Perceptions of Tourism Students Regarding the Cultural Tourism Potential of Antalya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21325/jotags.2025.1646Keywords:
Cultural tourism, Cultural sustainability, Student perceptionAbstract
Cultural tourism, as highlighted by UNWTO, is among the fastest-growing alternatives to mass tourism. This study investigates the perceptions of associate degree students in the Tourism and Hotel Management Department regarding tangible and intangible cultural heritage, cultural sustainability, and the transmission of cultural values. A qualitative research method, phenomenology, was employed, and data were collected through focus group interviews and analysed using content analysis. Findings revealed two primary themes: "Social Elements" (language, traditions, and communication) and "Identity" (historical awareness and belonging). Participants emphasized the importance of cultural tourism in personal development and intercultural interaction. They also linked cultural tourism to environmental sensitivity, ethical values, national identity, and economic contribution. Students expressed a willingness to support cultural tourism through protecting local heritage and promoting cultural diversity. The study concludes that cultural tourism contributes not only to economic development but also to social cohesion and environmental awareness, making it a key component of sustainable tourism policies.
References
Ablak, S., Dikmenli, Y., & Çetin, T. (2014). Awareness of university students about the historical and cultural tourism values of Kırşehir. Uşak University Journal of Social Sciences, 7(2), 171-186.
Aktan, C. C., & Tutar, H. (2007). Culture as social capital. Journal of Marketing and Communication Culture, 6(20), 1-11.
Aksu, M. (2004), Turistlerin ve Destinasyonlarda Sunulan Kültürel Miras Arasındaki Ilişkiyi Belirlemeye Yönelik Bir Araştırma: Troya Örneği. Yayınlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Çanakkale: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Turizm İşletmeciliği Anabilim Dalı.
Aydın, İ. (1992). Annotated Glossary of Tourism Terms. Antalya: Coşkun Printing House.
Bahtiyar Karadeniz, C., Sarı, S., & Kabacık, M. (2018). Awareness and experiences of university students about the natural and cultural touristic attractions of Ordu province. Black Sea Journal of Social Sciences, 10(19), 667-684.
Boret, A. (1989). Tourism Itineraries with Annals. N.Y.: J. Lanore.
Burcu, E. (2002). Problems of disabled students in universities: the example of Hacettepe university Beytepe campus. Journal of Hacettepe University Faculty of Letters, 19 (1), 83-103.
Büyüköztürk, Ş., Çakmak, E. K., Akgün, Ö. E., Karadeniz, Ş. & Demirel, F. (2011). Bilimsel Araştırma Yöntemleri. Ankara: PegemAYayıncılık.
Cohen, E. (1972). Towards a sociology of international tourism. Social Research, 39(1), 164–182.
Dinçer, İ. F. & Ertuğral, S. M. (2000). Kültürel mirasın korunması ve Istanbul ilindeki tarihi yapıların turizm amaçlı kullanımı üzerine bir deneme. Anatolia Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi, 11, 69-78.
Duran, E. (2010). Preservation of social and cultural identity within the scope of sustainable tourism: a sustainable tourism framework proposal for Gökçeada. Journal of Travel and Hotel Management, 7(2), 175-187.
Giddens, A. (2000). Sociology (Transl. H. Özer, C. Güzel). Ankara: Ayraç Publishing.
Gökalp, Z. (1994). History of Turkish Civilization (Ed. YalçınToker). Ankara: Toker Publications.
Güvenç B. (1984). Human and Culture. İstanbul: Remzi Kitabevi.
Hall, S. (1990). Cultural Identity and Diaspora. In J. Rutherford (Ed.), Identity: Community, Culture, Difference (pp. 222–237). London: Lawrence and Wishart.
Haviland, W. A., Prins, H. E. L., Walrath, D. İ., & Mcbride, B. (2008). Cultural Anthropology. İstanbul: Kaknüs Publishing.
ISMEP. (2014). Preservation of cultural heritage. Retrieved from http://www.Guvenliyasam.Org/WpContent/Uploads/2016/02/Kulturel.Pdf Access Date: 25.09.2023.
Karadeniz, B., Erciş, A., & Kocaman, S. (2018). Üniversite öğrencilerinin kültürel miras farkındalık düzeylerinin değerlendirilmesi. Journal of Tourism and Gastronomy Studies, 6(1), 345–361. https://doi.org/10.21325/jotags.2018.217
Kendir, S. (2020). Kültürel sürdürülebilirlik bağlamında turizm eğitimi: Öğrenci görüşleri. Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 12(2), 45–60.
Kendir, H. (2020). Turkish Journal of Tourism Research Determination of cultural heritage perceptions of undergraduate students in tourism education., 4(3), 2296-2310.
Kirk, J. & Miller, M. L. (1986). Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
Kitzinger, J. (1994). The methodology of focus groups: the importance of interaction between research participants. Sociology of Health and Illness, 16(1), 103-121.
Kızılırmak, İ., & Kurtuldu, H. (2005). Importance of cultural tourism and a study on determining consumer preferences. Journal of Faculty of Commerce and Tourism Education, 5(1), 100-120.
Koyuncu, S. (2003). Tourist Health, Tourism Insurance, and Consumer Protection. Ankara: Detay Publishing.
Kroeber, A. L., & Kluckhohn, C. (1952). Culture: a critical review of concepts and definitions. papers. Peabody Museum of Archaeology And Ethnology. Massachusetts: Harvard University.
Krueger, R.A. (1994). Focus Groups - A Practical Guide For Applied Research. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publishing.
Lecompte, M. D. & Goetz, J. P. (1982). Problems of reliability and validity in ethnographic research. Review of Educational Research, 52, 31-60.
Lohmann, M., & Mundt, J.W. (2002). Maturing markets for cultural tourism: Germany and the demand for the cultural destination. Retrieved from www.ba-ravensburg.de~mundt/cultural%20tourism. pdf, Access Date: 25.09.2023.
McKercher, B. & Cros, H. (2002). Cultural Tourism: The Partnership Between Tourism and Cultural Heritage Management. Haworth : The Haworth Hospitality Press.
Negiz, N. (2017). Cultural heritage in the historical sustainability of cities: thinking about its importance and value. Akademia Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 3(1), 159-172.
Okuyucu, A. (2011). Preservation of cultural heritage in the centre of Osmaneli district and a study on its use for tourism purposes. Unpublished Master's Thesis, Ankara: Ankara University Faculty of Economics.
Öter, Z., & Özdoğan, O. N. (2005). Destination image of tourists traveling for cultural purposes: the example of Selçuk-Ephesus. Anatolia: Journal of Tourism Research, 16(2), 157-168.
Pekin, F. (2011). Solution: Cultural Tourism. Ankara: İletişim Publishing.
Richards, G. (2001). In J. Butcher (Ed.), Innovations Cultural tourists or a culture of tourism: developments in the European cultural tourism market. in Cultural Tourism. ATLAS Association for Tourism and Leisure Education.
Richards, G. (2001). Cultural attractions and European tourism. CABI Publishing.
Richards, G. (2018). Cultural tourism: A review of recent research and trends. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 36, 12–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2018.03.006
Saçılık, M. Y., & Toptaş, A. (2017). Determination of tourism students' perceptions about cultural tourism and its effects. Tourism Academic Journal, 4(2), 107-119.
Saçılık, S., & Toptaş, A. (2017). Gençlerde kültürel değerlerin algılanması: Üniversite öğrencileri örneği. Akademik Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 5(48), 277–293. https://doi.org/10.16992/ASOS.13079
Soini, K., & Birkeland, I. (2014). Exploring the scientific discourse on cultural sustainability. Geoforum, 51, 213–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2013.12.001
Stewart, D.V. & Shamdasani, P.N. (1990). Focus groups: theory and practice. Thousand Oaks: SAGE. 3rd Edition.
Swarbrooke, J. (1999). Sustainable tourism management. CAB: CABI Publishing.
Timothy, D. J. (2011). Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction. Channel View Publications.
Toskay, T. (1993). Tourism. Germany: Der Publications.
Tylor, E. B. (1871). Primitive Culture: Researches Into The Development of Mythology, Philosophy, Religion, Language, Art, and Custom. London: Murray.
Tunç, A & Saç, F. (1998). Genel Turizm. Ankara: Detay Yayıncılık.
Uca Özer, S. (2010). Urban Tourism and Culture: A Study on Foreign Tourists' Evaluation of Istanbul as a Cultural Destination. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis, Anadolu University.
UNESCO. (2003). Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. https://ich.unesco.org/en/convention
UNWTO. (2020). UNWTO tourism and culture synergies. World Tourism Organization. https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/book/10.18111/9789284418978
Usal, A. & Kuşluvan Z. (2002). Behavioral Sciences, Social Psychology. İstanbul: Barış Publishing.
Üsküdar, Ş. (2012). A Study on the cultural tourism potential of Eskisehir and the perceptions of domestic tourists about it. (Master's thesis), Eskişehir: Anadolu University.
Uygur, S. M., & Baykan, E. (2007). Cultural tourism and its effects on cultural assets. Journal of Faculty of Commerce and Tourism Education, 1(2), 1-20.
Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2011). Qualitative research methods in the social sciences. Ankara: Seçkin Publishing.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Tourism & Gastronomy Studies
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
