Impacts of the terrorist attacks and political incidents in major cities on tourism industry: Evidence from the tourism managers in Turkey


Dogru-Dastan H., TÜTÜNCÜ Ö.

Cities, vol.153, 2024 (SSCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 153
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.cities.2024.105255
  • Journal Name: Cities
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Periodicals Index Online, Avery, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Environment Index, Index Islamicus, PAIS International, Political Science Complete, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
  • Keywords: Destination image, Political problems, Structural problems, Terrorism, Tourism crisis
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Tourism crises caused by terrorism are characterised by a sharp decline in inbound tourism and a severe deterioration of destination image. Between 2015 and 2017, Turkey suffered terrorist attacks and political incidents in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Gaziantep, and Şanlıurfa. This paper explores crisis-related factors and their influence on destination image and tourism demand with a series of three studies adopting both primary data collected from tourism managers and secondary data analysis of tourism statistics. Study A explored the adapted measurement tool's reliability and validity to define the factors related to crisis impacts. Study B involved CFA to validate the dimensions of measurement tools and regression analyses to examine their influence on destination image and tourism demand. Study C included a comparison of the tourist arrival and expenditure statistics from 2014 to 2019 with a secondary data analysis. Study A showed that the long-term effects of crises caused by terrorism must be evaluated in structural and political dimensions. Study B indicated that both factors affected destination image negatively, while only structural problems influenced international and domestic tourism demand. Study C supported the effect of both factors on tourist arrivals and tourism income, involving the analysis of tourism statistics.