Figen SEVİNÇ
Bartın University, Bartın Vocational school. (Turkey)
Erol DURAN
Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Tourism (Turkey)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/eraz.2018.898
4th International Conference – ERAZ 2018 – KNOWLEDGE BASED SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, Sofia- Bulgaria, June 7, 2018, CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS published by: Association of Economists and Managers of the Balkans, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Business Studies, Mediterranean University – Podgorica, Montenegro; University of National and World Economy – Sofia, Bulgaria; Faculty of Commercial and Business Studies – Celje, Slovenia; Faculty of Applied Management, Economics and Finance – Belgrade, Serbia, ISBN 978-86-80194-12-7
Abstract
The number of the tourists participating in tourism activities as an extreme adventure in nature in the world is gradually increasing. The off-road tourism, having emerged from people travelling by off-road machines according to their own motives, is becoming more popular, off-road routes are getting enlarged, and projects are developed for off-road activities day by day. Therefore, the elements constituting the off-road tourism have come into prominence and the motivations of the off-road tourists participating off-road activities and its relation on satisfaction with life have been studied. Thus, the aim of this study is to find out the importance that off-road tourists give to and the level of the interest they show for off-road tours. The central question of the study raised on is; what is the level of interest and importance on off-road tourism and how can it be an important touristic attraction for Çanakkale tourism? For this purpose, in-depth interview technique was used on 22 off-roaders at different via off-road association in Çanakkale, Turkey. According to the results of the analyses, developing off-road by its philosophy and structural requirements in Çanakkale can be feasible in sustainability perspective because of its meaning on off-roaders like exploring, challenging and conflicting with the wild and socializing with the others. At the same time, a positive relation has been determined between attending off-road activities and satisfaction with life.
Key words
Sustainability, recreation, off-road tourism, satisfaction with life