Evaluation of sustainability performance of hotels in Cappadocia region using multi-criteria decision making methods

7ABSTRACT MASTER'S THESIS EVALUATION OF SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE OF HOTELS IN CAPPADOCIA REGION USING MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION MAKING METHODS Ergin, ERHAN Department of Business Administration Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Ayşe TOPAL September 2024, 75 pages Tourism industry is considered as a rapidly rising industry both in our country's economy and in the world economy. Our country aims to increase its share of tourism revenues by increasing the number of tourists. In order to receive its rightful share of tourism revenues and to continue this success in line with this goal, it is important to focus more on the criteria that constitute the basis for sustainable tourism in regions that stand out in tourism. Considering the relationship between the tourism industry and the cultural, natural and physical environment, it is seen that the sustainability approach is an indispensable element. In this thesis, the Cappadocia region, which has an important position in both national tourism and world tourism, bearing the traces of important civilizations, historical texture, natural beauties and faith tourism, is discussed. It is important to minimize the negative effects of the rapidly increasing tourism activities in the Cappadocia region, to prevent environmental damage, to eliminate the problems arising from the tourism industry and to protect the local people and to develop regional trade. This study aims to evaluate the sustainability of hotels in the Cappadocia region by using MEREC, MACONT, COPRAS, MULTIMOORA and ARAS methods from multi-criteria decision-making methods. According to the results of the MEREC method used in weighting the criteria, the most important criterion was determined to be the number of trainings given to the personnel, while the least important criterion was determined to be accessibility. When the results obtained according to the Borda Counting technique as a result of the MACONT, COPRAS, MULTIMOORA and ARAS methods were examined, the best performing alternative was determined to be the EE8 coded alternative, while the least performing alternative was determined to be the EE4 coded alternative. Keywords: Multi-criteria decision making, Cappadocia, MACONT, MEREC, Sustainability, Tourism.