Investigation of Local People's Attitudes Towards Sustainable Tourism Development Regarding Cave Tourism

Yakup Öztürk

Article Details

Investigation of Local People's Attitudes Towards Sustainable Tourism Development Regarding Cave Tourism

Authors:

Yakup Öztürk

Publisher:

Hitit University

Main Topics:

Rekreasyon | Tatil ve Turizm Coğrafyası | Sürdürülebilir Turizm

Journal:

Hitit Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.18 Issue 1, pp.116-132

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001342026

pISSN:

2757-7449

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Caves formed naturally through geological processes or artificially by human intervention-particularly by excavating easily workable materials-play a significant role in shaping tourism demand as major tourist attractions. In recent years, the shift in tourism demand from mass tourism to alternative forms has increased interest in cave tourism, which constitutes an important segment of the global tourism market. Given its critical role in achieving long-term success in tourism, identifying and securing local community support for tourism development is a key factor. However, empirical studies that investigate residents attitudes toward sustainable tourism development specifically within the context of cave tourism remain scarce in the literature. In this context, the present study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the attitudes of residents toward sustainable tourism development in relation to cave tourism. A quantitative research design was adopted, and the Sustainable Tourism Attitude Scale SUS-TAS was utilized. The application of the SUS-TAS scale specifically to the case of Çankırı contributes to the scales national-level validity and reflects the studys originality by examining the three main pillars of sustainable tourism social, economic, and environmental in an integrated manner. Using a convenience sampling method, 600 questionnaires were distributed; after eliminating those deemed unsuitable for analysis, a total of 568 valid responses were included. Data were analyzed using reliability analysis, factor analysis, t-tests, and ANOVA. Findings reveal that residents generally hold a supportive attitude toward sustainable tourism development, with the age variable significantly influencing all dimensions except long-term planning. Another key finding is that the length of residence in the region affects attitudes: individuals who have lived in the area for a shorter period place more emphasis on perceived social costs and economic benefits. As a pioneering study in analyzing residents attitudes toward sustainable tourism development in the specific context of Çankırı, the results suggest a general support for sustainability, albeit with concerns regarding the social costs associated with tourism growth. According to the findings, the primary interest of Çankırıs residents is focused on environmental sustainability, which reflects their sensitivity toward preserving resources for future generations and their support for the responsible integration of these resources into tourism activities. The results underscore the importance of encouraging local community participation and promoting awareness of resource conservation as vital components of sustainable tourism. Another notable finding is that although tourism activities in Çankırı have not yet reached a high level of development, a portion of the participants reported discomfort with tourism and perceived its social costs. This highlights the importance of considering local attitudes and concerns in the planning and implementation of tourism strategies. The most significant limitation of this study lies in its temporal and sample constraints and its reliance on the statements within the SUS-TAS framework. Future research should incorporate open-ended questions to better understand the specific issues that concern residents and the perceived negative social impacts of tourism. Moreover, adopting a mixed-methods approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative data could yield more comprehensive and nuanced insights.

 Caves formed naturally through geological processes or artificially by human intervention-particularly by excavating easily workable materials-play a significant role in shaping tourism demand as major tourist attractions. In recent years, the shift in tourism demand from mass tourism to alternative forms has increased interest in cave tourism, which constitutes an important segment of the global tourism market. Given its critical role in achieving long-term success in tourism, identifying and securing local community support for tourism development is a key factor. However, empirical studies that investigate residents attitudes toward sustainable tourism development specifically within the context of cave tourism remain scarce in the literature. In this context, the present study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the attitudes of residents toward sustainable tourism development in relation to cave tourism. A quantitative research design was adopted, and the Sustainable Tourism Attitude Scale SUS-TAS was utilized. The application of the SUS-TAS scale specifically to the case of Çankırı contributes to the scales national-level validity and reflects the studys originality by examining the three main pillars of sustainable tourism social, economic, and environmental in an integrated manner. Using a convenience sampling method, 600 questionnaires were distributed; after eliminating those deemed unsuitable for analysis, a total of 568 valid responses were included. Data were analyzed using reliability analysis, factor analysis, t-tests, and ANOVA. Findings reveal that residents generally hold a supportive attitude toward sustainable tourism development, with the age variable significantly influencing all dimensions except long-term planning. Another key finding is that the length of residence in the region affects attitudes: individuals who have lived in the area for a shorter period place more emphasis on perceived social costs and economic benefits. As a pioneering study in analyzing residents attitudes toward sustainable tourism development in the specific context of Çankırı, the results suggest a general support for sustainability, albeit with concerns regarding the social costs associated with tourism growth. According to the findings, the primary interest of Çankırıs residents is focused on environmental sustainability, which reflects their sensitivity toward preserving resources for future generations and their support for the responsible integration of these resources into tourism activities. The results underscore the importance of encouraging local community participation and promoting awareness of resource conservation as vital components of sustainable tourism. Another notable finding is that although tourism activities in Çankırı have not yet reached a high level of development, a portion of the participants reported discomfort with tourism and perceived its social costs. This highlights the importance of considering local attitudes and concerns in the planning and implementation of tourism strategies. The most significant limitation of this study lies in its temporal and sample constraints and its reliance on the statements within the SUS-TAS framework. Future research should incorporate open-ended questions to better understand the specific issues that concern residents and the perceived negative social impacts of tourism. Moreover, adopting a mixed-methods approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative data could yield more comprehensive and nuanced insights.

 Caves formed naturally through geological processes or artificially by human intervention-particularly by excavating easily workable materials-play a significant role in shaping tourism demand as major tourist attractions. In recent years, the shift in tourism demand from mass tourism to alternative forms has increased interest in cave tourism, which constitutes an important segment of the global tourism market. Given its critical role in achieving long-term success in tourism, identifying and securing local community support for tourism development is a key factor. However, empirical studies that investigate residents attitudes toward sustainable tourism development specifically within the context of cave tourism remain scarce in the literature. In this context, the present study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the attitudes of residents toward sustainable tourism development in relation to cave tourism. A quantitative research design was adopted, and the Sustainable Tourism Attitude Scale SUS-TAS was utilized. The application of the SUS-TAS scale specifically to the case of Çankırı contributes to the scales national-level validity and reflects the studys originality by examining the three main pillars of sustainable tourism social, economic, and environmental in an integrated manner. Using a convenience sampling method, 600 questionnaires were distributed; after eliminating those deemed unsuitable for analysis, a total of 568 valid responses were included. Data were analyzed using reliability analysis, factor analysis, t-tests, and ANOVA. Findings reveal that residents generally hold a supportive attitude toward sustainable tourism development, with the age variable significantly influencing all dimensions except long-term planning. Another key finding is that the length of residence in the region affects attitudes: individuals who have lived in the area for a shorter period place more emphasis on perceived social costs and economic benefits. As a pioneering study in analyzing residents attitudes toward sustainable tourism development in the specific context of Çankırı, the results suggest a general support for sustainability, albeit with concerns regarding the social costs associated with tourism growth. According to the findings, the primary interest of Çankırıs residents is focused on environmental sustainability, which reflects their sensitivity toward preserving resources for future generations and their support for the responsible integration of these resources into tourism activities. The results underscore the importance of encouraging local community participation and promoting awareness of resource conservation as vital components of sustainable tourism. Another notable finding is that although tourism activities in Çankırı have not yet reached a high level of development, a portion of the participants reported discomfort with tourism and perceived its social costs. This highlights the importance of considering local attitudes and concerns in the planning and implementation of tourism strategies. The most significant limitation of this study lies in its temporal and sample constraints and its reliance on the statements within the SUS-TAS framework. Future research should incorporate open-ended questions to better understand the specific issues that concern residents and the perceived negative social impacts of tourism. Moreover, adopting a mixed-methods approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative data could yield more comprehensive and nuanced insights.

 Jeolojik süreçler sonucunda doğal olarak oluşan ya da insanların işlenmesi kolay maddeleri kazmaları sonucunda yapay olarak oluşturulan mağaralar birer turistik çekim unsuru olarak turistik talebin şekillenmesinde önemli rol oynamaktadır. Son yıllarda turizm talebinin kitle turizminden alternatif turizm çeşitlerine kayması, küresel turizm pazarının önemli bir yönünü oluşturan mağara turizmine yönelik ilgiyi artırmıştır. Turizmde uzun vadeli başarı elde edilmesindeki anahtar rolünden dolayı yerel halkın turizm gelişimine yönelik tutumlarının belirlenmesi ve desteğinin sağlanması önemli bir faktördür. Ancak mağara turizmi özelinde yerel halkın sürdürülebilir turizm gelişimine yönelik tutumlarını ampirik verilerle inceleyen çalışmaların sayısı literatürde oldukça sınırlıdır. Bu bağlamda çalışma, söz konusu boşluğu doldurmayı ve mağara turizmi bağlamında yerel halkın sürdürülebilir turizm gelişimine yönelik tutumlarını analiz etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmada nicel yöntem benimsenmiş ve Sürdürülebilir Turizm Tutum Ölçeği SUS-TAS kullanılmıştır. Sürdürülebilir Turizm Tutum Ölçeğinin Çankırı özelinde uygulanması ölçeğin ulusal düzeydeki geçerliliğine katkı sağlarken, sürdürülebilir turizmin üç temel boyutunun sosyal, ekonomik, çevresel birbiriyle ilişkili olarak incelenmesi çalışmanın temel özgünlüğü yansıtmaktadır. Kolayda örnekleme yöntemiyle 600 kişiye anket uygulanmış; analiz için uygun bulunmayan formlar elendikten sonra 568 geçerli anket değerlendirmeye alınmıştır. Veriler üzerinde güvenilirlik, faktör analizi, t-testi ve ANOVA analizleri uygulanmıştır. Bulgular, yerel halkın sürdürülebilir turizm gelişimine yönelik genel olarak destekleyici bir tutuma sahip olduğunu ve yaş değişkeninin uzun vadeli planlama dışındaki tüm boyutlarda etkili olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. İkamet süresinin yerel halkın tutumları üzerinde etkili olduğu, araştırmanın yürütüldüğü bölgede daha kısa süredir yaşayan bireylerin sosyal maliyetlere ve ekonomik faydalara daha fazla önem verdiğine dair bulgusu da araştırmanın diğer sonuçları arasında yer almaktadır. Çankırı özelinde yerel halkın sürdürülebilir turizm gelişimine yönelik tutumlarını analiz etmede öncü olan bu çalışmada, genel olarak sürdürülebilir turizm gelişiminin desteklendiği, ancak turizm gelişiminin sosyal maliyetleri konusunda belirli bir endişe taşındığı sonucuna varılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre Çankırıda ikamet eden yerel halkın turizm gelişimine yönelik öncelikli ilgisi çevresel sürdürülebilirlik odaklıdır. Bu bulgu, yerel halkın kaynakların gelecek nesiller için korunması konusunda duyarlı olduğunu ve bu kaynakların turizm faaliyetleri ile uyumlu bir şekilde kullanılmasını desteklediğini göstermektedir. Çalışmanın bulguları, yerel halkın turizm gelişimine aktif katılımının ve yerel kaynakların korunması konusundaki hassasiyetinin sürdürülebilir turizm için önemli olduğunu vurgulamaktadır. Araştırmanın bir diğer dikkat çekici sonucu ise Çankırıda turizm faaliyetleri yüksek bir gelişmişlik düzeyine ulaşmamış olsa da katılımcıların bir kısmının turizmden rahatsız olduklarını ve turizm gelişiminin sosyal maliyetlerini hissettiklerini belirtmiş olmalarıdır. Bu bulgu, yerel halkın turizm faaliyetlerine yönelik tutum ve endişelerinin dikkate alınması ve turizm planlaması ve uygulamasına katılımlarının sağlanması açısından önemlidir. Bu çalışmanın en önemli kısıtlılığı, sadece belirli bir dönemde, sınırlı bir örneklemle ve SUS-TAS ölçeğindeki ifadeler bağlamında gerçekleştirilmiş olmasıdır. Gelecekteki çalışmalarda açık uçlu soruların kullanılması, yerel halkın tam olarak nelerden rahatsız olduğunu veya turizmin ne gibi olumsuz sosyal etkileri olduğunu düşündüğünü anlamaya yardımcı olacaktır. Gelecek çalışmalarda hem nicel hem de nitel verilerin kullanılarak çoklu yöntem yaklaşımının benimsenmesiyle daha kapsamlı analizler yapılabilecektir.

Article Details

Investigation of Local People's Attitudes Towards Sustainable Tourism Development Regarding Cave Tourism

Authors:

Yakup Öztürk

Publisher:

Hitit University

Main Topics:

Rekreasyon | Tatil ve Turizm Coğrafyası | Sürdürülebilir Turizm

Journal:

Hitit Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.18 Issue 1, pp.116-132

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001342026

pISSN:

2757-7449

Cave Tourism

Sustainable Tourism

Local Community

Tourism Development Regarding

ÇankırıMağara Turizmi

Sürdürülebilir Turizm

Turizm Gelişimine Yönelik Tutum

Yerel Halk

Çankırı

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Yakup Öztürk

Publisher: Hitit University

Main Topics: Rekreasyon | Tatil ve Turizm Coğrafyası | Sürdürülebilir Turizm

Journal: Hitit Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.18 Issue 1, pp.116-132

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 4/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001342026

pISSN: 2757-7449

Issues

Authors:

Yakup Öztürk

Publisher:

Hitit University

Main Topics:

Rekreasyon | Tatil ve Turizm Coğrafyası | Sürdürülebilir Turizm

Journal:

Hitit Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.18 Issue 1, pp.116-132

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001342026

pISSN:

2757-7449