Impacts of high speed trains on tourism development: A case study of Ankara-Konya high speed rail lines

Year 2018, , 21 - 28, 01.01.2018

Ömer Faruk Görçün

https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.369916

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Regional and urban
transportation systems have a key role in developments in tourism activities.
While people prefer air and maritime transportation in cross-country travels,
they may prefer rail and road transportation in domestic travels. In domestic
travels, alternatives related to transportation play an important role in terms
of increasing tourism demand. On the other hand, passenger transportation
alternatives such as high speed rail systems, light rail systems, subways and
trams in urban areas can play an important role in customer behaviors related
to tourism demands. In the past, some factors, such as history, entertainment,
food and beverage had an importance; nowadays factors related to transportation
have begun to gain importance for customers for comfortable, safe, cheap,
speedy and safe travels. If available, high speed trains are mostly preferred
by passengers because of these advantages. High speed trains can help reduce
the economic and external costs of transportation. International and domestic
tourism demands may increase thanks to high speed trains (HST). This paper
analyses the impacts of High Speed Trains (HST) on regional and urban tourism
development. On the other hand, HST can provide unusual tourism alternatives,
passengers may travel to places of interest which are not included in their
original itinerary using HST. However, HST can increase tourism demand.  Before and after the opening of the
high-speed train services, occurred changes related to tourism demand,
including customers’ behaviors were taken into consideration and they were
analyzed as variables. In this study, the high speed rail line between Ankara
and Konya cities is selected as a case study. Impacts of HST on   tourism demand are evaluated with the data
obtained in the surveys.

Keywords

High Speed Trains, Tourism, Regional Development

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