Regional development with tourism: Perspective of the local people of Siirt province

ABSTRACT MASTER'S THESIS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH TOURISM: PERSPECTIVE OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE OF SIIRT PROVINCE Ramazan DESTAN 2025/Page: XV + 213 This thesis aims to examine the impact of tourism on regional development within the framework of Siirt province from the perspective of the local people. Through a literature review, the theoretical relationships between tourism and development have been revealed, and region-specific examples are addressed in this context. The thesis focuses on the perceptions, expectations, and social, economic, and environmental impacts of tourism on the local population in Siirt. The research reached 394 participants through an online survey, which consisted of 68 questions. The survey deeply explored the local community's attitudes towards tourism, their levels of participation, and their views on the relationship between tourism and regional development. The survey questions were designed around themes such as income, welfare, development, economy, tourism, infrastructure, quality of life, education, health, transportation, natural habitats, and accommodation, along with demographic information. These questions are adapted from the World Bank's 2023 resources. Hypotheses were developed based on the obtained data and analyzed using statistical methods such as the Z-test and Chi-Square test. The theoretical foundations of the hypotheses are supported by literature sources. As a result of the tested hypotheses, it is determined that tourism has not a positive effect on regional development variables according to the majority of the public in a statistically significant way. This study aims to contribute to a sustainable development model in Siirt province. In the light of the findings obtained, the thesis can be a source for re-evaluating the place of tourism in regional development strategies. Keywords: Regional Development, Tourism, Siirt, Local People