The perceptions of a local community on tourism development: The case of Akyaka as a Cittaslow

One of the biggest problems that can be experienced in regions where the locals do not support tourism is that tourists visiting that place will inevitably interact with the locals. Tourism development cannot possibly achieve long-term success in regions where the local community has views that are not taken into consideration and do not participate in tourism. This study attempts to determine the perceptions of the local community living in Mugla Akyaka toward tourism in terms of its support for tourism. In this context, surveys have been applied to 397 local residents of Akyaka. As a result the study has determined the perceptions of Akyaka's local community toward tourism development to generally be positive and a meaningful relationship to exist for the local community's perceptions toward the positive economic effects of tourism with the positive socio-cultural effects (cultural interactions) of tourism and the personal benefits of tourism development.