Impacts of Educational Tourism on the Residents of Famagusta

Abstract

The aim of the thesis is to explore the social, cultural, economical and environmental impacts of educational tourism on the host population of Gazimağusa (Famagusta) in North Cyprus. The most attention is paid to the perceptions of the residents in assessing the nature of impacts on host population. The quantitative research method was used in order to obtain the necessary information. The quantitative survey, which was prepared in detail and fastidiously; provided important and unique data on the social, cultural, economical and environmental impacts of educational tourism from the perspective of the host population. The analysis of the data showed that the majority of the respondents were male and married. Besides, the findings showed that the majority of the respondents were born in Famagusta, and belonged to the age range between 28-37 years. The outcomes of the study revealed that the large proportion of the residents worked in Karakol district and employed in non-governmental jobs. In the light of obtained data, it was determined that educational tourism had both positive and negative social, cultural, economical and environmental impacts on the host community of Famagusta. In summary, the positive economical impacts of educational tourism on the host community of Famagusta include; increasing income levels, increasing numbers of additional job opportunities and increasing level of investment and development opportunities to the region. Besides, the outcomes of the study showed that the educational tourism caused increasing cost of living, increasing prices of goods and services, increasing prices of houses and other immovable properties, expanding competitive consumption and increasing migration levels of foreign labor to the region. The analysis of the data showed that the educational tourism played an important role on promoting the host community in social and cultural aspects. In the light of obtained data, it was discovered that educational tourism increased the demand for cultural and historical activities, provided an opportunity for residents to know people from different culture and ethnics, increased the residents‟ level of understanding, acceptance and tolerance of other people from different cultures and life styles. Besides, it was discovered that educational tourism functions as a bridge between the host and the guest in terms of providing an opportunity for creating and strengthen social bonds between the two parties. In addition to this, educational tourism is found to be providing not only the social exchange between the host and the guest, but also the cultural exchange as well. Besides, positive socio-cultural impacts, educational tourism is found to had negative social and cultural impacts on the host community of Famagusta as well. In summary, it was found that, educational tourism was lead to change in perspectives of host towards sexuality, was lead to openness to sex, increased the numbers of illegitimate relationship, increased the divorce rate, was lead to change in family values, and resulted in corruption of moral values from the residents‟ perspective. In addition to these, it was discovered that educational tourism was lead to disruption of social bonds, expansion of materialist culture, increase in alcohol and drug consumption, and increase in demand for gambling from the residents‟ perspective.