| dc.description.abstract | Recent increase in demand for tourism and variation of tourist types and needs have led to the birth of more specific travel types and activities. Adventure, which is a specific travel and tourism type at the present time, functioned as a means of search for acquiring scientific knowledge, territory, or wealth in the past. However, it has become a goal by itself as a result of the personal needs of individuals in the course of time. Then it has started to be taken as a special field of interest or passion. In this way, travels involving the phenomenon of adventure which has begun to function as a tourism product, preparation of the components of this product, planning of it, holding and distributing activities related to it, safety practices concerning it, and so on have allowed the emergence of adventure tourism sector. Interest in adventure tourism is gradually increasing in the world and in Turkey. The adventure tourism is a complex current issue that is difficult to understand. It is one of the new tourism niches. It allows using the tourism potential in full capacity based on the alternatives that may be provided by the existing natural and cultural richness. Adventure tourism activities are becoming widespread across the world. That requires working based on plans and projects. However, although Turkey has richer natural and cultural resources in comparison to many countries in the world, it cannot take enough advantage of these resources in the adventure tourism. This study aims to make a geographical examination of the adventure tourism potential of Hatay Province. To this end, an attempt is made to answer the following questions: Is Hatay Province suitable for adventure tourism? Can adventure tourism activities be carried put in this province? What geographical features of the province are important for adventure tourism? What are the main elements of the adventure tourism potential of the province? What is the distribution of the adventure tourism potential of the province? What factors are influential on this distribution? The present study is significant because it is a pioneer research on adventure tourism for Hatay. In addition, this publication is important for advertising and planning in tourism, which is regarded as one of the key sectors for economic growth and development in Turkey. Furthermore, the obtained findings and results may contribute to theoretical research and hypotheses on the subject and form a basis for scientists who are to study in the field of adventure tourism. Potential adventure tourism areas in Hatay were determined only based on natural environment features and risk elements due to difficulty in supplying and collecting data. Most prominence was given to the effect of natural environment, which is highlighted as one of the basic dynamics of tourism. This is because; tourism activity needs natural data rather Hatay İlinde Macera Turizmi Potansiyelinin Coğrafi Yaklaşımla İncelenmesi 751 Turkish Studies International Periodical For the Languages, Literature and History of Turkish or Turkic Volume 10/2 Winter 2015 than social data. Also, adventure tourism has a framework involving open air/adventure recreations. Multiple-criteria decision-making method was used in the study. This method was applied with the scoring system created based on the 1-9 scale of preference introduced by Saaty (1980). Evaluation in the scoring scale was made on the basis of the categories of most suitable areas (9-6), suitable areas (6-3), and unsuitable areas (3-1) reported in tourism-related research. Grid maps with a resolution of 10x10 m were obtained by processing the scores of the parameters determined at this stage through simple additive weighting. The obtained grid maps were combined by use of the weighted sum function of the spatial analyst tools in the package. Then the related maps were brought together, and map of potential adventure tourism areas was obtained. The accuracy of this map was checked by using high-resolution satellite images and ground data collected during field surveys. At this stage, 100 sample points randomly taken from the susceptibility map were compared with the real data, and an average accuracy of 90% was found. The materials related to the parameters evaluated in the study were obtained from the data acquired from a great variety of institutions and organizations. All these materials were used in ArcGIS/ArcMap 10.3 in a GIS-supported way. Next, the obtained findings were evaluated through SWOT analysis. The consistency of the obtained data was checked onsite via field surveys. Hatay Province is located in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. It is the southernmost point of Turkey. It is geographically situated within the borders of Adana Section of the Mediterranean Region. With its natural, cultural, archeological, and historical resources and values, Hatay has been a settlement of human communities since prehistoric periods. It has been put on the historical geography records as one of the oldest settlements in Anatolia. Moreover, the fact that the province is located at the junction point of roads extending from south to north and from east to west has led to the formation of settlements from ancient periods and has contributed to their sustainability. This richness provides a great tourism potential. However, not enough advantage of this potential has been taken so far. Existence of various spaces allowing adventure tourism in Hatay plays a determining role in its tourism potential. In addition, Hatay’s appropriate environmental conditions for a great variety of alternative tourism activities (e.g. sea tourism, hot spring tourism, tableland tourism, historical tourism, faith tourism) that are or can be carried out within provincial borders may support and complement the province’s adventure tourism. It was realized in the present study that Hatay is suitable for adventure tourism. Different types of adventure tourism activities may be carried out in this province. The province’s geographical features are important for adventure tourism. The main elements of Hatay’s adventure tourism potential are attractions, transportation, and accommodation. Though Hatay Province contains adequate natural and human attractions and transportation facilities for adventure tourism, it does not provide sufficiently developed accommodation services. 73% of 752 Emre ÖZŞAHİN Turkish Studies International Periodical For the Languages, Literature and History of Turkish or Turkic Volume 10/2 Winter 2015 the province consists of most suitable areas for adventure tourism and suitable areas for adventure tourism. No step has been taken for adventure tourism in Hatay so far. Thus, a plan should be made to develop adventure tourism in this province in the first place. Then projects should be prepared based on this plan. The places that can be used for adventure tourism should be determined, and tourism-related improvements and arrangements (i.e. physical and social infrastructure) should be made. Food & beverage and accommodation facilities should be created for adventure tourism. Events unique to each season (e.g. festivals, carnivals) should be organized for tourists. Attention should be focused on image issues and branding the province for adventure tourism. Quality products that diversify tourism should be produced, sold at the best price, and promoted. Adventure tourism trainings (e.g. seminars, courses, trips) should be given to locals. Local organizations should be launched for adventure tourism. Locals should be included in all relevant works and activities. It should be made sure that people in all institutions and organizations that steer and make money on tourism act with this consciousness. Importance should be attached to both public sector and private sector investments for adventure tourism sector to flourish. Non-governmental organizations, tourism operators and managers, and educators and academics interested in this field should come together, take the necessary actions, and pave the way for the current projects to be completed and put into practice as soon as possible. Adventure tourism in Hatay should be advertised and marketed nationally and internationally. To conclude, the sound and sustainable development of adventure tourism in Hatay is of importance for both Hatay’s economy and Turkey’s economy. In this sense, all concerned people and institutions should take on relevant tasks and responsibilities. | en_US |
