**2.2 Method**

178 Landscape Planning

related to climate change and biodiversity. Furthermore, to accomplish such multidimensional goals, tourism strategy should engage national, regional and local administrations alike. With respect to the sustainability of tourism benefits at the local level, an integrated approach to management is needed to protect natural resources from diverse

Participation of local people is important in sustainable tourism planning. In this respect, residents' expectations of tourism, perspectives on tourism and perceptions of the natural and cultural values play an important role in the development of sustainable tourism

Ernoul (2009) reports that the local residents' perceptions of tourism development are largely neglected. Several studies focus on special events in order to comprehend the perceptions of the local population regarding tourism (e.g. Soutar and McLeod, 1993; Jackson, 2008). The results of these studies suggest that tourism has a positive impact on the residents' quality of life. According to Lee et al. (2007), research on local populations' perceptions of tourism development is useful for developing measures to overcome problems due to hostility between visitors and local populations (Sethna, 1980) and for

This study measured the local residents' perception of the necessity of sustainability of the natural, cultural and historical values that constitute the resource of tourism activities in the city of Amasra in order to determine the attitudes toward and participation in tourism development of local residents. With a rational tourism planning approach, it concludes with some proposals for providing opportunities of year-long tourism activities, especially considering its coastal location, gastronomy, local handicrafts and pensions and for

Amasra is a Western Black Sea coastal town in Bartn Province, Turkey. The town occupies a peninsula with two bays and extends toward north. Located 17 km away from Bartn,

The town of Amasra is influenced by the Black Sea climate. The average annual temperature is 13.8 °C, annual precipitation 1035.22 mm and annual mean relative humidity 69.8 %. Northeaster blows from 15 October to 15 March and the town is also influenced by

In terms of flora, the research area is located in the sub-category of Eux of the Euro-Siberian region and in the A4 square according to the Davis grid system (Davis, 1988). Yatgn (1996) identified in a study on the flora of the region of Amasra 265 plant taxa belonging to 68 families. The dominant and characteristic species of the region are as follows: *Carpinus betulus* L. (Hornbeam), *Castanea sativa* Mili. (Anatolian chestnut), *Fagus orientalis* L. (Oriental Beech), *Ostrya carpinifolia* Scop. (European hophornbeam), *Tilia argentea* Desf. (Silver Lime). Also common in the Mediterranean maquis shrubland, the following shrubs constitute a

tourism pressures (United Nations Environment Programme, 2009).

making plans to gain resident support for further tourism development.

contributing to regional economy in terms of sustainable tourism development.

Amasra is a historic coastal residential area (Figure 1).

northerly, southwesterly and northwesterly winds (Anonymous, 2001).

planning and management strategies.

**2. Material and methods** 

**2.1.1 Research site** 

**2.1 Material** 

This study was conducted with a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis, questionnaires, field work and the review of the relevant literature. The data obtained were analyzed to give some suggestions.
