Dissecting Turkey’s Tourism Development Model: A Political Economy Approach

Since the 1980s, tourism has been employed as a means of economic growth rather as an end, compromising essential resources and disregarding sustainability principles concerning sociocultural values and environmental assets. Many countries have significantly benefited economically from tourism activities due to the ideologically driven paradigm shift, particularly with the adoption of neoliberal policies. However, there is conflicting evidence and assertations in the literature about the success story of tourism-based development strategies. Despite the diversity of discussions, there is limited understanding of the fundamental variables affecting Turkish tourism development plans. Hence, this study systematically and critically analyzes existing literature to enhance the scope, content, and understanding of the theoretical foundations of the tourism development process. This study also provides suggestions and identifies limitations for further research in the domain of tourism.