EVALUATION OF SPORTS TOURISM AND THE PRODUCTS OF SPORTS TOURISM IN GÜMÜŞHANE PROVINCE

Abstract

Tourism is an industry that is important with its contributions at national and international level from an economic point of view. In line with the needs and environmental factors, tourism products and destinations have varied together with the changing demands of tourists and the demand for sports tourism has increased within the emerging touristic consumption possibilities. In this study, document review has been conducted with the purpose of determining the sports tourism potential of Gümüşhane province and relevant books, journals, academic papers, reports and plans have been analyzed. Following this analysis, it has been concluded that a total of 6.262.5 ha field composed of Örümcek Ormanı Natural Reserve Area, Tomara Waterfall Natural Park, Limni Lake Natural Park, Artabel Lakes Natural Park, Çağlayandibi Waterfall Natural Park, Karşıyaka Natural Park, Satala Ancient City, Kromni Ancient City has a high potential for outdoor and winter sports such as hiking, trekking, horseback riding and camping; such places as Zigana Tourism Center, Çakırgöl Tourism Center, Kürtün Erikbeli Tourism Center and Süleymaniye Winter Sports and Skiing Center that obtained convenience report have a high potential for winter sports with 73.7 days covered with snow reaching to 80.0 cm snow thickness. The region’s potential for bird and wildlife observation and hunting tourism is also high with its 16 types of mammals, 40 types of birds and fishes and 16 types of wild animals together with a total of 68.566 ha hunting field including Kangel Government Hunting Ground, Köse General Hunting Ground and Kelkit Ünlüpınar General Hunting Ground; its potential for photo safari is high with a flora having 1010 types of plants belonging to 80 plant families with 137 of them being endemic. Moreover, the potential of the province for 4x4 safaris, motocross and motosafari is high thanks to a track of 250 km. starting from Kazıkbeli plateau and ending in Santa Ruins; the province has also high potential for air sports such as paragliding, glider and microlayt thanks to such highlands as Kostan Mountain, Teslim Mountain, Vauk Mountain, Tersun Mountain and Pöske Mountain with an altitude ranging from 1800 m and 2700 m.