Stakeholder interviews and tourism planning at Pamukkale, Turkey

Abstract This study examines the use of interviews to identify stakeholders’ views on the implementation of proposals contained in a tourism and conservation plan. The authors conducted interviews with stakeholders representing interests affected by the implementation of the Preservation and Development Plan for Pamukkale, a World Heritage Site in Turkey. The site contains dramatic travertine terraces and also ancient city ruins, with both threatened by tourism. Analysis of the interviews identified broad social representations and more specific views concerning the planning issues. Consideration is given to the value of stakeholder interviews for a continuous planning process, including for monitoring views on tourism and conservation issues, plan proposals and on progress in plan implementation. The findings could be of considerable help to Pamukkale’s planning authorities, although such stakeholder views may be ignored in the institutional context of Turkey’s centralised planning system.

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