UNSUSTAINABLE ECOTURISM PRACTICES: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Authors : Ömer Eker

Pages : 338-351

View : 91 | Download : 310

Publication Date : 2026-01-01

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :This critical study, based on a literature review, examines the topic of ecotourism, seeking to reveal its various negative aspects while investigating how and in which circumstances the principles of sustainability are violated. Although ecotourism is described as a type of tourism that is highly sensitive to the environmental and socio-cultural values, the rapid commercialization frequently leads to significant problems such as environmental degradation, cultural erosion, and economic inequality. Most of the main problems highlighted in the study arise from the transition from ecotourism to mass tourism. Ecotourism activities that have turned into mass tourism not only diminish the participants’ ecotourism experience quality due to overcrowding but also threaten the environment. Achieving the conservation and local development goals of ecotourism also requires more robust legal regulations and community-centered approaches. This study also draws inferences regarding cause-and-effect from specific ecotourism practices in Türkiye that fail to meet sustainability standards. The literature review focused on Türkiye suggests that most bottlenecks are associated with insufficient awareness of socio-cultural and environmental issues among visitors, while others highlight the deficiencies in legal regulations and various administrative problems. If fundamental changes are not implemented to address these problems, ecotourism will not only fail to reach its goals but may also turn into a center of complex issues.
Keywords : Ekoturizm, sürdürülebilir olmayan, kitle turizmi, bozulma

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