INTRODUCTION

The globalisation of our world and an ever-growing international exchange in many fields of our lives has increased the need to learn about other people, and to understand different cultures and societies. This evolution has not only enhanced tourism business, it also changed the approach and concept of “tourism products”.  Countries with a major income from tourism business are making important efforts to either maintain or increase the contributions of this sector to their national budgets and to spread tourism activities over as many regions as possible.  International research and discussions on various platforms have lead to the conclusion that the classic “Sun, Sea, and Sand” concept, which for decades generated substantial income from mass tourism, has also caused significant damage to the associated countries. Much of this damage done can no longer be undone. Governments have now started to search for alternatives to avoid further deterioration from the strain of mass tourism.

In order to meet the ever-increasing demands of the tourism sector and to raise the income generated by this sector to a maximum level, Turkey has made substantial efforts and has thus become one of the most important tourism destinations. However, the bulk of these efforts have been concentrated on certain regions and particularly on the Mediterranean region, where the above mentioned classic stereotype tourism model is flourishing. This development has undoubtedly been very positive, especially during a period, in which Turkey was suffering an economic setback. But it has also raised the awareness that, next to the classic tourism model, other regions, as yet unspoiled, should be explored for an alternative form of tourism.

One of Turkey ’s major advantages is that the country is situated in a region that has been stage to various cultures that have influenced western society and have left important traces. Turkey owns a real patchwork culture where numerous cultures have mingled and have formed a kind of “amalgamated culture”. Another important asset is that Turkish people are traditionally very open-hearted and friendly towards foreigners. It is possible to transform this characteristic into a tourism value, given that we don’t try to copy the classical “Sun, Sea, and Sand” concept. An increasing number of people don’t want to spend their holidays by just lying on the beach, eating expensive food and staying in the best hotels. They no longer want to book 5-star hotels or holiday villages that are ‘all-inclusive’ whereby there is little or no contact with the local area and its people. This kind of tourism might be a good source of income, but it isn’t the right model to convey something about the people and the culture of the host country. This kind of mass tourism doesn’t foster the need to make our cultural and human values known.

Many countries that have benefited from mass tourism have begun to realise that this kind of tourism is losing it’s popularity and that new types of this industry need to be explored and their infrastructures put in place. More and more tourists are wanting something different from standard food, standard rooms and entertainment from stereotype animation and shows. For them, as well as for the tour operators, the price isn’t the only condition any more. The fact that in Turkey more tourists have generated less income is the result of outdated policies selling standard holiday packages where the price is the only competition issue. Not using the assets which distinguish Turkey from other countries is a serious shortcoming.

The project owners sincerely believe that Turkey should promote and start to develop regions where alternative tourism and eco-tourism would be the right choice of sustainable development. They therefore would like to present the eco-tourism project “Stylarius”. The interpretation of eco-tourism has evolved a lot since Budowski initially formulated it in 1976. Eco-tourism is a tourism model, where the geography, history and natural peculiarities of a region are combined with the traditions, production and culture of its people resulting in sustainable tourism activities. The eco-tourism concept comprises 4 major components: nature related tourism activities, training and education, a genuine ethical questioning and the need for sustainability. The Stylarius project embraces all of these conditions.

It is the profound wish of the project owners that Stylarius will be a good practice example for a sustainable development model on the Karaburun Peninsula .