Evaluation of thermal tourism in line with sustainability goals: A research on Kuşadası thermal tourism

To ensure the sustainability of thermal tourism, which is considered a type of health tourism, it is essential to protect and maintain any thermal source without disruption, degradation, or burdening the main resources, while ensuring efficiency. The aim of sustainable thermal tourism is to minimize individuals' environmental impact and maximize benefits by protecting the environment. A review of the literature reveals that the issue of sustainability in thermal tourism has not been studied specifically in the case of Kuşadası, an important tourism destination. Given the sustainability of the thermal resources in Kuşadası and their impact on health tourism, it is expected that this research will be beneficial. The aim of this study is to examine the thermal tourism in Kuşadası in line with sustainability goals and provide recommendations for the future. To obtain accurate results and in-depth information, a qualitative research method will be used. The population of the research includes thermal tourism enterprises in Kuşadası offering various health services to international patients, local governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Since a qualitative research method will be employed, no sample size calculation has been made. It is planned to conduct semi-structured interviews with the managers of thermal tourism enterprises, local authorities (District Governor, Mayor), and NGO managers related to thermal tourism, after obtaining appointments. The sample size will be determined according to data saturation, ensuring sufficient participants to capture the richness and diversity of data on the sustainability of thermal tourism. In the selection of participants, criterion sampling, a type of purposive sampling, will be used. The data will be collected through semi-structured interviews with the managers of thermal tourism enterprises, local governments, and NGO managers. The interviews will be conducted face-to-face and recorded using an audio recording device to prevent data loss. Descriptive analysis, one of the qualitative analysis methods, will be used in the study. The purpose of this type of analysis is to present the findings in an organized and interpreted manner to the reader. The potential results expected from the research are to determine the extent to which sustainability goals are being followed in thermal tourism. It is also expected to identify the problems encountered while pursuing sustainability goals and propose solutions to these problems.