Socio-economic analysis of ecotourism activities of women in Turkey

Abstract

Ecotourism is a type of tourism in which maximum benefits are provided to local people while protecting the environment. Local people care more about the sustainability of biodiversity and they are very effective at protecting it. Kure Mountains National Park is one of the most important protected areas for accelerating ecotourism, having tremendous natural resources, protected traditional cultures, caves, canyons, waterfalls and natural wonders. In this study, we aimed to examine the support of women in ecotourism activities in Kure Mountain National Park. To measure the support of women in ecotourism, we conducted face-to-face surveys with 366 women from 53 villages and used observation method. It was found that the level of education in the region is quite low, 65 out of 98 women having 64 years of age and older were illiterate. As the level of education decreased, there was an increase in the unemployment. About 94.3% of the women living in the buffer zone of the park stated that there was no relation between their income and the status of National Park. These findings are important in understanding the role of women in the development of ecotourism. Moreover, stimulating ecotourism activities with encouragement and micro-development plans for local people will increase their livelihoods and people who live in and around the National Park will be more careful to protect these areas