Slow City and Tourism Coexistence

Year 2023, Issue: 47, 123 - 134, 10.01.2024

Yasin Soylu , Cemile Bahtiyar Karadeniz , Koray Genç

https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2023-1264642

Abstract

Certain slow cities are found to host a demand for tourism well in excess of their population. This situation being experienced in destinations whose unique features entitle them to be part of the Cittaslow movement has raised debates. Within this context, this study aims to evaluate the coexistence of tourism and slow cities based on the opinions of experts on the subject who reside in slow cities for business or personal reasons. The study has consulted within its scope the opinions of 18 academicians from nine slow cities. The results show destinations that are part of the Cittaslow movement and that also appeal to mass tourism to have lost their calm. Another important conclusion of the study is that local administrators see joining the Cittaslow movement as a marketing strategy for the destination. In the face of the existence of exemplary destinations that have lost their calm and of the marketing-oriented perspective of local administrators, the interviewees stated that relevant criteria should be used as a balancing mechanism and that sustainable tourism goals can be achieved through tourism activities that are carried out by adhering to these criteria.

Keywords

Slow Cities, Cittaslow, Tourism, Sustainable Tourism

Project Number

YOK

Sakin Şehir ve Turizm Birlikteliği

Abstract

Bazı sakin şehirler bulunmaktadır ki nüfusunun çok üzerinde bir turizm talebine ev sahipliği yapmaktadır. Kendine özgü özellikleri ile sakin şehir unvanını almış destinasyonların böyle bir durumla karşılaşması beraberinde tartışmaları da gündeme getirmektedir. Bu bağlamda bu araştırma ile sakin şehirler ile turizm birlikteliğinin sakin şehirlerde iş ve ikamet amaçlı bulunan ve uzmanlık alanı olarak konuya hakim olan kişilerin görüşleri ile değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında dokuz sakin şehirden on sekiz akademisyenin görüşüne başvurulmuştur. Sonuçlar göstermektedir ki sakin şehir unvanının yanında kitle turizmine de hitap eden destinasyonların sükûnetleri kaybolmuştur. Bir diğer önemli sonuç ise yerel idarecilerin sakin şehirler birliğine dahil olmayı destinasyon pazarlamasına yönelik bir strateji olarak gördükleridir. Sakinliğini kaybetmiş örnek destinasyonların varlığı ve yerel idarecilerin pazarlama odaklı bakış açısı karşısında görüşmeciler, kriterlerin denge mekanizması olarak kullanılmasının gerekliliğini belirtmiş ve kriterler bağlamında gerçekleştirilen turizm faaliyetleri sonucunda sürdürülebilir turizm hedeflerine de ulaşılabileceğini ifade etmişlerdir.

Keywords

Sakin Şehirler, Cittaslow, Turizm, Sürdürülebilir Turizm

Supporting Institution

YOK

Project Number

YOK

Thanks

YOK

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