Bibliometric analysis of graduate thesis on ecotourism in Turkey

Ecotourism, a sustainable form of tourism that emphasizes the protection of natural environments and the well-being of local communities, has been receiving increasing academic attention in Turkey. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of postgraduate theses on ecotourism in Turkey in order to identify trends, research themes and methodological approaches. In this context, master's and doctoral theses in the YÖK Thesis Center database were taken as a sample. The analysis results show that there has been a significant increase in the number of theses on ecotourism over the years, reflecting the increasing academic focus on sustainable tourism in Turkey. The dominant research themes include the ecotourism potential, perspectives on ecotourism and sustainability. Methodologically, the theses exhibit a variety of approaches with a balanced use of qualitative and quantitative methods. In this study, which used a qualitative approach, it was determined that a total of 82 postgraduate theses, six of which were doctoral theses and 76 of which were master's theses, were written on ecotourism between August 15, 2023 and September 15, 2023, when the study was conducted, and that these theses were completed between 2001 and 2023. The postgraduate theses in question were included in the analysis process in the study. The geographical distribution of the research highlights important ecotourism destinations in Turkey, such as the Black Sea region, the Mediterranean coast and various national parks. This study contributes to the academic understanding of ecotourism in Turkey by mapping the intellectual landscape and identifying areas requiring further research. The findings provide valuable insights for researchers, policy makers and practitioners focused on improving the sustainability and effectiveness of ecotourism practices in Turkey. Future research directions are suggested to address the identified gaps and further advance the field of ecotourism studies in the Turkish context.