Urban and Environmental Problems of Tourism on Avşa Island: A Sustainable Planning Approach

Abstract

This study examines the environmental, economic, and social pressures generated by tourism on Avşan Island and aims to develop sustainable policy and design recommendations. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of second homes and the surge in seasonal population have intensified tourism pressure on the island. The rapid summer influx imposes demands that exceed infrastructural capacity, producing acute problems in water supply, waste management, and energy provision. Coastal areas exhibit erosion, pollution, and ecosystem degradation. The short tourism season renders the local economy vulnerable and prompts temporary winter out-migration. To distribute tourism across the year, the study advances a portfolio of activities centred on sport, gastronomy, and cultural heritage: wind and water sports in the Yiğitler neighbourhood; inland hiking, cycling, and bird-watching trails; and a Wine Culture Route linking Avşa, Marmara, Paşalimanı, Bozcaada, and Gökçeada. It further prioritises the restoration of the Hagios Georgios Church and the design of heritage itineraries to diversify demand. The proposals are articulated within the principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and underpinned by the regular monitoring of carrying capacity, water quality, and user density. Taken together, the approach seeks to replace short-term fixes with a long-term, nature-based, and participatory governance model.