Rize Yerel Halkının Yeni Rize Artvin Havalimanı’ndan Beklentileri (Rize Local People’s Expectations of the New Rize Artvin Airport)

Abstract

The development of air transportation in a destination contributes to the regional, national and international improvement of that destination. However, it is an undeniable fact that air transportation can create negative effects as well as the positive effects it provides to the destination. Evaluating the positive and negative effects of the planned air transportation system on the destination from the perspective of the local people and knowing the local people’s expectations of the airline is important for a more planned and effective development of the airline. This study was conducted to determine the local people’s expectations of Rize-Artvin Airport, and the positive and negative effects that the airport is thought to cause in the destination. Quantitative research approach was adopted within the scope of the study, and the study sample was determined by convenience sampling method. The study data were collected by questionnaire technique in electronic environment between 09.03.2022 and 30.04.2022. The results of the study reveal that the local people expect the flights from Rize-Artvin Airport to be mostly to Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir domestically and to Germany, Azerbaijan and France abroad. According to the results of the study, the positive effects expected to emerge in the destination thanks to Rize-Artvin Airport include the increase in investments in the destination, the development of business opportunities and the increase in tourism activities, while the negative effects that may arise are stated as an increase in land prices, a change in the use of the land, and noise pollution.