SANAL YOKSUNLUK SENDROMU: DİJİTAL BAĞIMLI TURİSTLERDE BAĞLANTISIZ KALMANIN PSİKOLOJİK ETKİLERİ

Abstract

Dijital teknolojilerin turizm deneyimini kökten değiştirdiği günümüzde, dijital bağımlılık ve bunun bir uzantısı olan Sanal Yoksunluk Sendromu (SYS), turistlerin psikolojik refahı ve tatil memnuniyeti açısından kritik bir sorun olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bu kavramsal çalışma, dijital bağımlılık düzeyi yüksek olan turistlerde, bağlantısız kalmanın yol açtığı SYS'nin psikolojik etkilerini incelemeyi ve bu durumun turizm sektörü için doğurduğu sonuçları tartışmayı amaçlamaktadır. Literatür taraması ve kavramsal analiz yöntemi kullanılarak, SYS'nin psikolojik temelleri, belirtileri ve turizm deneyimi üzerindeki teorik etkileri detaylıca ele alınmıştır. Analizler, SYS'nin turistlerin yenilenme ve otantik deneyim arayışlarını olumsuz etkilediğini ve genel tatil memnuniyetini teorik olarak düşürdüğünü ortaya koymaktadır. Ayrıca, SYS'nin yarattığı olumsuz deneyimin, Dijital Detoks Turizmi için güçlü bir pazar potansiyeli yarattığı sonucuna varılmıştır. Bu sonuçlar, turizm işletmelerinin hizmet tasarımında sadece fiziksel konfora değil, aynı zamanda turistlerin psikolojik refahına da odaklanması gerektiğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca, SYS kavramını turizm literatürüne entegre ederek teorik katkı sağlamakta ve turizm paydaşlarına dijital detoks programları geliştirme, personel eğitimi ve pazarlama stratejileri konusunda pratik öneriler sunmaktadır. Gelecek araştırmalar için ampirik çalışmalar ve turizm bağlamına özgü ölçek geliştirme önerilmiştir.

Keywords

• Sanal Yoksunluk Sendromu
• Dijital Bağımlılık
• Dijital Detoks Turizmi
• Psikolojik Etki

VIRTUAL DEPRIVATION SYNDROME: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF DISCONNECTION AMONG DIGITALLY ADDICTED TOURISTS

Abstract

In an era where digital technologies fundamentally transform the tourism experience, digital addiction and the related concept of Virtual Deprivation Syndrome (VDS), emerge as critical factors affecting tourists' psychological well-being and holiday satisfaction. This conceptual study aims to investigate the psychological effects of VDS resulting from digital disconnection on tourists with high levels of digital addiction, and to discuss the implications for the tourism industry. Using a literature review and conceptual analysis methods, the psychological foundations, symptoms, and theoretical impacts of VDS on the tourism experience are examined in detail. The analysis theoretically reveals that VDS undermines tourists' motivations for renewal and authentic experiences, thereby reducing overall holiday satisfaction. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the negative experience created by VDS generates a strong market potential for Digital Detox Tourism. These results suggest that tourism businesses must focus not only on physical comfort but also on the psychological well-being of tourists in their service design. The article contributes theoretically by integrating the VDS concept into tourism literature and offers practical recommendations to tourism stakeholders regarding the development of digital detox programs, staff training, and marketing strategies. Empirical studies and the development of a tourism-specific scale are suggested for future research.

Keywords

• Virtual Deprivation Syndrome
• Digital Addiction
• Digital Detox Tourism
• Psychological Effect

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