The evaluation of Turkish tourism within the context of the modern Silk Road Project

The Modern Silk Road Project, is a part of "One Belt One Road Project" led by China. China is willing to revive "The Historical Silk Road Project," which will have economic and political effects, with the nations influenced by it. The most powerful side of this project, which will have internationally economic and political impacts, is that its historical roots are robust. In this thesis, it was aimed to emphasize how important "The Modern Silk Road Project" is for Turkish tourism by focusing on the contribution of the Modern Silk Road project to Turkish tourism and the obstacles that may be encountered in this project. While analyzing the Modern Silk Road Project and its relationship with tourism, a comprehensive literature review of books, articles and journals on the Silk Road has been made. An evaluation was made on the economy and the policy axis starting from the historical development of the Historical Silk Road. From the past to the present, the Modern Silk Road Project has been evaluated in a way to cover the economy and policy axis. In the light of these evaluations, the study was narrowed on the basis of the 17 Silk Road economies which were limited in Tezer's 2016. While evaluating, numerical data were also used and these numerical data were interpreted. In this respect, descriptive analysis, which is the qualitative technic, was used as a method in the thesis study. Within the scope of the thesis, the relationship between Modern Silk Road project and Turkish tourism has been evaluated by using economic and political data. After all these data were evaluated, Turkish tourism was examined within the framework of Modern Silk Road Project by using SWOT-TFZG (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) and PEST (Political, Economic, Socio-cultural, Technological Aspects) analysis techniques. The findings suggest that the Modern Silk Road Project is an important project for Turkey and the Turkish tourism. Harmonization of tourism, economy and politics plays a key role in enhancing the positive impact of the Modern Silk Road Project on Turkish tourism. Turkish tourism is expected to increase the opportunities of the tourism market thanks to the Modern Silk Road Project. Key Words: The Historical Silk Road, One Belt One Road, 2023 Tourism Strategy Action Plan, SWOT, TOWS, PEST.