ABSTRACT

            The economic, social, cultural and political effects of tourism, which has become a phenomenon of greater concern for the large masses in our day, have been creating significant results both for the individual countries and international economic and political relations. Different branches of the international tourism sector, have been gaining the features of an increasingly integrated body, the ownership structure of the sector has been changing and a structure where giant tourism corporations dominate the market is emerging.

            The tourism sector has reached greater masses of people and more distant places following the world War II. With the giant dimensions it has gained at the national and international levels, tourism has become a socio-economic activity, which enhances the development of investment and business volumes, generates income, provides foreign exchange, creates employment opportunities and thereby influences socio-cultural life. As a result, we observe the increasing concentration of the attention of different countries on this field of economic activity.

            As far as Turkey is concerned, tourism has become an important sector of the economy after 1980. It has been making geater direct and indirect contributions to the Turkish economy every year trough the income it creates and the employment and investment opportunities it provides.

            In Section One in addition to the definition of the concepts of tourism and tourist factors which enhance the development of tourism have been discussed. At the same time, characteristics of tourism as a field of scientific enquiry and its relationship with various branches of social sciences have been analysed. In Section Two, the historical processes that the sector went through in the world and in Turkey have been explained and the share of Turkey’s tourism sector within the world total compared with other countries. In Section Three, the structure of the sector have been analysed within a theoretical framework, the product of tourism defined, its characteristics illuminated and the types of touristic enterprises put forth. On the other hand, the structures of demand and supply in the sector have been analysed. The Last Section has been devoted to an analysis of the position and importance of the sector with in the Turkish  economy, with regards to national income, employment and its effects on other sectors. In addition, the issue of sustainable tourism has been discussed in relation to Turkey. Finally, through an econometric work on the anticipated developments in the tourism revenues of Turkey, an assessment regarding the future of the sector been made. In the Conclusion, the findings of the analysis have been evaluated.