A Research on the Role of Municipalities in Tourism Development of Rural Areas: The Case of Turkey

Year 2018, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 48 - 69, 30.06.2018

Yüksel Öztürk , Nurettin Ayaz , Rana Allahyarı Sanı

https://doi.org/10.33722/afes.477147

Cited By: 1

Abstract

The local community in the process of association sees the
municipalities as leader, strategist, mentor, coordinator, sponsor, and the
closest stakeholder institutions to themselves. However, municipalities do not
engage enough in organizations that have tourism purposes. Hence, the main
purpose of the research is to determine the main reasons for the lack of
municipalities’ interest in tourism. To that end, the interview method was used
in the collection of data in this research as a qualitative study. Between the
regions that are in priority for tourism development, research sample has
formed by 11 county municipalities in the province of Tokat, Turkey. Research
findings are limited to the opinions of mayors. The results have shown that the
studies of rural county authorities towards the development of tourism are
formed due to the individual, short-term, and quick income expectations as well
as political concerns for the future. Municipalities want tourism development
just for their own areas and stay away from cooperation and partnerships for
the creation of a regional tourism destination. Local community stakeholders
are slightly included in tourism activities. Inadequacies of financial
resources have been shown as a main obstructive reason in participation in
tourism activities

Keywords

Rural Tourism, Municipalities, Turkey, Rural Development

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