The impact of foreign trade policies on tourism management: Challenges and solutions

The purpose of this study is to examine the economic and structural effects of foreign trade policies on the tourism sector in Turkey and to reveal the strategic role of tourism within the dynamics of foreign trade. With the increasing global movement of goods and services, tourism has evolved into a significant source of foreign exchange rather than merely a travel activity, thereby supporting the overall performance of foreign trade. Considering Turkey's economic structure, the tourism sector contributes substantially to growth, employment, foreign currency inflows, and regional development, making the analysis of foreign trade policies essential for understanding sectoral performance. The research employs a quantitative methodology and utilizes official data covering the period between 2010 and 2024. The data set was analyzed using SPSS, and descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression techniques were applied to examine the relationships between tourism revenues and foreign trade indicators. Key variables in the analysis include the exchange rate, export volume, import volume, and incentive mechanisms. The findings indicate that increases in export volume positively influence tourism revenues, while rises in the exchange rate stimulate tourist demand in the short term but create cost pressures on tourism enterprises in the long run due to their dependence on imported inputs. The growth of import volume, particularly in sectors such as energy, food, and equipment—where import dependency is high—raises operational costs and reduces profitability in the tourism industry. In contrast, investment and incentive policies support capacity expansion, service quality improvements, and competitiveness within the sector. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that there is a reciprocal and dynamic interaction between foreign trade policies and the tourism sector in Turkey. Therefore, aligning tourism policies with sustainable foreign trade strategies is essential for achieving long-term sectoral growth and contributing to macroeconomic stability.