Dönüşümsel Seyahat: Kaçkar Dağları Milli Parkı Örneği

Öz

Seyahate dayalı deneyimler bireylerin bilgi, tutum ve davranışlarında değişimlere yol açabilmektedir. Dönüşümsel seyahat turistlerde dönüşüme yol açabilen öğrenme ve kişisel gelişim gibi motivasyonlarla gerçekleştirilen seyahatleri ifade etmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Kaçkar Milli Parkı’na seyahat eden bireylerin seyahat sonucunda edindikleri dönüşümü anlamaya çalışmaktır. Dönüşümsel Öğrenme Kuramı’na (Mezirow 1978) dayalı olarak geliştirilen bu çalışmada fenomenoloji yaklaşımı kullanılmıştır. Kaçkar Dağları Milli Parkı’nı ziyaret etmiş̧ 16 katılımcıyla yapılan mülakatlarla zengin ve derin veri sağlanmıştır. Katılımcıların seyahatleri sonucunda çevresel farkındalık, davranışsal değişim, kendini gerçekleştirme, kişisel gelişim, sosyal ve kültürel değişim, sağlık ve iyi oluş̧ ve toplumsal fayda geliştirdikleri bulgulanmıştır. Çalışmada, Kaçkar Dağları Milli Parkı’nın dönüştürücü potansiyeli ile ilgili ipuçları elde edilerek ileriki çalışmalara yol gösterebilecek öneriler ortaya konmuştur. Ayrıca bu çalışma, seyahatin bireyler üzerindeki dönüştürücü gücünü Kaçkar Dağları Milli Parkı özelinde tespit ederek, ulusal alanyazınını genişletme niteliğindedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Dönüşümsel seyahat
• Dönüşümsel öğrenme
• Dönüşümsel turizm
• Seyahat motivasyonu

Transformational Travel: Case of Kaçkar Mountains National Park

Abstract

Travel-based experiences can make some changes in the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals.Transformational travel refers to travels that are motivated by learning and personal development. It can lead to transformation in tourists. The aim of this study is to understand the transformation of tourists in Kaçkar Mountains National Park as a result of their travels. This phenomenology study was developed within the framework of Transformational Learning Theory (Mezirow, 1978). Rich and deep data were provided through interviews from 16 participants who visited the destination. It is found that participants experienced increasing environmental awareness, behavioral changes, self-actualization, personal development, socio-cultural changes, health, well-being and social benefit. In this study, the clues obtained about the transformative potential of the Kaçkar Mountains National Park are presented. Suggestions that may lead to further studies are asserted. In addition, this study aims to expand the national literature by identifying the transformative power of individuals by travelling to Kaçkar Mountains National Park.

Keywords

• Transformational travel
• Transformative learning
• Transformational tourism
• Travel motivations

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