Balneary Tourism Management in Turkey-Comparative Analysis

This article reviews some of the developments which, since 1980, have taken place in the tourism industry of Turkey. Also possible future state of Turkey tourism were discussed. The topics are placed in their political, economic and institutional context. The focus is on foreign visitors. Visitor characteristics, popular destinations and the problems facing the tourism industry are discussed. Tourism, particularly in developing countries, can provide important contributions to economic and social development. In Turkey, tourism has made a great contribution to economic and social development, since 1980s. However, in Turkey the development of tourism in the form of mass tourism has led to a variety of environmental problems. For this reason, recent times changes have occurred in the country's tourism policy and strategy. The future, for the increase social, economic and environmental positive aspects of the Turkey tourism, constituted to various attempts. Accordingly visitor profile of Turkey is likely to increase rather specialized interest groups. Such developments increases the tourism market of alternative destinations such as mountainous and cultural-heritage and pilgrimage areas. This is also encourage domestic tourism. Also various tourism policies are needed to improve tourism infrastructure, promote the integration of tourist services, maintain visitor numbers and encourage guests to stay longer, visit 816 Ayşe OKUYUCU additional locations and increase tourists spending. This is carried out by the joint of efforts particularly the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and other stakeholders.

2010

1999

This paper reviews the various aspects of international tourism development in Turkey. In this regard, it begins with a general profile of Turkey including its location, geographical regions, climate, population, political system and administration, and its international relations. Then, it examines economic policies and the recent socioeconomic indicators of the country. Subsequently, the paper deals with the development and the importance of tourism in the Turkish economy. It looks at the demand and supply aspects of tourism in Turkey. It also considers public policies and institutions that have been coping with international tourism in Turkey. Consequently, it ends with a general examination of the problems of the Turkish tourism development and makes a few recommendation in order to develop more stable international tourism. Keywords: Tourism; development; developing countries; impacts; Turkey.

2016

Five-year development plans prepared by the Ministry of Development, formerly known as State Planning Organization (SPO), are the main policy documents indicating the growth Turkey will realize in economic, social and cultural fields in the long-term. Tourism is one of the elements to be considered in the development of a country. A country’s tourism policy is first prepared in the development plans. While preparing the tourism policy, precautions towards all kinds of tourism activities are referred. The existing state of the tourism and the state it should be are given. Tourism activities are continuously diversifying. The purpose of this study is to reveal the tourism policies in the development plans, to determine the existing state of the tourism sector and the targets for future. Also, another purpose is to emphasize the problems the sector faces as well as possible problems that could arise in the future. Suggestions are given towards these problems.

In Turkish tourism geography, in terms of supply potential, natural geographical resources and cultural values offer great variety and wealth. The seven districts in Turkey not only have different touristic charms but also local and universal characteristics. Tourism in Turkey has a serious potential to flourish ,but, on the other hand, when compared to the shores of Meditarrenean, Aegean and Marmara regions, the rest of the districts are not at a satisfactory level. When there is a disproportionate demand for a region, it causes some negative results in the environment. Diversification in tourism has been put on the agenda in Turkey and Tourism Ministry offered 20 projects covering the matter above ( T.R. Tourism Ministry ). Considering these projects leading to arise new destinations, new touristic corridors or extend so called available areas in different directions and have some possible variations on them, it means the results of such enterprises can be seen in the geographical places. The main objectives of tourism sector in Turkey are to develop competitive and effective tourism economy, to meet the demands of local people and tourists from the tourism, to provide the continuity of natural and cultural values by enriching them. The studies below have been put into effect to make the objectives aforementioned above come true and make all the regions benefit from the tourism incomes: In the First Tourism Council, within the borders of “Tourism Diversification”, recommended main investigation areas are ranged as cultur tourism, faith (belief) tourism, health tourism, winter tourism, congress tourism, ecotourism. In the 8th BYKP, under light of objectives related with tourism, principles and politics “ To improve distribution of seasonal and geographical tourism and considering changing consumer choices in the external market, it has been decided to be continued activities such as golf, winter, mountain, thermal, health, yacht, congress, and ecotourism to create new potential areas. In addition, the articles “ In the regions where tourism activities are at demand, the local administrations and local public will be provided to make decisions on tourism” and “ depending on the new inclinations in the structure of demand, the priority will be given to the development of small businesses ” are the indicators of new structures in tourism.

2016

Health is not only the absence of the disease or infirmity, but a state of wellbeing as physical, mental and social. In this context, the acquisition and maintaining of physical and mental health is regarded as "a component of the quality of life". Modern people, overwhelmed by professional and personal problems’ solving, often neglect their own health, but for all of that there is a viable alternative, namely health tourism or balneary tourism. Balneary segment belongs to the health tourism market, together with medical tourism, thalassotherapy, hydrotherapy, wellbeing/ spa and fitness. Balneary tourism is one of the forms with constant tourist traffic having a relatively stable clientele, and that contributes to increasing of the utilization coefficients of accommodation’s capacity and to achieve greater average revenues per day / tourist. Given the need to adapt the balneary resorts to the requirements of the tourists, this paper aims to highlight some aspects regarding...

The purpose of this study is to investigate the tourism policies of Turkey in the period of planned development which started in 1963. It is a descriptive study in terms of purpose and a qualitative study in terms of data. The data were obtained from secondary sources and analyzed using descriptive analysis technique. According to the five-year development plans and the Tourism Strategy of Turkey 2023 document, Turkey's tourism policies have been created economically. In particular, the first four plans have often emphasized the economic orientation of tourism and mass tourism. The fifth plan highlighted the diversification of tourism, while the sixth plan highlighted the participation of the local community in tourism. The seventh plan aims to meet the expectations of local people and tourists with a competitive and productive tourism economy. The eighth, ninth and tenth plans have emphasized that the investments paying attention to physical and cultural environment should be supported for spread of tourism all over the country and year. Moreover, in the last three development plans and Tourism Strategy of Turkey-2023 document, the participation of different stakeholders in decision mechanisms and focusing on the tourism types generating more tourism revenue policies have been adopted.

Tourism Management, 1996

Tourism Management, 2002

During the last two decades tourism in Turkey has become a mass industry concentrated in the western and southern coastal areas. As these areas were part of the more developed regions of the country, tourism in its current structure contributes to the strengthening of interregional disparities in Turkey. In addition, in the centres of mass tourism socio-economical unsustainable demand and supply structures evolved. Simultanously, the domestic tourism market has increased, and it can offer a socioeconomic alternative to the further expansion of international mass tourism. Thus, the so far little developed SouthEast and East Anatolia, with an abundance of historical sights and natural highlights, can offer new destinations for domestic travellers while contributing to a sustainable development of these regions. As a precondition a national domestic tourism policy, stable prices and a strong promotion of the new destinations are essential.