PERSPECTIVE OF LOCAL PEOPLE ON RURAL TOURISM: THE CASE OF LAVENDER STREAM IN BURDUR / AKÇAKÖY

Authors : Utku ONGUN, Levent KÖSEKAHYAOĞLU, Bekir GÖVDERE

Pages : 50-62

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Publication Date : 2018-06-28

Article Type : Conference Paper

Abstract :Our study aims at investigating the economic contributions of the Lavender Stream Project and sustainable rural tourism on local residents of Akçaköy which has become a center of attraction for rural tourism. In line with this objective, several visits have been made to Lavender Stream area and many interviews have been made with local residents during the two years. In this study, the Lavender Stream Project was investigated using the case study method which is one of the qualitative research methods. We use qualitative research methods such as interview and observation techniques to analyse the data gathered in our research. The in-depth interviewing technique was used in qualitative research methods. Twenty one interviews were conducted with the easy sampling method, one of the unlikely sampling methods in the identification of interviewees. In the interview technique, two distinct forms were used as data collection tools. The first form covers the demographic characteristics of the respondents and the second form uses the interview form containing semi-structured questions. Our results suggest that the project’s architect Veterinarian Öztürk Sarıca’s briefings and education programs on rural tourism have yielded successful outcomes. Our results also indicate that this project has also provided significant contributions to particularly economic and social structure of the local people.
Keywords : Burdur Akçaköy, rural tourism, Lavender Stream