Cross-border economic mobility: Impacts of Greek and Bulgarian visitors in Edirne

Cross-border mobility refers to processes that support regional development as international socio-economic collaborations between neighboring border towns. Foreign visitors directly impact border towns, particularly through "shopping tourism," creating demand in various sectors, revitalizing local and national economies. Cross-border mobility can increase economic development depending on the depth of relations between countries. Edirne is the third city in Turkey that receives the most foreign visitors. Its location, particularly with the border gates to Greece and Bulgaria, along with its accessibility to Europe, has made it more economically attractive for foreign visitors following developments in exchange rates in Turkey. Additionally, its historical and cultural richness has turned Edirne into a magnet for Greek and Bulgarian tourists. The primary objective of the study is to investigate whether cross-border collaborations can serve as an alternative development strategy for Turkey's border regions, using the Edirne border city experience as a case study. In this context, the study aims to analyze the economic impacts of cross-border mobility experienced in Edirne, focusing on Greek and Bulgarian visitors. In the study, annual data from the period 2005-2022 were used, and causality tests were applied using the ARDL boundary testing approach. The long-term and short-term relationships between Edirne's per capita gross domestic product and the variables of Greek and Bulgarian visitor numbers, the number of foreigners staying in tourism-licensed accommodation facilities, and the number of foreigners staying in municipality-licensed accommodation facilities were tested. The findings indicate that the number of Greek and Bulgarian visitors entering Edirne and the number of foreigners staying in tourismlicensed accommodation facilities have a positive impact on the Edirne economy in both the short and long term. As a result of the study, it is possible to state that crossborder mobility creates positive economic interactions for Edirne and provides development-oriented contributions