Development of Tourism in Bodrum, Essay Example

Introduction

Bodrum, Turkey offers an important and meaningful level of tourism for its visitors and for the local residents who work within this industry. It is important to identify the advantages and benefits of this locale for tourists and how it impacts the potential planning of vacationers throughout the world. Turkey is bordered by Syria, Iran, Iraq, and the Balkans, and the population of this nation is approximately 75 million residents (Bodrum.org, 2015). Turkey’s land mass is almost equivalent to that of the United Kingdom and France combined, and the area known as the Aegean region is largely fertile and possesses significant farming opportunities, including cotton, vegetables, olives, tobacco, grapes, oranges, and lemons, among others (Bodrum.org, 2015). This region is also comprised of three of the most prolific Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (Bodrum.org, 2015). Bodrum is located in proximity to the Bodrum Peninsula and near Kos, a Greek island (Bodrum.org, 2015). This area is highly attractive to tourists because of its picturesque coastline, ideal climate conditions, and close distance to many historical sites (Bodrum.org, 2015).

Bodrum is largely attractive to tourists from around the world because of its beautiful beaches and its other attractive characteristics. In addition, this area “has seen a boom in development catering to both party-hungry tourists and peace-seeking retirees. But with its hodgepodge of bright, bougainvillea-draped buildings, palm-fringed avenues, castle-dominated skyline, beautiful marina and some tasteful city planning, Bodrum has managed to preserve more of its old charm than other Turkish resort destinations” (Jackson, 2015). From this perspective, Bodrum is highly attractive within the tourism community because it provides its visitors with many different options, and these reflect the importance of understanding the environment within this region and why it is attractive to visitors (Jackson, 2015). It is important to identify some of the challenges facing this region and what is required to achieve the desired economic goals and objectives for the foreseeable future.

Within Bodrum, there are significant opportunities for the tourism industry to experience different types of growth and evolution. In 2013, a report was released by Deolitte which noted the following: “Turkey derives value from almost every sub-segment of tourism. It can provide a rich variety of options; from convention offerings to golf tourism; from mountain resorts and winter sports to halal tourism… The Turkish tourism industry has grown more than the global travel and tourism industry. The direct contribution of the travel and tourisms industry to the GDP has been TL 57.5 billion and the total number of international visitor arrivals was more than 31.5 million tourists” (P. 5). This information demonstrates that Turkey is in a highly competitive position to achieve greater growth and to be successful in its efforts to remain a popular tourist attraction for the foreseeable future (Deliotte, 2013). It is important to identify the specific factors that contribute to the success of the tourism industry in Turkey and specifically within Bodrum, and this is best evaluated through a greater focus on growth and development within this sector.

The continued development and growth of tourism in Bodrum also requires a number of areas of expansion in the coming years so that this growth is sustainable, and this is best achieved through an increased level of investment with respect to local accommodations to attract tourists to this area (Deloitte, 2013). As this area continues to grow in popularity, the number of hotels and other accommodations must also continue to grow at a high level in order to meet the needs and expectations of the economy and to be successful in retaining high tourism rates in the coming years (Deloitte, 2013). Therefore, the ability to meet the demand for accommodations must be aligned with the supply level that is available to local residents (Deloitte, 2013). From this perspective, it is important to demonstrate the value of these conditions and to be proactive in aiming towards specific goals and objectives that will improve outcomes for local residents, including greater economic security and stability for local workers who are employed by the tourism industry (Deloitte, 2013).

Within the fabric of the tourism industry, it is important to identify areas where there have been significant waves of growth that support the integration of historical offerings with modern tourism principles (Ecemis & Aydogan, 2009). However, challenges have also occurred with respect to the need for additional insight regarding the overall objectives of the tourism industry and what is required to meet expectations within the local community (Ecemis & Aydogan, 2009). From this perspective, it is important to note that there are significant opportunities to advance the principles of tourism while also developing a balance with the rich history that exists within the region (Ecemis & Aydogan, 2009). This is often very difficult to achieve in areas where tourism continues to grow because there is a much greater need for accommodations and other service offerings to support tourists who wish to visit areas such as Bodrum and take in the sites while they are there (Ecemis & Aydogan, 2009). This is very difficult to achieve because it requires a delicate balance to be drawn between the demand for accommodations and other alternatives to support tourism, but to also aim to preserve the land within the community that will provide much interest and enthusiasm for tourists (Ecemis & Aydogan, 2009). In order to effectively address both issues, the residents living in Bodrum must recognize the importance of tourism to the local economy, while also considering other factors that may have an impact on the community over the long term. It is important for the city to identify the benefits of tourism and how it has grown the community and its overall economic potential, as this will reflect the importance of new ideas to optimize the history that is present and also the space that is required to accommodate tourists as they arrive (Ecemis & Avodgan, 2009). This process is instrumental in evaluating how the tourism industry within Bodrum has achieved its level of success and what is required to ensure that this phenomenon continues for the foreseeable future (Ecemis & Avodgan, 2009).

Within this area, there are many different forces at work that have been largely instrumental in advancing the agenda of the community and in supporting a high degree of tourism; however, this also requires an effective understanding of what is available within the community and how to preserve it for as long as possible, particularly when it has a high degree of historical significance (Ecemis & Avodgan, 2009). The authors indicate that “the tourist increases the pressure on the delicate environment and may be seen as a threat to the continuity of the cultural and societal social unity. Yet, tourism is also an opportunity… while the development of tourism activities are encouraged in a historical settlement “the effects tourism may have on this settlement’s cultural heritage, cultural elements, activities and dynamics should be taken into account” (Ecemis & Avodgan, 2009, p. 88). From this perspective, it is evident that the ability to evaluate the characteristics of tourism to preserve the local environment is of critical importance; however, it is also evident that there are other factors that must be considered that will have a favorable impact on the local community, rather than dampen its progress to date (Ecemis & Avodgan, 2009).

Investigation

An evaluation of the tourism industry in Bodrum requires a detailed analysis of the different elements which convey the economic benefits of this industry, along with the development of other factors that raise questions regarding the economic stability of this industry for this area. This process requires a relative understanding of the different areas where tourism might be explored, using a research-based method in order to facilitate this process. It is important to identify the specific factors that will have an impact on patients and how this will reflect the importance of new objectives to meet the needs of this industry within Bodrum. An investigation is likely to be beneficial when it supports a qualitative approach to evaluation in order to determine how the tourism industry in Bodrum is realistically performing within the context of the community and the local economy.

Butler established a model that reflects the importance of how a resort may experience a period of growth as a result of the tourists who are likely to visit (BBC, 2015). This requires an examination of specific areas where development is likely to occur, such as the following: 1)exploration, whereby there is interest from a group of tourists who visit the facility; 2)involvement, whereby local residents begin to offer tourists facilities in which to reside while they are visiting; 3)development, whereby there is advertising to address the area that enables its expansion into a tourist destination; 4)consolidation, whereby tourism grows in scope and significance, but at a slower rate, and tourists may develop conflicts with each other; 5) stagnation, whereby some of the facilities that are available to tourists are no longer viable and the begin to show significant wear and tear; 6)rejuvenation, whereby there are likely to be outside investments that impact the area and to provide funding to improve the facilities and other locations; and 7)decline, whereby there is a continuous level of decline if there is no funding and support to rejuvenate the area (BBC, 2015). These stages are likely to have an impact on Budrum’s ability to perfect its tourism model and to remain as viable as possible over the long term.

It is also important to develop a strategy in which there is significant potential for growth within the tourism industry and to measure supply and demand by using a qualitative point of view. This process supports a need for “sustainable tourism,” whereby there are significant areas of potential that must be addressed more closely in order to identify patterns that may contribute to effective outcomes for the community (Brebbia & Pineda, 2006). In conducting a research study within this focus area, a number of criteria must be considered that will have an impact on the industry and the observations that are made, such as the following (Brebbia & Pineda, 2006):

• Number of tourist attractions that are available to visitors of Bodrum
• The number of available individual housing units
• The number of available housing units for groups and families
• The number of parcels of land that are available for development within Bodrum
• The most common type of land allocations directed at the community
• Resident perspectives regarding the influx of tourists into Bodrum on a regular basis
• Has the economy grown and thrived as a result of steady increases in tourism over the past decade?
• Is the proximity of Turkey to neighboring countries Syria, Iraq, and Iran a deterrent in achieving its level of success within the tourism industry?
• What are the opportunities that are available to improve the conditions within Bodrum to attract and retain tourists over the long term?
• How will Bodrum respond to the call to improve its visibility and safety to keep tourists interested in the city?

Each of these questions must be considered as part of a larger framework for the study in order to better identify how tourism in Bodrum has been successful in recent years. In addition, any challenges to this process must also be considered because they will have a lasting impact on the economics of tourism over time. At the same time, other issues must be discussed that will have a lasting impact on the community’s overall success in the tourism field and how it might be sustainable in the future.

Also, in spite of the popularity of this tourist attraction, it is inevitable that questions will be raised regarding its safety, given the country’s close proximity to Syria, Iran, and Iraq in the wake of terrorism. Although it appears as if these areas remain relatively safe, there is also a significant need to address the challenges and threats of violence within Turkey and any potential threats of terrorism within this area. In recent years, there has been increased discussions regarding Turkey in the news due to terrorist groups in neighboring countries; therefore, it is important to identify some of these issues and to determine if they could ultimately pose a threat to the overall level of tourism to Bodrum and in other parts of the country. Therefore, it is important to at least consider if the location of Turkey and its proximity to dangerous countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Iran has any implications for the local residents and for tourists who visit this area. As a result, these conditions may have an economic impact on the country in a significant way, particularly if there is a threat of a terrorist attack or an actual attack that occurs within the coming years. As a result, members of the tourism industry must at least focus on these efforts and aim to improve outcomes and their understanding of the dynamics of the nation and where it stands from a political perspective, as this is likely to have an impact on the tourism industry in some ways. This process is ongoing, but it requires local residents and tourists alike to recognize the value of conducting research ahead of time so that they are aware of any possible risks associated with travel to and from Turkey.

Conclusion

The tourism industry in Bodrum, Turkey continues to grow and thrive at a high level due to the idyllic conditions and historical value of its surroundings. This community has experienced an influx of tourism in recent years and has worked very hard to expand its accommodations and its ability to be successful in supporting the tourist population. However, this continues to pose a challenge in some ways, as historical sites are compromised in favor of new construction to build hotels and other accommodations for tourists. Bodrum is not unique in this process, but it requires a delicate balance between the utilization of resources and the preservation of existing locations. Therefore, this process requires additional research in order to determine the long-term economic viability of Bodrum and how it is likely to perform in the future and how it will contribute to Turkey’s economy in the coming years.

The challenges of Bodrum as a tourist attraction must be addressed in order to fully understand the concepts related to the tourism industry and what has driven its growth to date. At the same time, any possible threats of terrorism within the country could ultimately impact how Turkey performs with its tourism focus in the coming years; as a result, these concepts must also be considered when addressing how to sustain growth within this industry over time that will have a lasting impact on the nation and on the city. This will ensure that experts are sufficiently prepared to manage the needs of the industry and to exercise flexibility as necessary to meet expectations and to be successful in promoting an effective response to tourism as it moves forward into the future. Butler’s model serves as a reminder of the potential of this tourist area to experience specific phases that will demonstrate its ability to impact local residents and to attract tourists to local areas without difficulty. However, this model also demonstrates that there is a likelihood that the area will go through specific phases that will impact its overall potential for sustainability over the long term, thereby increasing the need for additional resources to accommodate the area and its people, as well as the tourists that are likely to visit the area over time.

References

BBC.co.uk (2015). Tourism in the UK. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/tourism/tourism_uk_rev1.shtml

Bodrum.org (2015). Where is Bodrum? Retrieved from http://www.bodrum.org/listingview.php?listingID=2

Brebbia, C.A., & Pineda, F.D. (2006). Sustainable Tourism II. WIT Press.

Deloitte (2013). Travel & Tourism. Retrieved from http://www.invest.gov.tr/pt-PT/infocenter/publications/Documents/TOURISM-INDUSTRY.pdf

Ecemis, S., & Aydogan, M. (2009). Mass tourism effects on a coastal historical town: Bodrum case (Turkey). Ege Cografya Dergisi, 18(1-2), 85-103.

Jackson, A. (2015). Bodrum Turkey tourism. Retrieved from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/bodrum-turkey-tourism-20901.html