ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Land Use Changes in Relation to Coastal Tourism
Developments in Turkish Mediterranean
Meryem Atik1, Türker Altan2, Mustafa Artar3
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1Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Akdeniz, 07070 Antalya, Turkey
2Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Çukurova, 01330 Balcali, Adana, Turkey
3Bartin Forestry Faculty, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Bartin, 74100 Bartin, Turkey
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2010;19(1):21-33
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ABSTRACT
Tourism is one of the major driving forces behind land use and landscape changes in the coastal
Mediterranean. The aim of this study is to analyze the land use changes in relation to coastal tourism developments
in the Turkish Mediterranean. Spatial and quantitative inventory of land use changes was delineated
by interpreting physical land use data for 1974, 1988, 1990 and 1996 in GIS systems. Study results showed
that 816 hectares of agricultural land and 457 hectares of natural coastal forest are converted to tourism-based
establishments such as hotels, service buildings and settlements. Degradation of the coastal forests was higher
in the beginning of tourism developments, but this trend has become static while constant change on agricultural
lands was expected to continue in the coming years. Therefore, it is crucial that tourism development
plans be accompanied with a set of ecological, social and economic system for the livelihood of tourism and
the operated area.