Turkey’s Ecotourism: Pre-and Post-pandemic Challenges

Abstract

The concept of ecotourism has grasped the interest of private and public sectors as well as academics, scholars, and environmentalists. The concept has become a focal point for discussions. Scholars and researchers similarly uphold the widely acknowledged nature of ecotourism, founded on the notion that ecotourism is to practice natural and cultural resources in a sustainable way and enable the economic development of locals along with sustainable natural resource management. However, there are contrary views on ecotourism due to the discrepancies in the specified objectives and practices worldwide. Moreover, there has been intense scrutiny and debate regarding ecotourism’s part in eradicating poverty, contributions to local life and culture, and objectives of national, local, and international investors. This study’s aim is to provide a pre-and post-pandemic, comprehensive evaluation of ecotourism in Turkey.