A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF TOURISM POTENTIAL IN ADIYAMAN PROVINCE AND MOUNT NEMRUT NATIONAL PARK

Abstract

Tourism as a major source of economic growth of a country has social, economic, cultural, and environmental impacts on local residents. Besides providing a source of employment for the locals, tourism also ensures social and cultural development. Tourism gives local residents the opportunity to interact with tourists which in turn enables them to understand different cultures. The development of a tourism destination is closely linked to its natural beauty. Mount Nemrut, which was inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list in 1987, plays a vital role for Adiyaman as it has attracted a large number of visitors in recent years. Mount Nemrut, located in the Kahta district of Adiyaman province, is a national park as well as a monumental site belonging to the ancient Commagene Kingdom. This study aims to identify tourist attractions in Adiyaman and to assess promotional activities in Mount Nemrut National Park. Hotel owners and managers were interviewed to figure out the most visited places by tourists in Adiyaman and to understand the main purpose of their visit. This study also aims to determine if the visits for religious purposes can be within the scope of religious tourism. The results of this study will be shared with the public enterprises and nongovernmental organisations operating in the region to increase the tourism potential of Adiyaman province and Mount Nemrut. Furthermore, it is expected that the results can be utilised to adopt a planned approach for the development of tourism in Mount Nemrut National Park and to overcome current challenges.