An empirical analysis of the impact of tourism on regional economic development

Increasing transportation and technological developments after the Second World War made the tourism industry one of the largest sectors in the world. Many countries are setting policies to get a bigger share of tourism, which has become a global industry in such a short time. Tourism, which enables investments without the need for large technology and infrastructure/superstructure investments, can be seen as one of the most important tools in the development of especially underdeveloped regions. The aim of this thesis is to determine the effect of the tourism sector on the development of the TRC Region, which is one of the least developed regions of Turkey in socio-economic terms, by econometric analysis. In the study, which was carried out using the panel data analysis method, data sets belonging to two periods were used. Five different models were created from the data sets of these two periods. According to the analysis results obtained; In all models created, it was concluded that the tourism variable had a positive and significant effect on five different dependent variables (LSAG, LIHR, LOK, LKULT, LKYIC). When the effect of per capita income on the dependent variables in the models is examined, it is concluded that it affects two variables (LSAG, LIHR) positively, both dependent variables (LOK, LKULT) negatively, and there is no significant effect on one variable (KYIC). It has been concluded that the tourism variable has a positive and significant effect on the dependent variables in the models in Gaziantep and Kilis provinces. Finally, suggestions are presented in terms of the data set and results of the research.