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"Environmental"
research Vol. 4, No. 1 (2026) • pp. 65-85

Smart destination applications in Türkiye and global examples: A comparative analysis

Hasene Nur Gök, Şule Aydın

This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of smart city/destination applications in Türkiye and around the world and to identify areas where smart destination management can be further developed in Türkiye. The research was designed using a multiple-case study approach within the framework of qualitative research. Document review was utilized as the data collection technique, and secondary sources such as academic studies, institutional reports, municipal websites, strategy documents, project descriptions, and digital destination applications were evaluated. The study’s sample was determined using purposive sampling; a total of ten cities were included in the analysis: Benidorm, Singapore, Helsinki, Amsterdam, and Valencia from around the world, and Konya, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, and Mugla from Türkiye. The global cities were treated as the global reference group, while the Turkish cities were treated as the local analysis group. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis method that combined deductive and inductive approaches. As a result of the analysis, nine main themes were identified: smart governance and institutional capacity; smart transportation and mobility; digital services and local resident/visitor experience; data-driven management and digital infrastructure; smart tourism and cultural heritage management; environmental sustainability and resource management; accessibility, inclusivity, and visitor convenience; innovation ecosystem and experimental applications; and security, risk, and resilience management. The findings indicate that cities in Türkiye have advanced examples, particularly in transportation integration, mobile municipal services, digital payment systems, geographic information system (GIS)-based mapping, and tourist information applications. In contrast, it was determined that in cities around the world, data-driven decision support systems, digital twin applications, environmental sensor infrastructures, capacity management, living lab applications, institutional certification, and inclusive accessibility solutions have developed in a more comprehensive and measurable manner. In conclusion, the study highlights that smart destination applications in Türkiye should not remain limited to the level of digital service delivery but must be transformed into data-driven, sustainable, inclusive, measurable, and integrated destination management systems.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21759169
Research Papers Vol. 3, No. 2 (2025) • pp. 67-85

Socio-cultural, economic and environmental impacts of tourism from the perspective of local people: A field study in the context of sustainability

Gökhan Onat, Ramazan YAĞCI, Hümeyra KASAR, Ömer ERTAN, Hamza YILMAZ

The purpose of this study is to examine the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic perceptions of the local population living in the provinces of Rize and Trabzon in the Eastern Black Sea Region regarding sustainable tourism development within the framework of stakeholder theory and to reveal whether these perceptions differ according to demographic variables. A quantitative research design was adopted in the study; data were obtained from 360 participants reached through convenience sampling via a questionnaire prepared using a 5-point Likert scale. The construct validity of the scale was tested using exploratory factor analysis, and its reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. In addition to descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used in the analysis of the data. The research findings show that the local community's perceptions of the economic effects of tourism are highly positive, while they exhibit a more cautious attitude regarding environmental and socio-cultural effects. Furthermore, it was determined that perceptions of economic sustainability significantly strengthened with increasing education level and income; age, marital status, and monthly income variables created significant differences in some sustainability dimensions. In contrast, no significant differences in perceptions were found based on gender, income from tourism, and place of residence variables. The research highlights the decisive role of local community perceptions in the success of sustainable tourism policies; it contributes to the development of region-specific governance and planning strategies aimed at strengthening local participation within the stakeholder theory framework.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18115780
Research Papers Vol. 3, No. 1 (2025) • pp. 25-37

Determining the obstacles and attitudes of Generation Z consumers towards organic labeled food

Berkan Şenberber, Gülşah Çağlak, Bahar Karaören, Sena Keşoğlu, Lokman Dinç

Increasing health concerns and environmental worries on a global scale have rapidly increased consumer interest in organic foods, leading to significant growth in organic food production and retail. The Z generation, in particular, differs from other generations in terms of the values, social norms, and lifestyles that shape their consumption habits. The aim of this study is to reveal Generation Z consumers' attitudes, perceptions, and barriers regarding organic-labeled foods. A qualitative research approach was adopted in the study, and data was collected from 16 participants studying gastronomy using a semi-structured interview technique. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive analysis methods, and seven main themes were identified through a manual coding process: natural environment, healthy and nutritious, limitations, unhealthy and harmful, level of knowledge, taste perception, and desired organic foods. The findings show that Generation Z has positive attitudes towards organic food, but these attitudes are difficult to translate into behavior due to factors such as high prices, limited access, and time constraints. The study interprets the findings within the framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991). According to this theory, positive attitudes and social norms increase young people's intention to consume organic food, but when perceived behavioral control is weak, an intention-behavior gap emerges. The results indicate that the organic food sector needs to strengthen its emphasis on health and naturalness in its marketing strategies targeting young consumers, increase social media and influencer collaborations, and develop solutions to reduce access and pricing barriers. The research contributes to the literature theoretically and provides practical recommendations to practitioners.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17159981
Theoretical paper Vol. 2, No. 1 (2024) • pp. 35-42

Environmental, social and economic dilemmas of outdoor recreation and tourism: A conceptual research

Ayten Özçelik, İlker Gül

Tourism activities encompass a wide range of experiences. Industrialized tourism in our country is clustered in specific locations with hotels, restaurants and entertainment areas and is planned in the same way as industrial areas. Facilities and regulations are part of tourism development. On the other hand, tourism also manifests itself in open spaces and nature. Camping activities, caravan tourism activities, nature walks can be counted among common recreational activities. Unlike established tourism activities, such outdoor recreational activities are relatively unregulated by the legislator and have a high degree of mobility. While they bring the economic effects of tourism to areas where there is no facility, they also bring environmental, social and managerial impacts. At this point, such open space recreations, which can be spread over large areas, provide economic benefits throughout the country, while also presenting environmental and social dilemmas as a problem. This conceptual discussion aims to draw on the existing literature and research to identify the problems associated with open space activities and to provide implications for policy makers and tourists.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14253819
Theoretical paper Vol. 2, No. 1 (2024) • pp. 13-23

The role of destination carrying capacity within the framework of flow theory

Yusuf Karakuş, Eren Erkılıç

This study addresses the critical relationship between tourist destination carrying capacity and flow theory. In this way, a framework has been drawn by focusing on its complex impact on sustainable destination management. Tourism carrying capacity, defined as the maximum number of tourists that a destination can accommodate without compromising environmental integrity, the well-being of local people or visitor satisfaction, is of central importance in ensuring long-term sustainability. At the same time, flow theory, which defines the state of commitment and satisfaction experienced by individuals, provides an important framework for improving the quality of tourist experiences. This article argues that balancing the carrying capacity of a destination with the principles of flow theory is vital for both environmental sustainability and high-quality visitor experiences. Although issues related to carrying capacity are frequently studied, providing a perspective within the framework of flow theory can provide a better understanding of the existing realities of destination management mechanisms. In this context, the originality of this study is that the literature is examined from a theoretical perspective and the problems related to carrying capacity management are explained from different perspectives. As a result of the theoretical findings, managerial and theoretical suggestions are presented.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13331419