The effect of asylum seekers on tourists' destination choices: A study related to Turkey

The importance of tourism in the world economy has rapidly increased. Although recessions are experienced in many sectors in the world economy, tourism sector manages to sustain its importance on countries and regions' developments. However, demand toward destinations might be affected from wars, robbery cases, migration activities, political instability and crisis due to sector's fragile structure. Risks that are perceived by tourists who would like to go to destinations might cause them to change their destination choices, delay their vacation dates or cancel their vacations. Problems that are experienced in the countries located in the geography that covers also Turkey led millions of people to asylum in Turkey. The fact that any studies could not be found in national and international literature about the effect of asylum seekers in Turkey on tourism demands to Turkey played an important role on conducting this study. Firstly, a detailed literature review about the factors affecting individuals' destination choices was conducted to determine the study purpose. Later, scenarios were created to determine international tourism demand. After creating scenarios, the form that covered 8 demographic characteristics was applied to 412 people, who were not in Turkey and selected randomly, in form of Google. Doc and during March-April 2017. After the forms were transferred to SPSS 22.0 program, they were reported as conducting cross table analysis to determine percentage and frequency values of opinions belong to participants. According to research findings, it was determined that with effects of snobbism, asylum seekers did not have an effect on individuals who would make a destination choice; security problems that occurred because of asylum seekers did not have an important effect on destination choices of tourists who traveled for social discovery and adventure; the presence of asylum seekers negatively affected individuals who made destination choice to meet their physical needs; bargaining problem that occurred because of asylum seekers did not negatively affect tourists who would like to make an attractive destination choice in terms of shopping opportunities; environmental problems that occurred because of asylum seekers negatively affected individuals who would like to go to destinations which had natural historical and cultural beauties; discount campaigns and retention efforts that were made by destinations because of asylum seekers positively affected tourists' destination choices; and if asylum seekers left the destinations or they were transferred to camps in outside of touristic destinations or city centers, this condition would positively affect tourists' choices although any kinds of negative perceptions did not occur in tourists' destination images due to asylum seekers. Keywords: Turkey, Migration, Asylum Seeker, Destination, Destination Choice.