1、 中文 2863 字 外文翻译 Assessment of Rural Tourism in Turkey Using SWOT Analysis Material Source: Journal of Applie Sciences Author: Hasan Akca INTRODUCTION Turkey is a country situated at cross roads of three continents: Asia, Europe and Africa. It occupies some 780 thousand km2 of land and is surrounded
2、by 8000 km of coastline. According to the results of 2000 population census, the population of the country is 67 803 927. Nearly 35% of the country population lives in rural areas. The number of villages is nearly 37 thousand and about two-thirds of them have populations below 500. Besides, one-thir
3、ds of rural dwellers live in the villages located within and adjacent to the forests. The need to redress regional imbalances and to improve income distribution among various sections of society is engaging the attention of policy makers. The creation of employment, the improvement of rural living s
4、tandards and the reversal of the trend towards migration of rural populations to urban areas are some of the main objectives of Turkish governments rural development policies (Muthoo and Onul, 1996) At the beginning of 1990s, Turkey has decided to diversify tourism in order to compete with western c
5、ountries. The basic philosophy of new tourism concept of Turkey can be summarized as tourism activity in four seasons, throughout the country and evaluating cultural, historical, environmental potential of the country. In this context, Turkey is working on two types of alternative tourism. The first
6、 type includes botanical, air balloon, water-related, thermal and health, physical recreation, religious and cultural tourism. The second type, closely related to the first, includes camping and caravan, bird watching (ornithology), winter sports, hunting (sportive fishing and wild animals) and golf
7、 tourism (Pirnar, 1996； Tavmergen and Oral, 1999). Northern and Central Anatolian actors are busy promoting rural and highland holidays, soft tourism activities like rafting, trekking and caving while local partners along the Southern coast are busy developing mass tourism activities (Goymen, 2000).
8、 Rural tourism is at the introduction stage of tourism product life cycle since it is a new activity in Turkey. Therefore, the number of research dealing with rural tourism is limited. And also there is a difficulty in gathering and disseminating data. In order to look the future clearly and make ac
9、curate policies drawing the whole picture of rural tourism in Turkey is very important. In this context, the aim of the study is to evaluate current constraints for and future possibilities of rural tourism sector point of view of conservation of natural, historical and cultural values, sustainable
10、rural development and integrating tourism, agricultural and rural development policies of Turkey with those of the EU. THE CONCEPT OF RURAT, TOURISM Rural tourism is a multi-faceted activity: It is not just farm-based tourism. It includes farm-based holidays but also comprises special interest natur
11、e holidays and eco-tourism, walking, climbing and riding holidays, adventure, sport and health tourism, hunting and angling, educational travel, arts and heritage tourism and, in some areas ethnic tourism (Bram well and Lane, 1994) Lack of studies on rural tourism is compounded further by the absenc
12、e of a commonly accepted definition as to what constitutes rural tourism. Sometimes rural tourism is equated with farm tourism (Oppermann, 1996) .Some authors include outdoor recreation and tourism in National Parks and wilderness areas into rural tourism (Ladki, 1993； Owens, 1984)； But Dernoi (1991
13、)excludes them. On the other hand, Pearce (1990) discusses second homes in the context of rural tourism. RURAL TOURISM ACTIVITIES IN TURKEY In recent years local governors and NGOs throughout the country have been trying to benefit from rural tourism via supplying all historical, natural, culture la
14、nd religious values in both domestic and foreign tourism markets. Some of the activities are summarized as follows: Urged municipality has decided to apply a project aiming at introduction of rural life in the Cappadocia region. Total budget of the project is 50 million dollars and it will be organi
15、zed by Magic Life International. In the context of project, both domestic and foreign visitors will attend village wedding ceremonies, cook traditional rural meals, milking cows and sheep. In the Valley of Kizilcukur, located in the district of Ortahisar, Nevsehir province local governor is organize
16、d a tour for tourist to see the sun. Because this area is a good place where the sun rises and sets best in the world. Every year nearly 30,000 tourists visit the place paying nearly $1.5 per day. Camel wrestling is organized in many villages and counties of Mediterranean, Marmara and Egean regions
17、during winter season. In the last two years, soap opera were made in rural areas of Turkey. In addition, Turkish films named Sun Shines from the East, Taste at the Summits and Heads or Tails were made in Cappadocia. Therefore, many people go to villages mentioned above to see actors and actress. Vis
18、it historical places and live nostalgia. In recent years some tourism agencies have organized tours covering the route of Silk Road. Some rural people who were trained by professionals joint paralyzing activity in rural areas of Arizonian and Mugla provinces. There are some private organizations sup
19、plying rural tourism service in Southwest part of Turkey. One of them is HUZUR VADISI. It is a holiday retreat, which offers yoga, holistic and walking holidays and alternative therapies at a beautiful traditional restored farmstead in a secluded mountain valley on Fisheye coast. Tourists are accomm
20、odated in comfortable nomadic yurts, a special highlight of the holiday. Another professional rural tourism activity is organized by TOHUM presents an opportunity to visit and live in traditional villages, organic farming, folk dancing and other activities. Black Sea Region of Turkey is suitable for
21、 ecotourism and plateau tourism. In the context of rural tourism projects, some local governors are establishing or restoring wooden cottages in the highlands to accommodate tourists. During the holiday visitors have an opportunity breathing fresh air, eating traditional meals and sightseeing the ex
22、otic flora and fauna. MATERIALS AND METHODS SWOT analysis technique was used in order to explain current constraints and future possibilities of rural tourism in Turkey. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A SWOT analysis is essentially a brainstorming session on the ke
23、y variables that affect a firms/sectors performance (Hendricks, 1999； Huber et al.1999). In the study following methods were used in order to collect data: i) thorough out the year 2004, all TV programs showed in 20 TV channels related to tourism, rural life, cultural activity, mountain, etc were watched, ii)10 provinces and their
