Multi criteria decision making for ecotourism

Iǧneada is a coastal town on the very north east coast of Black Sea Region in Turkey. The area is reputable with its mangrove forests, wetlands, coastal line, endemic and endangered species, hence part of it was declared as a national park. However, recently, there are number of unsuitable economic activities proposed for the area such as a large port for conveniently exporting industrial goods to Europe, and a nuclear plant. The basic premise of this study is that ecotourism could be a more sustainable activity for Iǧneada. Ecotourism is a well-known strategy for balancing development and preservation in ecologically rich areas that is also highly attractive for tourism. This study aims to define ecotourism criteria for Iǧneada, and proposes an ecotourism strategy for this ecologically sensitive coastal environment. To reach our aim, one of the well-known multi-criteria decision making methods, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), is employed on the basis of the data derived from the surveys and interviews with locals and experts. In addition, observations during the site surveys are presented with regards to the threats of Iǧneada's ecologically sensitive coastal habitats. This study offers a framework to generate a priority ranking for ecotourism development in Iǧneada. The methods and the findings can set an example for sustainable development of other coastal zones in Turkey and other countries.