Between Traditional and Modern: Thermal Tourism in Turkey
Turkey has long been among the most favorable destinations of the world for tourists due to its ideal location, very rich natural and cultural tourism attractions, and increasing tourism investments. The major part of this tourism demand comes from mass tourism. As similar developments are experienced around the world, the motivations affecting the movements of tourists from their places of residence to other places have started to change and diversify in Turkey. Thermal tourism, classified as part of health tourism, is a type of alternative tourism in Turkey that is known for growing in importance and in demand. In recent years, the number of modern thermal tourism facilities has increased in Turkey, especially to meet the growing demands of foreign tourists. This chapter aims at evaluating the development of thermal tourism in Turkey from a historical perspective by analyzing its present situation, spatial distribution, and problems. The data used in this study have been obtained from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) and World Tourism Organization. The increase in the number of thermal tourism facilities in Turkey will contribute to the diversification of tourism in the country, increased demand for tourism, expansion of the tourism market, and improving Turkey's image in the international arena.