Tourism in Inegol with regard to tourism geograhy

The aim of this study is to examine İnegöl in terms of tourism geography, to present its problems related to tourism and to develop solutions for those issues by focusing on İnegöl's physical and human environment characteristics. İnegöl district, which constitutes the borders of our study, creates potential for various alternative tourism opportunities. Tourism, which has been overshadowed of industrial and agricultural activities for many years, has started to develop since 2014, and İnegöl's tourism potential has been introduced by development agencies for a long time. It has been seen that the district has attracted a considerable number of domestic and foreign tourists through spa and shopping tourism. The district includes waterfalls, canyons, tablelands and architectural structures belong to 19th century, mosques, social complexes, museums belong to early period of Ottoman architecture, it hosts commemorative ceremonies and international culture festival. Among other features which enable to attract tourist, İnegöl embodies two cultural routes that take place in construction site (Evliya Çelebi Way and Eurasian Road). In this direction, a detailed literature review has been fulfilled and field studies were carried out at different time intervals. İnegöl's prevailing climate conditions are evaluated in accordance with the bioclimatic comfort conditions, its tourism potential is stated numerically with regard to tourist attractiveness index, the most appropriate area for natural tourism activities is determined, carrying capacity is specified for recreative and tourism activities and maps of the working area are arranged by using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) methods and techniques. The results of this study show that some problems such as shortage in transportation, accommodation, and parking space, inappropriate restoration techniques, and lack of informative signs restrict tourism, however it has been seen that, in case of making up the deficiencies İnegöl has a high tourism potential. Working area has 78% attractiveness according to the tourist attractiveness index, which is prepared by Romanian National Institute of Research Development in Tourism. In the first chapter of our study data that belong to government agencies are discussed within the principles of connection, causality, and distribution, the second chapter deals with the tourism infrastructure, tourism organizations, position of İnegöl in Turkey tourism, and İnegöl's natural and human resources and the final chapter touches upon socio-cultural, economic and environmental effects of tourism in İnegöl.