Social studies teachers experiences and opinions on teaching tourism topics (Burdur-Bucak district example)

The aim of the study is to determine the views of Social Studies teachers working in Bucak district of Burdur Province regarding the teaching of tourism-related topics included in the Social Studies curriculum. Based on the perspetives of Social Studies teachers on tourism the study seeks to understand the extent to which tourism-related topics are included in the Social Sudies textbook and the methods and techinques used in teaching these topics to students. Within the scope of the research tihe opinions of 21 Social Sudies teachers, selected through purposive sampling from schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education Bucak district of Burdur Province, were examined. Date were collected through a semi-structured interview from and analyzed using the content analysis method. According to the research teachers associate tourism with activities such as travelin, sightseeing, resting and entertainment, primarily emphasizing its economic benefits while only briefly touching upon its educatinoal and individual dimensions. İt was observed that teachers did not receive any tourism-related courses during their undergraduate Education and that tourism insruction mostly involves knowledge transfer by teachers. Additionally, it was found that tourism education in Social Studies focuses on teaching the country's historical and natural beauties, that tourism-related topics in the textbook are insufficient, that tourism education should be conducted using the "field trip and observation method" and follow a "from near to far" approach, and that organizing trips is expensive and logistically challenging.