PAKET TURLARIN SÜRDÜRÜLEBİLİRLİĞİ İLE TURİST REHBERLERİ SORUNLARI ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ

Abstract

Bu araştırma, İstanbul Tarihi Yarımada'da paket tur rehberlerinin yaşadığı sorunlar ile sürdürülebilirlik uygulamaları arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmada fenomenolojik perspektif temel alınmış; veriler Braun ve Clarke’ın (2006) tematik analiz yöntemiyle çözümlenmiştir. Maksimum çeşitlilik örneklemesi ile belirlenen 15 profesyonel turist rehberi ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler Braun ve Clarke (2006) tarafından geliştirilen altı aşamalı tematik analiz yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Analiz sonucunda dört ana tema belirlenmiştir: (1) rehberlerin yaşadığı sorunlar, (2) sorun-sürdürülebilirlik etkileşimi, (3) başa çıkma stratejileri ve (4) dönüşüm vizyonu. Katılımcıların bireysel, operasyonel, ekonomik, sistemik ve sosyal düzeylerde çok boyutlu sorunlar yaşadıkları belirlenmiştir. Bulgular, söz konusu sorunların sürdürülebilirlik uygulamalarını dört mekanizma aracılığıyla engellediğine işaret etmektedir: kapasite tükenmesi, öncelik kayması, değer erozyonu ve iletişim kopukluğu. Pandemi sonrası dönemde ekonomik baskının yoğunlaştığı ve sürdürülebilirlik için bir dönüşüm fırsatının kaçırıldığı algısının katılımcılar arasında yaygın olduğu saptanmıştır. Araştırmanın en önemli kavramsal katkısı "rehber sürdürülebilirliği" kavramının ortaya konmasıdır. Rehberlerin kendi sürdürülebilirlikleri sağlanmadan çevresel ve kültürel sürdürülebilirlik mesajlarının etkili bir şekilde aktarılamayacağı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Mental sağlık destek programları, mentorluk sistemleri, kadın odaklı politikalar ve ekonomik güvence düzenlemeleri önerilmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Turist rehberleri, sürdürülebilir turizm, paket turlar, tematik analiz, İstanbul Tarihi Yarımada, mesleki tükenmişlik, rehber sürdürülebilirliği

Keywords

• Turist Rehberleri
• Sürdürülebilir Turizm
• Paket Turlar
• İstanbul Tarihi Yarımada
• Mesleki Tükenmişlik.

ASSESSING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PACKAGE TOUR SUSTAINABILITY AND THE PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGES OF TOURIST GUIDES

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between the challenges experienced by package tour guides in Istanbul’s Historical Peninsula and the implementation of sustainability practices. A phenomenological perspective was adopted, and the data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase thematic analysis approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 professional tourist guides selected through maximum variation sampling. The analysis identified four main themes: (1) challenges faced by guides, (2) the interaction between professional problems and sustainability practices, (3) coping strategies, and (4) a transformation-oriented vision. Findings indicate that participants experience multidimensional challenges at individual, operational, economic, systemic, and social levels. These challenges were found to hinder sustainability practices through four primary mechanisms: capacity depletion, shifting priorities, value erosion, and communication breakdown. The post-pandemic period has intensified economic pressures, and a widespread perception emerged among participants that a critical opportunity for sustainability-oriented transformation was missed. The most significant conceptual contribution of this study is the introduction of the notion of “guide sustainability.” The findings suggest that, without ensuring the professional, economic, and psychological sustainability of tourist guides themselves, environmental and cultural sustainability messages cannot be effectively communicated. Accordingly, mental health support programs, mentorship systems, gender-sensitive policies, and economic security regulations are proposed as structural measures to strengthen sustainable tourism implementation.

Keywords

• Tourist Guides
• Sustainable Tourism
• Package Tours
• Istanbul Historical Peninsula
• Professional Burnout.

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