Analysis of sustainable tourism performances of accommodation companies with respect to global sustainable tourism criteria: A study on Alanya

Tourism sector has continuously been a rapidly growing part of the world economy. Sustainability principles that have been used in global development strategies have also been adapted to tourism sector in time. Increasing competition has forced the sector, especially the accommodation companies to use sustainable tourism principles more and more. Sustainable tourism approach has focus on main areas like environment, economic development, social values and cultural resources. Sustainable tourism aims to minimize the negative effects of tourism on the environment, to protect the social and cultural identity of local people, and to increase the well-being of all stakeholders of the tourism industry and the country in general. Main idea behind this approach is to pass on to future generations the world heritage without depleting them. Especially in the last few years, accommodation companies have realized the opportunity of applying sustainable tourism practices in a way of reducing costs and gaining competitive advantage. Tourism companies, mainly hotels have been adapting to sustainable tourism principles by applying to a variety of certification systems worldwide. There are more than a hundred certification standards in the world about sustainable tourism. Alanya is one of the most important destinations of the Mediterranean, which accounts for one third of the world tourism arrivals and revenues. Accommodation companies in Alanya have also been trying to increase their compliance with sustainable tourism standards. In this thesis study, sustainable tourism performances of the accommodation companies in Alanya have been analyzed using the criteria of Global Sustainable Tourism Council, who prepared a scale by unifying all the certification items in the world. With decreasing tourist spending and increasing environmental concerns, accommodation companies need to focus more on sustainable tourism practices in order to keep and further increase Turkey?s share in the highly competitive Mediterranean and also generally in the world tourism market.