An example of a protected area which has been opened to tourism: Tunca Valley Natural Park (NE Turkey). eco.mont (Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research)|eco.mont Vol. 10 No. 1|

Protected areas have great tourism potential thanks to their natural and cultural richness. For this reason, areas worldwide that are protected at various levels draw interest, and some have been opened to tourism. In this study, I examine the natural and social tourism potentials of Tunca Valley Natural Park in Turkey (established in 2013) and the types of tourist activities that could be developed there. The park attracts interest both for its natural features (rivers, glacial lakes, flora and fauna) as well as for its traditional settlements and culture. Various tourist activities, including physical activities, camping, wildlife observation and cultural tourism, could be developed within an integrated management plan in line with the principles of sustainable tourism