Author/Authors :
DOĞANAY, Serkan Atatürk Üniversitesi - Kâzım Karabekir Eğitim Fakültesi - Sosyal Bilgiler Eğitimi Anabilim Dalı, Turkey
Abstract :
Utilization of yayla as seasonal settlements is a common practice in Turkey. Mountains along the Eastern Black Sea Coast serve as the most important area for the traditional yayla activities carried out in Turkey. The Kalkanlı Mountains region, part the Black Sea mountain ranges, is dominated by stockbreeding economy and intensive yayla activities. However, the recent process of change/transition within the region has resulted in increased tourist activities, which have also had significant effects on traditional yayla activities. Tasköprü is a typical example for the yaylas, having highly-developed touristic functions. Located within the municipality of the Central District of Gümüshane Province, Tasköprü offers mainly daily activities such as picnicking, camping and trekking for visitors. However, it is obvious that rapid and unregulated touristic development results in natural and cultural damage. Moreover, the failure to integrate local people in tourism activities should be regarded as an important problem.The subject of this field study -which was conducted according to the travel and observation method- was the current situation of TaĢköprü yayla in terms of tourism geography. The aim of the study was to reveal the tourism potential of Tasköprü yayla and to discuss possible measures to ensure development of yayla tourism in harmony with the natural/cultural environment. The study findings showed that recreational activities have rapidly developed in Tasköprü yayla and that the traditional activities, as well as the stockbreeding economy, have lost importance in the surrounding yaylas. In addition, increasing tourism pressure exerted on the study area was observed to have clearly negative impacts on both the natural and cultural environment. Thus, uncontrolled economic restructuring, which has failed to reflect the characteristics of the local environment, can be regarded as the weakest point of Tasköprü yayla.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Seasonal settlement , yayla , yayla activities , yayla , mountain tourism , recreation
