Role of Ecotourism in Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Karpaz, North Cyprus

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the challenges of modern development and understanding the benefits of sustainable development and ecotourism in rural development. The analyzed data were collected from the villages in Karpaz region, North Cyprus. The potential of sustainable tourism is developed social, environmental and cultural life, therefore tourism is very important for the global economy and also for the economy of the countries. Unfortunately, as tourism expands challenges also arise and these significant problems are related to mass tourism. After 1980s Alternative tourism is started to be discussed and sustainable tourism came to the agenda of the tourism researchers and consultants. After these debates Ecotourism started to be practiced and implicated as sustainable tourism development. Since 1960 tourism was the main sector of economic development of Whole Island, although the tourism was developed as mass tourism with huge negative impacts. The implications of the big hotels disturb the environment also disturb the seashore. After the separation of the Island into two communities in 1974, tourism in Northern Cyprus rapidly diverted to the mass tourism and casino. After a long period of time in 2006 government started to deal with soft tourism such as nature tourism and heritage tourism through local community in Karpaz region. Ecotourism is a new concept for TRNC and particular for Karpaz region, therefore local population does not have enough knowledge about ecotourism’s benefits and upcoming natural challenges as well as the positive contribution to the economic, social and cultural life. During the research, the contributions have been noticed especially on women and ensure the women participation in economic and social life. Ecotourism increases the awareness among locals to protect the environment for future generation. Eco-tourism in Karpaz is a viable rural tourism development plan with so much potential in the near future.