Mass Tourism Development and Deforestation in Turkey

ABSTRACT The growth of mass tourism has led to a wide range of environmental and socio-cultural problems throughout the world. A central feature of mass tourism is the use and conversion of large natural lands to built tourism-related facilities. Worldwide, forests and coastal zones are the principal resources used for the construction of tourist facilities. On the one hand, forests constitute tourism's natural capital and raw material; on the other hand, they suffer the impacts from individual activities or facility development associated with tourism. Deforestation is one of the most important global environmental consequences of mass tourism development. Similar to many parts of the world, mass tourism activity is heightening pressure on forests and other natural areas in Turkey. Monitoring and eliminating the negative environmental impacts of tourism is crucial for the protection and continuity of forest resources. First of all, the formulation and implementation of nature protection-oriented policy objectives should be essential for all relations between the natural environment and tourism. KEY WORDS: Mass tourismDeforestationForest and tourismTourism and environment