Theses supervised by İlkay Yorgancı
10 theses · Eastern Mediterranean University
Economic Impacts of Educational Tourism on Host Community. A Comparative Study in Famagusta and Lefke, North Cyprus
Educational Tourism plays an important role in the lives of host community. There are three types of impacts which affect their lives. Such as: economic, socio-cultural and environmental. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the hosts' perceptions on Educational Tourism development and to achieve broadened perspective of Edu - Tourism on economical concern of the host community of two regions of North Cyprus – Famagusta and Lefke. By comparing these two locations and level of impacts in each of them we will gather in-depth data which will help us to understand the path in which “younger” destination – Lefke will develop in future for educational tourism. To measure the impacts of Educational Tourism in Famagusta and Lefke, North Cyprus, data was collected from 24 host residents who lives in these regions. So, the sampling of our study was local people from different regions of Famagusta and Lefke, North Cyprus who lived there for more than 20 years, because in our opinion, those people are the ones who noticed the effects of development of educational tourism better than those who lived here smaller period of time. Qualitative data collection was used to collect the information via semi-structured interviews and face-to-face interactions with locals. The findings of our study revealed that most of the respondents benefit from Educational tourism development, although there are some negative impacts that were mentioned by interviewees. Most of the findings of this study are supported by the results of previous studies which were mentioned in literature part of the research. Keywords: Educational tourism, Economic impacts, Famagusta, Lefke, Northern Cyprus, Resident attitudes, EMU, EUL
Perceptions of Host Community on the Impacts of Mega-Sport Tourism in Russia
Nowadays tourism is one of the continuously growing industries in many countries. In many countries, the tourism industry is on a par with agriculture, health, mining and education, notably the role of tourism in creating large numbers of new jobs. Undoubtedly tourism is able to develop not only the economy of the countries, but also affects social and cultural life of the people and of course on the environment. The Russian Federation, despite its high potential, is still very modest place in the global tourism market, but tourism, especially sporting events is raising the bar. The last Olympic games in Sochi in 2014, and future Confederations Cup 2017 and world Cup 2018 increases attention to tourism and make a great contribution to the development of the industry. In this study, it is been proposed to consider how Russian citizens perceive the hosting of sports mega-events, on example of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and FIFA World Cup Russia™ 2018 and what impacts it brings along. Keywords: Mega-event tourism, Sport tourism, FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017, 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, Economic impact, Socio-Cultural impact, Environment impact.
Exploring the Influence of Translocation Factors on International Students’ Well-being
Un-dubiously, the pivot of human performance has been established based on a healthy lifestyle and general well- being. Plenty of studies have argued the involvement of different factors that can manipulate a healthy lifestyle. Between all these factors, translocation stressors have been singled out, addressed in depth among immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, nomadic native people, newly translocated individuals and migrating ethnic groups. On the contrary, the impact of this phenomenon has not been exhausted in-depth, on the most vulnerable nomadic population, “international students” as they temporarily dwell overseas. In this particular study, a healthy lifestyle was measured by diet, sleep and lack of stress. We presumed that stress due to translocation, specifically acculturative stressors can tamper with sleep patterns and a healthy lifestyle of international students, who were studying master of tourism management at Eastern Mediterranean University, located in North Cyprus. In this study, both genders, different ages (mean of 25), different communities such as: Africans (Nigerians, Moroccans), Middle Easterners (Iranians), Asians (Tajiks, Jordanians, Pakistanis, Turkmen, and plantains) and Europe (Russians) were taken into equation. In order to attain the purpose of this study, data compiled via an inductive approach (self-administered interview). Participants approached through email or their personal contact numbers to attend in either one o’ one or group interviewees in order to establish a transparent picture on the translocation stressors which could create emotional stress for the subject in the novel environment. In conclusion, among all the introduced stressors, financial impediments and language barrier [academic/host community] were highlighted as chief stressors, which reinforced the results of previous studies over physiological and psychological impact on the sleep cycle, nutritional behavior and further down the road, well-being of international students. Keywords: International students, Dietary patterns, Sleep cycle, Healthy life-style, Acculturative stress, Translocation stress, Emotional regulation strategy
Diaspora Tourism: Perspective of Cameroonians living in Famagusta
This research investigated the reasons why Famagusta based Cameroonians visit their country of origin, dwelling on their motives for traveling, how it feels in their homeland relative to their residing country. This research employed a qualitative technique to analyze its data via an interview guide of open-ended questions with 15 interviewees. Interpretation of data from the interviews showed that the key reasons for diaspora tourists to travel home were mainly visiting friends and family, spending time with loved ones, at festivals or on vacations. There were different reasons for respondents to immigrate to the TRNC, ranging from educational, economic, greener pastures, transit and marriage. The Cameroonian diaspora also bring goods and presents from abroad to deliver in Cameroon to loved ones, carry stuff from Cameroon to bring to the TRNC. The results of the study showed that diasporic tourism is indeed a process by which people should be able to better their lives in their residing country with the lives of their relatives home, notably by sending remittances. Keywords: Diaspora tourism, Diaspora, Tourism.
The Incivility of Customers towards Workers in the Casino Industry
The aim of this topic was to examine and bring to light the issue of customer incivility in the casino industry, the impacts on its workers- emotionally, behaviorally, health wise etc. and the handling of these situations by the management. The aim was to find the impacts on the behaviors of the staff, effects on job satisfaction and staff performance, human resources/managerial practices towards its staff, impacts on the health, impacts of incivility in relation to important workplace outcomes and withdrawal behaviors. I used the qualitative research approach to collect data through semi-unstructured face to face interviews recorded and hand written, interviewing 28 staffs from few casinos working in various departments. The respondents were mostly students of different nationalities. In this study it was found that the issue of customer incivility in the casino is severe and boils down to money. The character and the way the staff were treated by the customer, was dependents on their mood in relation to the game. In general, if they are wining, they are in their best behavior and when losing they are in their worst behavior. But most of the time they are described as being rude and aggressive. Another finding was the issue of management intervention and human resource practices in the casino. It was found that the management system is customer oriented and does not handle uncivil moment rightly, since customers act in disrespectful ways to the staff which make them feel unvalued by the organization. Moreover, it was unearthed that the casino management also failed in giving adequate training and emotional support to the staff. Therefore, to conclude, in this study as a researcher I noticed that the issue of incivility in the casino environment can only be managed by proper management intervention and good human resource practices. Keywords: customer incivility, uncivil actions, management intervention, impacts.
Social and Culture Impacts of Educational Tourism on the Local Community: Case Study of Famagusta
Background: This book is aimed at examining and analyzing the impacts of educational tourism on the local community of Famagusta North Cyprus both positive and negative through cultural and social interactions between the host community of Famagusta and International students. Educational tourism is a means to empower educational communities, host communities, local entrepreneurs, and to enhance economic prosperity. Method: Using qualitative analysis of interviews with residents and the international students. Interviews were carried out in April, 2020. For this study, Older Cypriot community members aged between 25-50 were purposely selected to clearly portray disparities by those who have more direct contacts with international students. Qualitative methodology was chosen as the method of this research in order to provide reliable and meaningful knowledge on the area of research. Data were collected from 12 host community members and 27 international students of Famagusta, North Cyprus. Results: Findings revealed the existence of a lacking interaction between local and international students on social and cultural effects (both positive and negative) of educational tourism. Conclusion: As a result, this study unfolds certain barriers like language barriers and as an educational community hosting student from many countries around the world, there seems to be a hinderance with interaction with international students and also certain factors that motivates the social and cultural interactions and impacts on the local community members. The findings propose new insights into language as a barrier and social and cultural interactions of educational tourism. The results of this study present practical information on sustainable educational programs for both the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Tourism. Results also showcased how important educational tourism is for the city of Famagusta, Cyprus. The implications of this study provide new insights into future researches by highlighting this current challenge. Keywords: Educational Tourism, Host-Guest Interaction Social Interaction, Cultural Interaction.
Factors and Motivators Determining Medical Tourism inflow and Perceptions of Medical Tourists in Famagusta, North Cyprus
This study aims to explore the motives of medical tourism, its components and how it is being implemented within the tourism industry. Using specific countries as examples, the study will gauge how these benefit, as well as highlight the ethical concerns that may exist due to its prevalence. Furthermore, this research will focus on the influential factors affecting foreign patient behaviour within North Cyprus. Main components of medical tourism will be explained, analysed as well as rationalized, with the help of available literature, articles, academic journals and other relevant sources, which are to be used for argumentative support. The research will make use of quantitative research methods via questionnaires collected specifically from 100 foreign patients within a dental clinic in Famagusta, Cyprus as well as 5 months of personal observation within the clinic atmosphere. This topic of study will help the researchers in discovering the influences of medical tourism marketing and techniques by focusing on analysing medical patient perceptions. As well as finding main factors of medical patient motivations, it will also seek to highlight possible strategies to improve and maintain patient inflow. Keywords: Medical tourism, Health tourism, Medical tourist motivators, Medical tourist perceptions, North CypruS
Impacts of Educational Tourism on Local Community: The Case of Gazimagusa, North Cyprus.
This study examined the impacts of educational tourism on the local community of Gazimagusa, North Cyprus through the cultural exchange that took place between local and international students. The study used an inductive approach in order to achieve a qualitative understanding of the research area. Semi-structured interviews with Turkish Cypriot students supplied valuable information about the experiences, beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and perspectives of the local students.The findings demonstrate that local students were strongly affected by the cultural exchange that took place between themselves and international students.Educational tourism impacted on social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects of the local community.The findings also demonstrated that local students were very positive about the presence of international students in their community.
Socio-Cultural Impacts of Educational Tourism on the Residents of Famagusta
Apart from palpable and potent effects of the tourism on the economy and the physical environment, it can be contributed to the socio-cultural vicissitudes in the host communities. Educational tourism as one of the most influential segments of tourism both from the economic and socio-cultural standpoints has an accelerating pace of development in the whole globe. Previous studies mostly have focused on the economic impacts of educational tourism and slightly have gone through the social and cultural impacts of the issue whereas; the present study aimed at scrutinizing the feasible social and cultural efficacies of educational tourism on the indigenous habitants of Famagusta city located in Northern Cyprus. In order to collect the related data, the qualitative research method was applied and unstructured interviews were employed through which the indispensable and paramount testimonies were acquired fastidiously. Data analysis revealed that Educational tourists are the mainstream of economic source as well as the major characterizing factor of the nature of the positive or negative social, cultural and environmental impacts in Famagusta city. The presence of educational tourists completely has changed the quality of life in Famagusta which is perceived positively by the locals. Enhancement of social activities, rejuvenating of traditions, increase of public facilities, increase of general knowledge of the habitants, enhancing the image of the TRNC is some of the positive aspects of the educational tourist impacts and on the opposite side decrease of the social ethics, commercializing of the culture, increase of the crime rate, drug use and sexual harassment are some of the negative aspects of this phenomena in Famagusta indigenous. Keywords: Educational Tourism, Socio-Cultural impacts, Host Community, Famagusta, TRNC
Host Response to Development of Sports Tourism in Kazan, the Republic of Tatarstan
Sports tourism as one of the fastest developing segments of the tourism industry has the potential to bring noticeable social, economic and environmental impacts to the hosting destinations. This thesis examined the percieved impacts of sports tourism and mega-sports events on the residents of Kazan in the Republic of Tatarstan. The study used a qualitative approach to achieve a detailed study of the research area. The data for this research was obtained through semi-structured interviews with 32 residents who were selected through purposeful sampling and interviewed in detail. Data was analysed through thematic analysis. The analysis of the host response to sports tourism in Kazan showed that the locals believed that there were both positive and negative impacts of sports tourism and mega sporting events in the area. Further, the results show that even though there were negative impacts of tourism, the host communities’ overall perception of the impacts of tourism were more positive that negative. Thus, the local community believed that positive impacts were greater than negative impacts. The main conclusion drawn is that, since the host population believed that sports tourism development brought more benefits than costs to the community, then they were in support of the further development of sports tourism in their community. Social exchange theory has established the theoretical basis for many studies looking at the host’s response to tourism as was the case in this study. Keywords: Sports Tourism, Sporting Mega-event, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, FIFA World Cup, Universiade, Russian Federation, Residents Perception, Economic Impacts, Social Impacts