Sınır turizminin etkileri ile yerel halkın yer bağlılığı ilişkisinde yaşam kalitesinin aracılık rolü: Van ili örneği
Tez Türü: Doktora
Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Mardin Artuklu Üniversitesi, Turizm Fakültesi, Turizm İşletmeciliği, Türkiye
Tez Danışmanı: Prof. Dr. Serhat Harman (Mardin Artuklu Üniversitesi Turizm Rehberlik Anabilim Dalı)
Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2026
Tezin Dili: Türkçe
Özet:
In border cities, which are particularly in close interaction with neighboring countries due to their geographical location, tourism has become not only an economic activity but also a fundamental dynamic of trade, cultural exchange, and regional development. Border tourism revitalizes the local economy through the spending of visitors entering and exiting the region, while simultaneously transforming the social structure by contributing to the development of infrastructure and service standards in the region. In this context, it is important to examine the impact of tourism on local communities through its relationship with place attachment and quality of life. The aim of this research is to examine the mediating role of quality of life in the relationship between place attachment and the local population in Van, a border city. The population of this research consists of the local population living in Van and tourism stakeholders. The sample of the research is the local population living in the İpekyolu, Tuşba, Edremit, Gevaş, Erciş, and Muradiye districts located in the Lake Van Basin. This research utilizes a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. In the quantitative phase of the research, data was collected from 451 local people through questionnaires. In the second phase, which utilized a qualitative method, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 tourism stakeholders. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the model developed in the study based on the data obtained in the quantitative phase. Content analysis was used in the analysis of qualitative data. According to the research findings, both mediation analysis and moderated mediation analysis revealed that the effects of tourism affect quality of life. Furthermore, the developed model identified a mediating role of quality of life in the relationship between the effects of tourism and the local population's place attachment. In the model testing interaction with tourists, it was concluded that the interaction effect increases place attachment in the relationship between tourism effects and quality of life, reinforcing the mediating role of quality of life. According to the results obtained from qualitative data, border tourism in Van protects the city from crises by providing employment and a flow of hot money, but it also carries risks such as price increases and excessive dependence on the Iranian market. While it creates cultural richness and vibrancy on a socio-cultural level, there are occasional conflicts of values and concerns about degradation between the conservative local fabric and the lifestyles of tourists. Despite triggering modern investments and infrastructure projects from an environmental perspective, traffic, noise, and environmental pollution stand out as key negative factors that challenge the quality of life for the local population. From a place-based perspective, however, despite skilled migration and infrastructure problems, the public continues to feel a sense of belonging to the city through strong family ties and a love for their hometown. The study demonstrates that place-based attachment is not directly caused by border tourism, but only to the extent that it improves the quality of life, revealing that urban belonging is based on a rational perception of comfort.