The effects of tourism on regional development: Ayder tourism region example

In this study, the spending behaviors of visitors coming to Fırtına Valley Ayder Tourism Region and their effects on regional economy and regional development were analyzed. For this purpose, a questionnaire was applied to local and foreign tourists visiting the area. In the questionnaire, it was tried to measure tourists' demographical features, income status, and other spending behaviors such as budget allocated for holiday, accommodation, food and beverage, shopping, souvenirs, daily activities and spa during the vacation. According to the results of the analysis, tourists' daily expenditure is averagely 202,65 TL, daily food and beverage expenditure is averagely 55,25 TL, other expenditures such as daily shopping/souvenirs, activities (zipline, rafting) and spa are averagely 53,85 TL, and their total daily expenditure amount is 311,75 TL on average. According to the Rize Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the number of tourists staying in Ayder Tourism Region was 244.296 in 2017. In other words, averagely 669,30 tourists visited the area per day. Accordingly, it was determined that the contribution of the tourists staying in the area to the regional economy or economically to regional development in 2017 is averagely 208.654,28 TL per day, 6.259.628,40 TL per month and 75.155.540,80 TL per year.