in the current situation. Additionally, in determining the ecological carrying capacity, pollution indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli (E.coli) ve Enterococcus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aeureus ve yeast-fungi) were selected to determine the quality of sea water and beach sand. It was investigated whether there was a relationship between environmental factors and the presence of indicator bacteria. The data obtained were also examined from a public health perspective. It was determined that there was an increase in the microorganism concentrations used in ecological carrying capacity calculations compared to other studies conducted in the same field. It is thought that the data obtained is due to increasing temperatures, climate change and user density. The data obtained may have a negative impact on public health. The importance of the study has increased even more as the thesis study coincides with the Covid-19 pandemic period between 2020-2022. As a result of the study, it was possible to compare the data between the pandemic ban period and post-pandemic data. In this way, the effects of the user factor can be seen more clearly.