Impacts of Educational Tourism on Host Population: A Case of Famagusta, North Cyprus

ABSTRACT: The aim of the thesis is to determine the socio-cultural, economic and environmental effects of the students of EMU on the local people of Famagusta in North Cyprus. This study examines how local people’s point of view on educational tourism and how their lifestyle were influenced when the educational tourism started in Famagusta. The qualitative approach was used in order to obtain the necessary information. Data were collected through in-depth interviews from the viewpoint of local people. The respondents were local people of Famagusta city of North Cyprus. According to data collected, there were positive and negative influences of educational tourism in terms of socio-cultural, economic and environmental effects on the local community of Famagusta. The proliferation of income, performance in service sectors, job opportunities and improvement of construction sector were the economic positive influences observed from the data. In addition, the results of gathered from the interviewers demonstrated that the educational tourism in Famagusta led to the increase of prices in general. The results of data also showed that educational tourism caused to changes in family values, disruption of social bonds, and increase in alcohol and drug consumption/ selling, opening of bet offices, increase of traffic accidents, theft incidents and changes of the community’s style of eating, drinking and clothing. Educational tourism also led to environmental problems such as an increase of traffic jams, unplanned construction and infrastructure, water, electricity problems, air and noise pollution. The study concluded that although host population perceived many socio-cultural, environmental and some economic problems with educational tourism development in their community, overall they were happy about the economic benefits it brought to their community and thus about the development of educational tourism in general. Keywords: EMU,Educational tourism, socio-cultural, economic, environmental, effects, perception of host population, North Cyprus, Famagusta. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………