Faith in regional development the importance of tourism: Van example

This study aims to identify the potential of faith tourism in Van province and examine its contributions to regional development in terms of sustainability. A comprehensive field study was conducted in Van using qualitative research methods. The sample of the study consists of tourism agency representatives and tourism-certified hotel managers/owners. In-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 10 participants selected through purposive sampling. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis, revealing themes such as economic impacts, social and cultural impacts, and infrastructure and promotional needs. The findings indicate that Van province has a rich potential for faith tourism, which, if effectively utilized, can significantly contribute to the region's economic, social, and cultural development. Additionally, the study identifies the need to address issues such as infrastructure deficiencies and insufficient promotion. The results demonstrate that faith tourism can be a tool to support sustainable development in Van province.