A Qualitative Comparative Study of Tourism Planning Process in North Cyprus and Slovenia

Sustainability concept has become the most used paradigm in tourism and development. Now-a-days, tourism sector strategies are embedding sustainable planning as an objective as well as a process. This concept has also captured by numerous institutions and organizations in the context of EU’s planning and development guidelines. Tourism is also a significant economic sector in both Slovenia and North Cyprus with tremendous implications socially, culturally and environmentally. Therefore, it is necessary that long-term plans are envisaged and active involvement of stakeholders are facilitated in a meaningful way. This study aims to investigate and analyse the trajectories of tourism planning and development in the context of sustainability framework in both economies through a comparative research framework. For this purpose, qualitative research method has been utilized based on semi-structured interviews with relevant informants. Data analysis is conducted based on the canons of qualitative and comparative research. Further to this, the study aims to explore the extent of sustainable principles that are practiced and adhered to in the processes of tourism planning and development in both economies. Therefore, behaviour of institutions is also revealed by this study. The findings revealed that there are shortcomings in both economies in terms of involving stakeholders in the process of planning and policy making at the local levels. Furthermore, the study revealed that the concept of sustainability, as an organic part of tourism planning process, not only it should focus on economic issues, but also it should address the social, cultural, environmental as well as quality of life aspects, especially at the local levels (Woo et al. 2015). The study has also revealed that an active and dynamic tourism mater plan is prepared and implemented in the case of Slovenia; however, this significant undertaking is lacking in the case of North Cyprus. Keywords: Tourism planning, sustainability, sustainable tourism, comparative study, cases of Slovenia and North Cyprus.