Tourism-Firm Differentiation and Place Differentiation in the Sun-Sea-Sand Tourism City of Antalya

2017-11-20
Erkuş-Öztürk, Hilal
Terhorst, Pieter
This study aims to explore whether tourism firms follow a more active strategy of differentiation in some tourism places than in others. In this context, this study is about the relation between differentiation (innovation and renovation) strategies of incumbent tourism firms (hotels, restaurants, jewellers, and clothing-, shoes-, and bags shops strongly oriented at the tourism market) and tourism-place differentiation in the sun-sea-sand mass-tourism city of Antalya (Turkey). It differs from previous researches: 1) by bringing a tourism dimension to firm differentiation, and tourism place differentiation, and 2) by employing a quantitative method of analysis (correspondence and chi-square) based on a firm-level survey (hotels, restaurants, jewellery- and retail-trade companies). It is hypothesized that (1) hotels in tourism enclaves follow, paradoxically, more actively strategies of differentiation than in other tourism places, (2) mixed places with a variety of tourism and non-tourism firms and a mix of local inhabitants/visitors (historical diversified tourism places and mixed places with strong tourism functions) are the most favourable environment for tourism firms that follow strategies of differentiation, and (3) that tourism firms which realize less or no innovations and/or renovations are predominantly found in mixed places with weak tourism functions predominantly visited by lower and lower-middle class locals. It is found firstly that hotels in tourism enclaves follow more actively strategies of differentiation. Secondly, restaurants, jewellers, and retail-trade shops that actively followed a strategy of differentiation are most likely located in a historical diversified tourism place, and mixed places with strong tourism functions. Thirdly, all tourism firms in mixed places with weak tourism functions mainly visited by lower and lower-middle class locals follow less strategies of innovation and/or renovation than in other tourism places.

Suggestions

Tourism as a tool for development: the case Mawlana tourism in Konya
Sarı, Özgür; Hoşgör, Hatice Ayşe; Department of Sociology (2010)
This dissertation analyzes the role of tourism within development process in the case of the role of Mawlana tourism in the urban development process of Konya, around the theoretical approaches about tourism and development such as new modernization school, global local nexus approach, glokalism, and TBD (Tourism Business District) approaches. The study finds out that Mawlawi tourism has been playing crucial roles in articulation of Konya to the global markets and urban identity building process. Mawlana to...
Tourism in Russia: From Tsarist to Post-Soviet Period
Ersöz, Hasan Deniz; Kuşçu Bonnenfant, Işık; Ünalan, Hüsnü Emrah; Department of Eurasian Studies (2012)
This thesis analyzes tourism and tourism policy in Russia from Tsarist to post-Soviet period. In this respect the main focus will be on the post-Soviet period. The collapse of the Soviet Union negatively affected tourism and tourism industry in the country. Tourism and tourism industry found itself in an uncertain environment during the transition period. With the establishment of Russian Federal Agency for Tourism in 2004, tourism policies became more effective in the Russian Federation. This study discuss...
Institutional and spatial aspects of thermal tourism in Turkey : Nevşehir Kozaklı Thermal Tourism Center
Azaklı, Hatice Seda; Kayasü, Serap; Department of City and Regional Planning (2012)
The main purpose of this study is to determine the problems of thermal tourism as a kind of alternative tourism in Turkey investigating within the context of legislative-organizational aspects and planning dimensions. The study is also submitting some suggestions about solutions. After the announcement of the conceptual framework related with thermal tourism, the research provides general information about the countries important for thermal tourism sector in the global world. The study examines the plannin...
Evaluation of effects of thermal tourism on local economy : the case of Thermal District of Yalova
Piri, Taner; Kayasü, Serap; Department of City and Regional Planning (2012)
Tourism and local economic development are closely linked. Tourism can have a constructive effect on local economy and may help balance some of the inequalities between different parts of a country. Thus, in many regions in the world, the tourism sector is accepted as one of the greatest sources of economic growth and job creation. In line with economic contribution of the sector, tourism policy has become an instrument for territorial development and for enhancing an area’s opportunities. It appears that t...
Tourism and governance in Turkey
Goymen, K (Elsevier BV, 2000-10-01)
Tourism is speedily changing form, process, and structure. As a result of the globalization of its supply and demand, many countries have felt the need to reconsider related structures and processes, including the specific role of the state. This study indicates that tourism in Turkey developed in stages, constantly interacting with political, social,and economic components of the polity. During most of these stages, the state played a dominant role. But since the 80s, the dynamics of governance has trigger...
Citation Formats
H. Erkuş-Öztürk and P. Terhorst, “Tourism-Firm Differentiation and Place Differentiation in the Sun-Sea-Sand Tourism City of Antalya,” ODTÜ Mimarlık Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 181–202, 2017, Accessed: 00, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/11511/50692.