The Role of Tourism Planning in Land-Use/Land-Cover Changes in the Kızkalesi Tourism Destination

Abstract

Tourism is widely recognised as a significant economic source, especially for small-scale settlements. Nevertheless, tourism may potentially result in adverse effects on the environment. In order to mitigate adverse effects and enhance the advantages, tourism development necessitates a comprehensive planning process. In order to direct and control tourism’s development effectively, it is imperative to ensure that local spatial plans are integrated with national policies and regional strategies. The aim of this article is to investigate the role of tourism planning processes in the spatial development of tourism destinations, specifically by analysing the land-use/land-cover changes along the western coastline of Mersin, with a particular emphasis on the Kızkalesi tourism destination.