Study of how the use of geothermal resources affects health tourism in Aydın

The study presented in this thesis has several aims, such as to evaluate the status of geothermal-dependent health tourism in Aydin province and examine its contribution to the national economy; to explain the status and development of the existing thermal tourism facilities; to compare thermal health facilities from other countries as to use this information for the improvement and construction of new facilities in Aydin; and finally, to create suggestions about what can be done to improve the thermal health tourism potential in Aydin province. This study made use of an interview method wherein five geothermal power plants, 5 geothermal related health facilities, public institutions and organizations, all from Aydin province, participated. According to the findings of the study, the integration of geothermal resources with health tourism can achieve good results in Aydin province. However, there is a clear need to improve and develop the necessary infrastructural facilities Moreover, changes and adaptation of current regulations in the legislation together with better international communication, promotion, and marketing as well as more efficient training and education of a multilingual staff in order to increase the level of service , are all issues that have to be resolved. Also better research and reporting on the environmental and ecological impact of geothermal energy use, is needed. Large –scale feasibility plan and action reports should be presented by the thermal energy plants as part of their investment planning. Geothermal resources in Aydın province match 70 percent of the total electricity production from geothermal energy in Turkey. This rich resource should be used for health tourism too. After all, thermal water as a basis for health was already used during ancient times in a city called Trallies and now, in modern day Turkey, we should present the world a modern thermal city, called Aydin.