Host Community Perceptions of Tourism Impacts: A Case Study on the World Heritage City of Safranbolu, Turkey
Host Community Perceptions of Tourism Impacts: A Case Study on the World Heritage City of Safranbolu, Turkey

Summary/Abstract: Heritage is regarded as one of the more significant and fastest-growing components of tourism: it is becoming increasingly popular around the world, and is deemed important for tourism development. Turkey had 11 sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2013. Safranbolu is one of the World Heritage Sites that has been included on the list since 1994. This paper investigates the impacts of tourism as perceived by the residents of Safranbolu. The research was conducted on two occasions, in 2006 and in 2011, in order to find out whether there were significant changes in residents’ perceptions over those five years. Data were collected from 649 local residents. In 2006, 317 participants answered the questionnaire, while in 2011; the sample was composed of 332 inhabitants. The results show that residents have consistently positive perceptions toward tourism. Positive perceptions result from residents’ belief that tourism improves employment facilities and business opportunities, creates community development, and, finally, increases socio-cultural activities such as entertainment. In addition, the results show that there were some differences in the perceptions of residents between 2006 and 2011: residents perceived fewer negative environmental and social impacts of tourism in the 2011 survey when compared to the 2006 survey.

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