Stakeholder-Based Conservation Assessment and Sustainable Development Strategies in Rural Tourism: A Case Study of Adatepe Village

Abstract

This study evaluates existing conservation strategies and proposes innovative approaches for the sustainable development of Adatepe Village, located on Mount Ida in Turkey. Adatepe boasts a rich cultural heritage, well-preserved traditional architecture, and a history rooted in olive cultivation. Since the 1980s, increased tourism and new settlers have transformed the village’s economic and social structures, leading to challenges such as infrastructure deficiencies, environmental degradation, and a weakening traditional social fabric. The study uses qualitative research methods—including literature review; in-depth interviews with residents, new settlers, tourism entrepreneurs, and public officials; on-site observations; Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis; and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)—to identify the village’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The findings prioritise interventions in infrastructure improvements, preservation of cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism management. Recommendations are grounded in empirical data from stakeholder surveys, thematic interviews, and systematic SWOT and AHP analyses.