Turkic States’ Performance in the Travel and Tourism Development Index: Progress and Policy Recommendations

Serpil Sungur Avcı; Murat Avcı

Article Details

Turkic States’ Performance in the Travel and Tourism Development Index: Progress and Policy Recommendations

Authors:

Serpil Sungur Avcı | Murat Avcı

Publisher:

Ege University

Main Topics:

Politika ve Yönetim (Diğer)

Journal:

Türk Dünyası İncelemeleri Dergisi Vol.25 Issue 1, pp.221-255

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001351574

pISSN:

1301-2045

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Measuring tourism development indicators is of great importance in order to formulate effective tourism policies. The Travel and Tourism Development Index provides the essential data and analyses necessary for the sustainable, competitive, and effective growth of the tourism sector. This study aims to reveal the current situation of the Turkic states Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan in terms of tourism development and competitiveness and to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, this study utilizes data from the report published by the World Economic Forum WEF, which was released under the title Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index for 15 years and has been updated as the Travel and Tourism Development Index since 2021. A mixed-methods approach was employed in the study. Document analysis, one of the qualitative data collection methods, was adopted as the primary technique. The performance of five countries was analyzed based on the five main categories and seventeen sub-indicators determined by the Travel and Tourism Development Index. The analysis was conducted using data from the years 2019, 2021, and 2024. The changes in tourist arrivals, tourism revenues, and TTDI scores of the Turkic States during the examined period have been analyzed in detail. Then, PREFSCAL analysis in the Multidimensional Scaling Method MDS was used to analyze the similarities and differences, strengths and weaknesses of the countries. As a result of the study, it was emphasized that sustainable policies should be implemented in the tourism development of Turkish states. In this context, it is recommended to implement strategies such as strengthening infrastructure and adopting environmental sustainability policies. Additionally, it has been emphasized that each country should develop inclusive and competitiveness-enhancing policies tailored to the local characteristics of their tourism sector. In this context, the research findings serve as a guide for decision-makers and policymakers, offering concrete recommendations to support the development of the tourism sector.

 Measuring tourism development indicators is of great importance in order to formulate effective tourism policies. The Travel and Tourism Development Index provides the essential data and analyses necessary for the sustainable, competitive, and effective growth of the tourism sector. This study aims to reveal the current situation of the Turkic states Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan in terms of tourism development and competitiveness and to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, this study utilizes data from the report published by the World Economic Forum WEF, which was released under the title Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index for 15 years and has been updated as the Travel and Tourism Development Index since 2021. A mixed-methods approach was employed in the study. Document analysis, one of the qualitative data collection methods, was adopted as the primary technique. The performance of five countries was analyzed based on the five main categories and seventeen sub-indicators determined by the Travel and Tourism Development Index. The analysis was conducted using data from the years 2019, 2021, and 2024. The changes in tourist arrivals, tourism revenues, and TTDI scores of the Turkic States during the examined period have been analyzed in detail. Then, PREFSCAL analysis in the Multidimensional Scaling Method MDS was used to analyze the similarities and differences, strengths and weaknesses of the countries. As a result of the study, it was emphasized that sustainable policies should be implemented in the tourism development of Turkish states. In this context, it is recommended to implement strategies such as strengthening infrastructure and adopting environmental sustainability policies. Additionally, it has been emphasized that each country should develop inclusive and competitiveness-enhancing policies tailored to the local characteristics of their tourism sector. In this context, the research findings serve as a guide for decision-makers and policymakers, offering concrete recommendations to support the development of the tourism sector.

 Measuring tourism development indicators is of great importance in order to formulate effective tourism policies. The Travel and Tourism Development Index provides the essential data and analyses necessary for the sustainable, competitive, and effective growth of the tourism sector. This study aims to reveal the current situation of the Turkic states Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan in terms of tourism development and competitiveness and to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, this study utilizes data from the report published by the World Economic Forum WEF, which was released under the title Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index for 15 years and has been updated as the Travel and Tourism Development Index since 2021. A mixed-methods approach was employed in the study. Document analysis, one of the qualitative data collection methods, was adopted as the primary technique. The performance of five countries was analyzed based on the five main categories and seventeen sub-indicators determined by the Travel and Tourism Development Index. The analysis was conducted using data from the years 2019, 2021, and 2024. The changes in tourist arrivals, tourism revenues, and TTDI scores of the Turkic States during the examined period have been analyzed in detail. Then, PREFSCAL analysis in the Multidimensional Scaling Method MDS was used to analyze the similarities and differences, strengths and weaknesses of the countries. As a result of the study, it was emphasized that sustainable policies should be implemented in the tourism development of Turkish states. In this context, it is recommended to implement strategies such as strengthening infrastructure and adopting environmental sustainability policies. Additionally, it has been emphasized that each country should develop inclusive and competitiveness-enhancing policies tailored to the local characteristics of their tourism sector. In this context, the research findings serve as a guide for decision-makers and policymakers, offering concrete recommendations to support the development of the tourism sector.

 Turizm gelişim göstergelerinin ölçülmesi, etkin turizm politikalarının oluşturulması açısından büyük önem taşımaktadır. Seyahat ve Turizm Gelişim Endeksi, turizm sektörünün sürdürülebilir, rekabetçi ve etkili bir şekilde gelişmesi için gerekli verileri ve analizleri sağlamaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türk devletlerinin Türkiye, Kazakistan, Azerbaycan, Özbekistan ve Kırgızistan turizm gelişimi ve rekabet gücü açısından mevcut durumlarını ortaya koymak ve güçlü ve zayıf yönlerini belirlemektir. Bu doğrultuda, Dünya Ekonomik Forumu WEF tarafından 15 yıl boyunca Seyahat ve Turizm Rekabet Endeksi adıyla yayımlanan ve 2021 yılından itibaren Seyahat ve Turizm Gelişim Endeksi olarak güncellenen raporun verilerinden yararlanılmıştır. Araştırmada karma yöntem kullanılmıştır. Nitel veri toplama yöntemlerinden biri olan doküman analizi esas alınmıştır. Seyahat ve Turizm Gelişim Endeksinin belirlediği beş ana kategori ve on yedi alt gösterge temelinde beş ülkenin performansı analiz edilmiştir. İnceleme 2019, 2021 ve 2024 yıllarına ait veriler doğrultusunda gerçekleştirilmiştir. Türk Devletlerinin turist sayısı, turizm geliri ve TTDI indeksi kapsamında bu yıllar arasında kaydettikleri yükselişler ve düşüşler detaylı olarak yorumlanmıştır. Ardından ülkelerin benzerlikleri ve farklılıkları, güçlü ve zayıf yanlarını analiz etmek amacıyla Çok Boyutlu Ölçekleme yöntemindeki Multidimensional Scaling - MDS PREFSCAL analizi kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonucunda, Türk devletlerinin turizm gelişiminde sürdürülebilir politikaların uygulanması gerektiği vurgulanmıştır. Bu doğrultuda, özellikle altyapının güçlendirilmesi ve çevresel sürdürülebilirlik politikalarının benimsenmesi gibi stratejilerin uygulanması önerilmektedir. Ayrıca, her bir ülkenin turizm sektörü için yerel özelliklere uygun, kapsayıcı ve rekabetçiliği artıracak politikalar geliştirmesi gerektiği belirtilmiştir. Bu bağlamda araştırma bulguları, turizm sektörünün gelişimini destekleyecek somut öneriler sunarak karar vericiler ve politika yapıcılar için bir rehber niteliği taşımaktadır.

Article Details

Turkic States’ Performance in the Travel and Tourism Development Index: Progress and Policy Recommendations

Authors:

Serpil Sungur Avcı | Murat Avcı

Publisher:

Ege University

Main Topics:

Politika ve Yönetim (Diğer)

Journal:

Türk Dünyası İncelemeleri Dergisi Vol.25 Issue 1, pp.221-255

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001351574

pISSN:

1301-2045

Tourism

Competition

Travel and Tourism Competition Index

Travel and Tourism Development Index

World Economic Forum

Turkic States

Multidimensional Scaling MethodTurizm

Rekabet

Seyahat ve Turizm Rekabet Endeksi

Seyahat ve Turizm Gelişim Endeksi

Dünya Ekonomik Forumu

Türk Devletleri

Çok Boyutlu Ölçekleme Analizi

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Serpil Sungur Avcı | Murat Avcı

Publisher: Ege University

Main Topics: Politika ve Yönetim (Diğer)

Journal: Türk Dünyası İncelemeleri Dergisi Vol.25 Issue 1, pp.221-255

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001351574

pISSN: 1301-2045

Issues

Authors:

Serpil Sungur Avcı | Murat Avcı

Publisher:

Ege University

Main Topics:

Politika ve Yönetim (Diğer)

Journal:

Türk Dünyası İncelemeleri Dergisi Vol.25 Issue 1, pp.221-255

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001351574

pISSN:

1301-2045