Environmental Management Practices in Hospitality Establishments in Slow Cities: Akyaka Example

It is easy to see that tendency to environmentally-conscious practices is gradually increasing all around the world. Tourism sector inherently involves activities that develop and grow in conjunction with natural environment. As the criteria for Slow Cities are based on the principles of sustainability, they would provide convenience to carry out sustainable tourism activities in these cities. This study is aimed at investigating the current status of accommodation establishments in Cittaslow Akyaka in Ula county of Mu？la province within the scope of environmental management practices. For this purpose, face-to-face interviews have been made with executives of 6 accommodation establishments in Akyaka. As a result of the research, it is determined that the participants don’t have sufficient knowledge regarding environmental management practices and their benefits. Another finding of the research is that the accommodation establishments in Akyaka don’t differ from each other with regard to their environmentally sensitive practices in terms of their types. Training programs organized for the executives of accommodation establishments within the scope of environmental management and practices may support Akyaka to pursue the path of being sensitive to environment