**3.2. Survey results**

182 Landscape Planning

In order to reveal the current status of the area a SWOT analysis was conducted. The results

**Weaknesses**

 Topographic obstacles Traffic and parking problems

 Lack of promotion Misuse of protected areas

practice, etc.)

Lack of infrastructure

Earthquake and erosion risk

Lack of tourism education

and cultural areas

administrations

Seawater pollution

Coastal fill areas

Cultural degradation

**Threats**

Irregular urban development

 Anthropogenic pressures on forests Degradation of archaeological areas

(exceeding carrying capacity) Increase in building density and height Urban development in agricultural areas (pressures on agricultural areas)

Changes in laws and legislations

Use pressure on carrying capacity in the summer

Factors that cause changes in the shore line (fill

 Degradation in the historic urban pattern Aesthetic problems in urban and natural environment (visual pollution, etc.)

Activities of Turkish Hard Coal Authority

Insufficient accommodation standards

Lack of approaches to protection in local

Lack of interest by NGOs and local residents

Overcrowding especially in summer months

Lack of inventory on natural and cultural assets

 Financial limitations faced by local administrations Lack of expertise in local administrations about planning, design and management of natural

**3.1 SWOT analysis of the existing natural and cultural values of Amasra** 

**3. Results and discussions** 

**Strengths** 

 Fisheries Coastal features

formation)

Folklore

 3000-year past Ancient port town Established guesthouses

**Opportunities** 

Sea tourism

Istanbul)

heritage sites

 Hills (panoramic views) Natural protected areas Natural beaches Biodiversity

 Climate advantages Visual advantages

Gastronomic activities

Traditional handicrafts

of the SWOT analysis are as follows (Table 1).

Historical and archaeological sites/

(opposite shore due to the peninsula)

(steep cliffs, caves, interesting coastal

 Ports/Harbours (big and small ports) Tourism activities dating back

Proximity to major cities (Ankara and

Local residents' openness to innovation

 Fisheries open to development Proximity to Kastamonu-Bartn Küre Mountains National Park, one of the most important natural protection area of Europe for its natural, cultural and historical values Proximity to the Bartn River, the only waterway available for

transport in Turkey Proximity to the museum city of Safranbolu, which is in the World

Heritage List

#### **3.2.1 Socio-demographic structure**

Table 2 demonstrates the socio-cultural information of the survey participants.


Table 2. Socio-cultural information of the survey participants.

Local Residents' Perceptions of and Attitudes

regarding tourism; H. Other).

(Figure 3).

(74%), August (61%), and June (43%).

of the participants did not answer this question.

areas, and visual pollution (Table 5).

Toward Sustainable Tourism Planning and Management in Amasra (Turkey) 185

Fig. 2. Primary problems faced by participants with tourism as source of income

(A. Financial difficulties; B. Lack of education in tourism; C. Limitations due to Amasra's status as a protection site; D. Lack of attention from local administrations; E. Lack of standards in the tourism sector; F. Lack of branding; G. Lack of local residents' awareness

The participants indicated that the busiest months of tourism activities in Amasra are July

According to the participants, the tourist demand for Amasra is due to its coastal location (31%), the historical and cultural values (30%) and natural beauty of the town and its surroundings (20%). In addition, the analysis of the ranking of the first, second and third preferences belonging to the same option revealed that the choice ''seafood restaurants'' is of prominence with values close to each other in all the three preferences of the participants

86% of the participants stated that the tourism potential of Amasra is not sufficiently utilized, in constrast with 13% of the participants who thought it was sufficiently used. 1%

In terms of peripheral services developing thanks to tourism, 63% of the participants ranked guesthouses as the first choice, 28% handicrafts and 19% seafood restaurants (Figure 4).

54% of the participants stated that the impact of tourism in Amasra are positive, while 7% considered the impact negative and 39% both positive and negative. Among the participants who indicated that the impact is positive, 44% thought that it is effective in the promotion of the town. According to the participants, the negative impact of tourism is due to, first, the degradation of traditional houses because of unplanned development; second, the number of visitors exceeding the carrying capacity, and third, degradation of natural and cultural

**Percent (%) Being from Amasra**  Yes 48 No 52 1 year 7 **For how long they live in Amasra** 1-3 year 12 3-5 year 6 5-10 year 10 10-15 year 6 15-20 year 5 20+ year 54 **Source of income of the family** No response 2 Agriculture 1 Animal husbandry <sup>1</sup> Commerce 7 Tourism 37 Handicrafts 1 Other 51

48% of the participants are from Amasra. 54% of the parricipants have been living in Amasra for more than 20 years. In terms of source of income, 37% of the participants are engaged in tourism, and 51% in other sectors (Table 3).

Table 3. Participant demographics.
