The applicability of the all-inclusive system in the covid 19 pandemic process and its effect on the competitiveness of sports organizations: The Case of Antalya

This research aims to reveal the applicability of the all-inclusive system within the scope of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on accommodation businesses, which is used for service delivery in mass tourism destinations, during the pandemic, the problems faced by hotel businesses while implementing this system and the benefits they have obtained, whether having invested in sports tourism is an element of resistance during the pandemic process and its effect on competitiveness. Since the research focuses on obtaining in-depth information, the primary data needed by the phenomenological perspective approach of the qualitative research design were collected through semi-structured interview forms. For the purpose of the research, the universe consists of corporate and chain hotels with five-star hotel concept where all-inclusive system is applied in Antalya region, which is an important mass tourism destination of Turkey, and where there are additional facilities where national and international sports organisations are carried out. The sample group of the research consists of 14 hotel facility managers who are employed in corporate and chain hotels with five-star hotel concept in Belek and Kemer region, where national and international sports organisations are carried out, who accept the interview offer and allow audio and video recording to be made. In this context, in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 different accommodation facility managers. The data collected in the research were transcribed using Microsoft Word. The interview data transferred to transcription forms were systematised and analysed using Maxqda 2020 (20.2.2). The results of the research showed that many problems were experienced during the implementation of the all-inclusive system during the pandemic process, and both the unorthodox service provided by hotel employees and the differences of tourists receiving unorthodox service were determined as the main source of these problems. In addition, the hygiene measures taken were met with dissatisfaction in terms of both employees and tourists in areas where tourists receive intensive service, especially in open buffet applications. In addition, hotel establishments that are orientated towards sports tourism with additional facility and infrastructure investments have increased their competitiveness by gaining an advantageous position both at the operational level and at the level of tourist satisfaction. As a result, the importance of orientation towards sports tourism with product and service diversification in accommodation establishments and its effect on competitiveness have been revealed. In addition, the most important advantage for hotel businesses integrated into the all-inclusive system with the pandemic is the decrease in waste and digitalisation have been the issues that hotel business managers frequently emphasise for the new normal period. Keywords: Antalya, COVID-19 Pandemic, All Inclusive System, Sports Tourism, Competitiveness.