Author/Authors :
AKPINAR KÜLEKÇİ, Elif Atatürk Üniversitesi - Mimarlık ve Tasarım Fakültesi - Peyzaj Mimarlığı Bölümü, Turkey , BULUT, Yahya Atatürk Üniversitesi - Mimarlık ve Tasarım Fakültesi - Peyzaj Mimarlığı Bölümü, Turkey
Abstract :
Oltu and Olur districts are two most important attraction centres in Erzurum province for ecotourism activities for the values they inhabit. These centres have important ecotourism potentials with diverse flora and fauna existent in Oltu Creek watershed, variable soil structures between the elevations of 850 and 3000 m, rich local products and handicrafts, local and traditional architecture, historical background and interesting geological formations. One of the complex and multi dimensional decision making systems, Analytical Hierarchy System (AHS) was used for the selection of the most convenient ecotourism activity in the area. While the variables in decision hierarchy model in AHS method were determined as the pressure on Natural Resource Values, Cultural Change, Publicity of the Region, Improvement in Infrastructure and Employment and Income (Level 2); Flora and Fauna Observation, Trekking, Festival and Tableland Tourism, History and Religious Tourism, and Traditional Products and Gastronomy Tourism (Level 3) were determined as decision criteria (measures). The questionnaire was carried out jointly by different professional groups such as empoyees of various public institutions having high education level, farmers, housewives and shopkeepers. Based on the AHS analysis results, when general arithmetic means of participants priority values and priority matrices of 2nd Level were taken into account, it is considered that ecotourism activities which will be implemented would contribute to the “Publicity of the Region” both for Olur (0.3122) and Oltu (0.3285) districts. As for the priority choices and priority matrices of 3rd Level for the most suitable ecotourism activities of decision makers in Oltu and Olur districts, it was determined that “Festival and Tableland Tourism” (0.2942) for Olur; and “Traditional Products and Gastronomy Tourism” (0.3177) for Oltu were the most suitable ecotourism activities in the region. “Flora and Fauna Observation” were determined as the least suitable ecotourism activities in both districts in research area.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Erzurum , Oltu , Olur , Ecotourism , AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process)
