Ekoturizm Farkındalığı Üzerine Bir Ölçek Geliştirme Çalışması

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 1, 29 - 40, 24.03.2025

Ömer Kürşad Tüfekci , Ferdi Akbıyık

https://doi.org/10.71445/umbd.1648678

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, ekoturizm farkındalığını ölçmeye yönelik geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçek geliştirmektir. Ekoturizm, doğal kaynakların korunmasını ve yerel halkın kalkınmasını teşvik eden sürdürülebilir bir turizm modelidir. Ancak, ekoturizmin etkin bir şekilde uygulanabilmesi için sadece turistlerin değil, aynı zamanda yerel halk ve turizm sektöründeki paydaşların da çevreye duyarlı bir yaklaşım benimsemesi gerekmektedir. Bu bağlamda, ekoturizm farkındalığı, bireylerin çevresel sorunlar hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerini ve doğa dostu uygulamalara yönelik tutumlarını ifade etmektedir. Geliştirilen ölçek, bireylerin ekoturizmle ilgili bilgi seviyelerini, tutumlarını ve davranışlarını ölçmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmada Isparta'da yaşayan bireylerin ve turizm sektörü paydaşlarının ekoturizm farkındalıklarını incelemiş, ölçeğin geçerliliği ve güvenilirliğini test etmiştir. Sonuçlar, ekoturizm farkındalığının bölgesel farklılıklar gösterdiğini ve özellikle ekoturizm destinasyonlarında yaşayan yerel halk arasında daha yüksek olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca, bireylerin ekoturizmle ilgili bilgi seviyelerinin arttıkça çevreye duyarlı davranış sergileme olasılıklarının da yükseldiği gözlemlenmiştir. Çalışma, literatürdeki eksiklikleri gidermeyi ve ekoturizm farkındalığını ölçmeye yönelik kapsamlı bir araç sunmayı hedeflemektedir. Elde edilen bulgular, ekoturizm sektörüne yönelik eğitim programları ve farkındalık artırıcı faaliyetlerin gerekliliğini vurgulamaktadır. Bu ölçek, gelecekteki araştırmalar ve politika geliştirme süreçlerinde, ekoturizm farkındalığının daha iyi anlaşılması ve daha etkin stratejilerin oluşturulması için önemli bir kaynak olacaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Çevre bilinci, ekoturizm, farkındalık, ölçek geliştirme, sürdürülebilir turizm

A Scale Development Study on Ecotourism Awareness

Öz

The aim of this study is to develop a valid and reliable scale to measure ecotourism awareness. Ecotourism is a sustainable tourism model that promotes the conservation of natural resources and the development of local communities. However, for ecotourism to be effectively implemented, not only tourists but also local communities and stakeholders in the tourism sector must adopt an environmentally conscious approach. In this context, ecotourism awareness refers to individuals’ knowledge of environmental issues and their attitudes toward eco-friendly practices. The developed scale aims to assess individuals’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to ecotourism. In the study, the ecotourism awareness of individuals living in Isparta and tourism sector stakeholders was examined and the validity and reliability of the scale was tested. The results indicate that ecotourism awareness varies across regions and is particularly higher among local communities residing in ecotourism destinations. Furthermore, it was observed that as individuals’ knowledge of ecotourism increases, their likelihood of engaging in environmentally responsible behaviors also rises. This study seeks to address gaps in the literature and provide a comprehensive tool for measuring ecotourism awareness. The findings highlight the necessity of educational programs and awareness-raising activities in the ecotourism sector. This scale will serve as a valuable resource for future research and policy development processes, contributing to a better understanding of ecotourism awareness and the formulation of more effective strategies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Awareness, ecotourism, environmental consciousness, scale development

Kaynakça

• Acharya, P., Chhetri, H. B., Karki, S., Sharma, P., Tripathi, S. G., Dahal, D., & Gautam, D. (2020). Ecotourism and its impact on the local community in Sauraha, Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 8(7), 353-360.
• Barton, J., & Pretty, J. (2010). What is the best dose of nature and green exercise for improving mental health? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Environmental Science & Technology, 44(10), 3957-3965.
• Blamey, R. K. (1997). Ecotourism: The search for an operational definition. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 5(2), 109-130.
• Blamey, R. K. (2001). Principles of ecotourism. In D. B. Weaver (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Ecotourism (pp. 5-22). CABI Publishing.
• Boateng, G. O., Neilands, T. B., Frongillo, E. A., Melgar-Quiñonez, H. R., & Young, S. L. (2018). Best practices for developing and validating scales for health, social, and behavioral research: A primer. Frontiers in Public Health, 6(149), 149-167.
• Boley, B. B., & Green, G. T. (2016). Ecotourism and natural resource conservation: The ‘potential’ and ‘pitfalls’ revisited. Journal of Ecotourism, 15(1), 1-11.
• Buckley, R. (2012). Sustainable tourism: Research and reality. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(2), 528-546.
• Buckley, R. (2010). Adventure Tourism Management. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781856178358
• Büyüköztürk, Ş. (2010). Sosyal Bilimler İçin Veri Analizi El Kitabı İstatistik, Araştırma Deseni SPSS Uygulamaları ve Yorum. Pegem Akademi.
• Ceballos-Lascuráin, H. (1996). Tourism, Ecotourism and Protected Areas: The State of Nature-Based Tourism Around the World and Guidelines for Its Development. IUCN Publications.
• Cox, D. T., Shanahan, D. F., Hudson, H. L., Fuller, R. A., Anderson, K., Hancock, S., & Gaston, K. J. (2017). Doses of nearby nature simultaneously associated with multiple health benefits. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(2), 172. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14020172
• Das, M., & Chatterjee, B. (2015). Ecotourism: A panacea or a predicament? Tourism Management Perspectives, 14, 3-16.
• Evci, N., & Aylar, F. (2017). Ölçek geliştirme çalışmalarında doğrulayıcı faktör analizinin kullanımı. Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 4(10), 389-412.
• Farooq, R. (2016). Role of structural equation modeling in scale development. Journal of Advances in Management Research, 13(1), 75-91.
• Fennell, D. A. (2003). Ecotourism: An Introduction (2nd ed.). Routledge.
• Folmer, A., Haartsen, T., & Huigen, P. P. (2013). The role of wildlife in emotional attachment to a nature-based tourism destination. Journal of Ecotourism, 12(3), 131-145.
• Gossling, S., Hall, C. M., & Scott, D. (2015). Tourism and Water: Interactions, Impacts and Challenges. Channel View Publications.
• Gumede, T. K., & Nzama, A. T. (2019). Ecotourism as a mechanism for local economic development: The case of communities adjacent to the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 8(4), 1-19.
• Higgins-Desbiolles, F. (2006). More than an "Industry": The forgotten power of tourism as a social force. Tourism Management, 27(6), 1192-1208.
• Hinkin, T. R. (1995). A review of scale development practices in the study of organizations. Journal of Management, 21(5), 967-988.
• Honey, M. (2008). Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? (2nd ed.). Island Press.
• Job, H., Becken, S., & Lane, B. (2017). Protected areas in a neoliberal world and the role of tourism in supporting conservation and sustainable development: An assessment of strategic planning, zoning, impact monitoring, and tourism management at natural World Heritage Sites. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(12), 1697–1718. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2017.1377432
• Kahn, J. H., Hessling, R., & Russell, D. V. (2003). Social support, health, and well-being among the elderly: What is the role of negative affectivity? Personality and Individual Differences, 35(1), 5-17.
• Krishna, S. H., Rajput, H., Prathibha, M. K., Rangnekar, S., & Sethumadhavan, R. (2023). Impact of nature-based tourism on physical & mental health of patients. Journal for Re Attach Therapy and Developmental Diversities, 6(10), 347-357.
• López-Guzmán, T., Sánchez-Cañizares, S., & Pavón, V. (2011). Community-based tourism in developing countries: A case study. Tourismos: An International Multidisciplinary Journal of Tourism, 6(1), 69-84.
• Mason, P. (2020). Tourism Impacts, Planning and Management (4th ed.). Routledge.
• Mycoo, M. (2006). Sustainable tourism using regulations, market mechanisms and green certification: A case study of Barbados. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 14(5), 489–511. https://doi.org/10.2167/jost600.0
• Samal, R., & Dash, M. (2023). Ecotourism, biodiversity conservation and livelihoods: Understanding the convergence and divergence. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 11(1), 1-20.
• Scheyvens, R. (1999). Ecotourism and the empowerment of local communities. Tourism Management, 20(2), 245-249.
• Serenari, C., Peterson, M. N., Wallace, T., & Stowhas, P. (2016). Private protected areas, ecotourism development, and impacts on local people’s well-being: A review from case studies in Southern Chile. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(12), 1792–1810. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2016.1178755
• Stronza, A. (2001). Anthropology of tourism: Forging new ground for ecotourism and other alternatives. Annual Review of Anthropology, 30(1), 261-283.
• Stronza, A., & Gordillo, J. (2008). Community views of ecotourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 35(2), 448-468.
• Sultana, A. (2020). Multidimensionality of job performance: An empirical assessment through scale development. Ilkogretim Online- Elementary Education Online, 19(4), 2467-2483.
• Surya, A. P. (2024). The role of ecotourism in promoting sustainable economic development in Indonesia. Journal of World Economy, 3(1), 43–48. Retrieved from https://www.pioneerpublisher.com/jwe/article/view/703
• Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2012). Using Multivariate Statistics (6th ed.). Pearson Education.
• TIES. (2015). The International Ecotourism Society: Defining Ecotourism. Retrieved from http://www.ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism
• Tisdell, C. A. (2003). Economic aspects of ecotourism: Wildlife-based tourism and its contribution to nature. Sri Lankan Journal of Agricultural Economics, 5(1), 83-95.
• Weaver, D. (2001). Ecotourism. John Wiley & Sons.
• Weaver, D. B. (2001). Ecotourism as mass tourism: Contradiction or reality? Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 42(2), 104-112.
• Weaver, D. B. (2008). Ecotourism (2nd ed.). Wiley.
• Winkler, T., & Zimmermann, F. (2014). Ecotourism as community development tool – Development of an evaluation framework. Current Issues of Tourism Research, 4(2), 45-56.
• Wondirad, A. (2019). Does ecotourism contribute to sustainable destination development, or is it just a marketing hoax? Analyzing twenty-five years of the contested journey of ecotourism through a meta-analysis of tourism journal publications. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 24(11), 1047–1065. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2019.1665557.
• Zhuang, H., Lassoie, J. P., & Wolf, S. A. (2011). Ecotourism development in China: Prospects for expanded roles for non-governmental organizations. Journal of Ecotourism, 10(1), 46-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2011.572515.