Evaluation of coastal landscapes in terms of sustainable tourism and recreation potential: Bartin-Kizilkum case

Coastal areas with ecological characteristics also provide means for versatile touristic and recreational public use. Coasts make up the intersection point of land and sea and defining the natural and cultural landscape characteristics in determining touristic and recreational potentials of coastal landscapes is important with regard to sustainable coastal use. Within the context of preservation and tourism interaction, spreading out of tourism and recreational activities over 12 months in order to ensure sustainability as well as the prevention of possible damages on rural coastal landscape characteristics due to overuse exceeding their bearing capacity are included among important issues of regional tourism planning. The purpose of the thesis study was to examine the natural and cultural landscape characteristics of the Kızılkum Village and its environs in the province of Bartın and to evaluate them within the framework of the principles of conservation and use with regard to tourism and recreational potential in addition to putting forth relevant suggestions. The subjects of coastal landscape, rural landscape, tourism and recreation along with sustainability were primarily taken into consideration within the theoretical framework during the thesis study. Natural and cultural data related with the area were transferred onto the maps via GIS (Geographical Information Systems). Tourism and recreational activities that are in compliance with the area were determined in accordance with expert opinions. Afterwards, A'WOT (Digitalized SWOT Analysis) technique was used. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related with the study area were first explained during the first SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) stage of the A'WOT technique. The SWOT groups that were formed afterwards were prioritized via paired comparison with expert opinions. The geometric average was calculated for the matrices obtained as a result of expert opinions which were then transferred to Expert Choice 11.5 software. As a result, the best tourism and recreational activities for the study area were determined with their priorities in accordance with expert opinions. Suitability analyses were carried out for landscape viewing and nature photography, tent camping, caravan camping, trekking, picnic, swimming, boat trip and agricultural tourism which were determined as a result of the evaluations carried out to be of high value with regard to tourism and recreational potential in Kızılkum. It was emphasized in the thesis study that Kızılkum has a significant tourism and recreational potential in addition to important landscape characteristics for improving this potential. The acquired data and evaluation results obtained will contribute to the sustainable development of regional tourism.