Adventure tourism: A study on adventure tour guidance components

The increase in living standards and changing consumer expectations, combined with Antalya's geographical and natural features, make the region an ideal destination for tourists looking for adventure tourism. In this context, in this study, the contribution of Antalya's geographical and cultural features to adventure tourism and the basic elements of adventure tour guidance were examined. In line with the purposive sampling method, experienced tourist guides in the field of adventure tourism were reached, and then the number of participants was increased with the snowball sampling method. Phenomenological design, one of the qualitative approaches, was used in the research; Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings were interpreted through descriptive analysis and presented in themes and codes The findings reveal that Antalya has a great potential in terms of adventure tourism, but this potential has not been adequately evaluated. Unlike other types of tourism, adventure tourism contributes to the local economy; It has been determined that adventure tour guidance requires professionalism and nature-based expertise. In addition, it was concluded that the guides adopted the profession as a lifestyle and that first aid knowledge and standard training were important. In this direction, it is assumed that this study will contribute to the development of Antalya as an adventure tourism destination and to increase the professional capacities of guides. Key Words: Adventure; Adventure Tourism; Adventure Tourist; Tour Guide