An Investigation on Çanakkale as a Smart Tourism City within the Scope of City Marketing

Year 2022, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 118 - 130, 30.06.2022

Bilge Çavuşgil Köse

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to examine the smart city concept in the context of city marketing with a focus on tourism. In this context, qualitative research was conducted in Çanakkale, which is one of the important tourist attraction centers of our country, by interviewing the stakeholders who were identified to be related to tourism. Within the scope of the interviews conducted, it was foreseen to reveal the opinions of the stakeholders about the current situation of tourism in the city and their suggestions about what can be done for Çanakkale in the context of a smart tourism city. In the research, the interview technique was applied with a semi-structured questionnaire. Moreover, the research was supported by content analysis as well. A total of nine stakeholders were interviewed under the categories of the central government, local administration, private sector, non-governmental organizations, and others within the framework of the research. According to the research findings, the general view is that the current tourism power of Çanakkale will support its potential to transform into a smart tourism city. In line with the research findings, it can be claimed that the transformation of Çanakkale into a smart tourism city will contribute positively to the tourism competitiveness of the city.

Keywords

Smart Tourism City, Competitive Advantage, City Marketing, Qualitative Research

Şehir Pazarlaması Kapsamında Akıllı Turizm Şehri Olarak Çanakkale’nin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, akıllı şehir kavramını şehir pazarlaması bağlamında ve turizm odağında incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Bu kapsamda ülkemizin önemli turizm ziyaretçi merkezlerinden biri olan Çanakkale’de turizmle ilişkili olduğu tespit edilen paydaşlarla 2019 yılında görüşülerek nitel bir araştırma yapılmıştır. Yapılan görüşmelerle paydaşların akıllı turizm şehri kapsamında Çanakkale ilindeki turizmin mevcut durumu hakkındaki görüşleri ve yine bu doğrultuda neler yapılabileceğini hakkındaki önerilerinin belirlenmesi için öngörülmüştür. Araştırmada yarı yapılandırılmış anket formuyla görüşme tekniği uygulanmıştır. Ayrıca içerik analiziyle de araştırma desteklenmiştir. Araştırma kapsamında merkezi yönetim, yerel yönetim, özel sektör, sivil toplum kuruluşları ve diğer kategorileri altında toplam dokuz paydaşla görüşülmüştür. Araştırma bulgularına göre genel görüş; Çanakkale’nin mevcut turistik gücünün şehrin akıllı bir turizm şehrine dönüşme potansiyelini desteklediğidir. Araştırma bulguları doğrultusunda Çanakkale’nin akıllı bir turizm şehrine dönüşmesinin kentin turistik rekabet edilebilirliğine olumlu katkılar sunacağı söylenebilir.

Keywords

Akıllı Turizm Şehri, Rekabet Gücü, Şehir Pazarlaması, Nitel Araştırma, Çanakkale

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