Impact of tourism hotel operations on the climate crisis: The Antalya example

The terminology surrounding climate change has evolved to include terms like "climate crisis" or "climate emergency," with the anthropogenic influence now undeniable. This indicates that individuals and various sectors have contributed to the crisis. The effects of climate crises are becoming more evident, especially in the Mediterranean Region. The tourism sector, a significant economic driver in the region, is crucial for hotel operations in Antalya. As Turkey's coastal tourism hub, Antalya significantly boosts the economy, with its favorable climate historically yielding substantial hotel profits. However, the ongoing climate crisis is rapidly changing these dynamics, requiring the tourism sector to adapt. This study addresses the following research questions: "How do hotels contribute directly or indirectly to the climate crisis and in which areas are these contributions more clearly observed? How is the awareness of hotels regarding their environmental responsibilities shaped and with what concrete actions do they implement this awareness? What concrete steps and strategies do hotels implement to reduce their environmental impacts and how is the effectiveness of these strategies evaluated?" The research aims to identify the negative impacts of established hotels in Antalya on the climate crisis and assess their environmental responsibility awareness. A constructivist-interpretive approach and qualitative research design were employed, using indepth interviews as the primary data collection method. Interviews with ten five-star hotels in Antalya's tourism regions, including city and resort establishments, were conducted from February 5, 2024, to March 4, 2024. These semi-structured interviews were recorded with participant consent and analyzed using MAXQDA software. The findings indicate that Antalya hotels contribute to negative environmental impacts within the climate crisis context and have implemented basic measures to meet environmental obligations, mainly limited to documentation and government inspections. The study also revealed that hotels make limited use of government incentives and meet regulatory requirements by satisfying minimum inspection criteria. The research concluded that participating hotels have not yet developed a comprehensive understanding of sustainable tourism practices.