SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Yönetim ve Ekonomi Araştırmaları Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 24 Sayı: 3

AN INVESTIGATION OF CRIMES AGAINST FOREIGN TOURISTS IN ISTANBUL FROM A DESTINATION MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE

Ramazan İnan(MUĞLA SITKI KOÇMAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MARMARİS TURİZM MESLEK YÜKSEKOKULU, SEYAHAT-TURİZM VE EĞLENCE HİZMETLERİ BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0002-9970-5718
Pages
33–48
Publication Date
2026-09-28
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicate a considerable rise in crimes against tourists between 2021 and 2023, with the highest number of cases recorded in 2023, followed by a general decline in 2024.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study aims to investigate crimes against foreign tourists who visit Istanbul.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The data were derived from official crime records concerning tourists for the period 2021–2024, gathered with special permission from the Istanbul General Directorate of Security, Tourism Branch Directorate.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicate a considerable rise in crimes against tourists between 2021 and 2023, with the highest number of cases recorded in 2023, followed by a general decline in 2024.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2021–2024 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Turistlere Yönelik Suçlar · Destinasyon Güvenliği · Destinasyon Yönetimi

Abstract

This study aims to investigate crimes against foreign tourists who visit Istanbul. The research has been undertaken within a qualitative research design using secondary data analysis and document analysis methods. The data were derived from official crime records concerning tourists for the period 2021–2024, gathered with special permission from the Istanbul General Directorate of Security, Tourism Branch Directorate. The findings indicate a considerable rise in crimes against tourists between 2021 and 2023, with the highest number of cases recorded in 2023, followed by a general decline in 2024. An analysis of crime types reveals that lost property cases constitute the most common category, while theft, snatching, and pickpocketing account for a substantial proportion of incidents; financial crimes also exhibit an increasing trend. Moreover, the results indicate that crime incidents vary widely with respect to the tourists’ nationality and region, hence, there is no focusing on specific country groups. By looking at crimes against tourists from a destination management perspective, this paper intends to uncover leading results that can be beneficial for destination managers and policymakers.

Özet

Bu çalışmanın amacı, İstanbul’u ziyaret eden yabancı turistlere yönelik olarak işlenen suçların incelenmesidir. Araştırma, nitel araştırma deseninde ikincil veri analizi ve doküman incelemesi yöntemi kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiş; veriler İstanbul Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü Turizm Şube Müdürlüğünden alınan özel izin kapsamında 2021–2024 yılları arasında turistlere yönelik işlenen suç kayıtlarından elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, 2021–2023 döneminde turistlere yönelik suç sayılarında belirgin bir artış yaşandığını, 2023 yılında vaka sayısının en yüksek seviyeye ulaştığını ve 2024 yılında ise genel bir düşüş eğiliminin ortaya çıktığını göstermektedir. Suç türleri incelendiğinde, kayıp eşya vakalarının en yaygın suç türü olduğu; hırsızlık, kapkaç ve yankesicilik gibi suçların önemli bir paya sahip bulunduğu ve mali suçların artış eğilimi sergilediği tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca suç vakalarının milliyet ve bölge açısından geniş bir dağılım gösterdiği ve belirli ülke gruplarına özgü bir yoğunlaşmanın bulunmadığı belirlenmiştir. Çalışma, turistlere yönelik suçları destinasyon yönetimi perspektifinden ele alarak destinasyon yöneticileri ve politika yapıcılar için yol gösterici bulgular sağlamayı amaçlamaktadır.

🔖

Cite This Article

İnan, R. (2026). AN INVESTIGATION OF CRIMES AGAINST FOREIGN TOURISTS IN ISTANBUL FROM A DESTINATION MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE. Yönetim ve Ekonomi Araştırmaları Dergisi, Cilt: 24 Sayı: 3, 33–48. https://doi.org/10.11611/yead.1888522

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (39)

  1. Adam, I. and Adongo, C. A. (2016). ‘‘Do backpackers suffer crime? An empirical investigation of crime perpetrated against backpackers in Ghana’’, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 27, 60-67. https://10.1016/j.jhtm.2016.03.003
  2. Allen, J. (1999). Crime against international tourists. Crime and Justice Bulletin, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.
  3. Ateş, A. and Sunar, H. (2024). ‘‘The Mediating Role of Local People’s Attitudes and Behaviours on the Impact of Destination Safety Climate on Risk Perception: A Study on Foreign Tourists in İstanbul and Antalya’’, Sosyoekonomi, 32(62), 247-272. https://doi.org/10.17233/sosyoekonomi.2024.04.13
  4. Bahar, O. and Bilen, K. (2020). ‘‘Turizmde Güvenlik Algisinin Türkiye Ekonomisine Etkisi’’, Güvenlik Bilimleri Dergisi, Özel Sayı (International Security Congress Special Issue), 185-206. https://doi.org/10.28956/gbd.696020
  5. Biagi, B. and Detotto, C. (2014). ‘‘Crime as tourism externality’’, Regional Studies, 48(4), 693-709. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2011.649005
  6. Boakye, K. A. (2010). ‘‘Studying tourists’ suitability as crime targets’’, Annals of Tourism Research, 37(3), 727-743. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2010.01.002
  7. Brunt, P., Mawby, R. and Hambly, Z. (2000). ‘‘Tourist victimization and the fear of crime on holiday’’, Tourism Management, Vol. 21 No. 4, pp. 417-424. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(99)00084-9
  8. Çakmakçı, E. (2015). ‘‘Turizm ve Suç Arasındaki İlişki ve Suçun Önlenmesine Yönelik Teoriler’’, Turizm Akademik Dergisi, 2(1), 49-59. https://izlik.org/JA36UB45YA
  9. Cohen, L. E. and Felson, M. (1979). ‘‘Social change and crime rate trends: A routine activity approach’’, American Sociological Review, 44, 588-608.
  10. Ding, G. and Wu, J. (2022). ‘‘Influence of tourism safety perception on destination image: A case study of Xinjiang, China’’, Sustainability, 14(3), 1663. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031663
  11. Fowler, D. C., Lauderdale, M. K., Goh, B. K. and Yuan, J. (2012). ‘‘Safety concerns of international shoppers in Las Vegas’’, International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 6(3), 238-249. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506181211246384
  12. Glensor, R. W. and Peak, K. J. (2004). ‘‘Crimes against tourists. New York, NY, USA: US Department of Justice’’, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
  13. Holcomb, J. and Pizam, A. (2006). ‘‘Do incidents of theft at tourist destinations have a negative effect on tourists' decisions to travel to affected destinations?’’, In Y. Mansfeld & A. Pizam (Eds.), Tourism, security and safety: From theory to practice (pp. 105–124). Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7506-7898-8.50011-4
  14. Hua, N. and Yang, Y. (2017). ‘‘Systematic effects of crime on hotel operating performance’’, Tourism Management, 60, 257-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.11.022
  15. Isaac, R. K., Maingi, S. W. and Gowreesunkar, V. G. B. (Eds.). (2024). ‘‘Tourism safety, security and resilience: Integrated community-based approaches’’, Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003479673
  16. Keskin, H. and Aykaç, C. (2023). ‘‘Turistlerin Destinasyona Yönelik Risk Algilari ve Türkiye’de Algilanabilecek Risklerin Değerlendirilmesi’’, Journal of Economics Business and International Relations-JEBI, 2(1), 62-86. https://doi.org/10.58654/jebi.1302087
  17. Khalil, S., Kakar, M. K. and Waliullah. (2007). ‘‘Role of tourism in economic growth: Empirical evidence from Pakistan economy’’, The Pakistan Development Review, 46(4), 985–995. https://doi.org/10.30541/v46i4iipp.985-995
  18. Koyunoğlu, S. (2003). ‘‘Turist sağlığı: turist sigortası ve tüketicinin korunması’’, Ankara: Detay Yayıncılık.
  19. Kozak, M. (2014). ‘‘Bilimsel araştırma: Tasarım, yazım ve yayım teknikleri’’, Ankara: Detay Yayıncılık.
  20. Mawby, R. I. and Vakhitova, Z. I. (2022). ‘‘Researching the relationship between tourism, crime and security: The tourism industry and the disenfranchised citizens’’, In M. Gill (Ed.), The handbook of security (3rd ed., pp. 581–601). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91735-7_27
  21. Mengü, C. (2017). ‘‘Turizmde destinasyon yönetimi’’, Social Sciences Studies Journal, 3(12), 2137–2149. https://doi.org/10.26449/sssj.293
  22. Nas, Z. (2024). ‘‘The importance of security on tourism’’, Sarhad Journal of Management Sciences, 10(2), 275–287. https://doi.org/10.31529/sjms.v10i2.1068
  23. Nazir, M. U., Yasin, I. and Tat, H. H. (2021). ‘‘Destination image's mediating role between perceived risks, perceived constraints, and behavioral intention’’, Heliyon, 7(7), e07613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07613
  24. Ozascilar, M. and Mawby, R. I. (2023). ‘‘The impact of crime on tourists and the need for greater support for tourist victims’’, International Review of Victimology, 29(1), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/02697580221080006
  25. Özdemir, G. (2014). ‘‘Destinasyon yönetimi ve pazarlaması’’, Ankara: Detay Yayıncılık.
  26. Payam, M. M. (2018). ‘‘Emniyet, Güvenlik, Kent Emniyeti ve Kent Güvenliği: Kavramsal Bir Analiz. Avrasya Terim Dergisi’’, 6(1), 15-25. https://izlik.org/JA74DG42LT
  27. Popescu, L. (2011). ‘‘Safety and security in tourism: Case study: Romania’’, Forum Geografic, 10(2), 322–328. https://doi.org/10.5775/fg.2067-4635.2011.020.d
  28. Recher, V. and Rubil, I. (2020). ‘‘More tourism, more crime: Evidence from Croatia’’, Social Indicators Research, 147(2), 651–675. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02160-6
  29. Reisinger, Y. and Mavondo, F. (2005). ‘‘Travel anxiety and intentions to travel internationally: Implications of travel risk perception’’, Journal of Travel Research, 43(3), 212–225. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287504272017
  30. Ryu, K., Han, J.-S. and Lee, T. J. (2016). ‘‘Selection attributes of travel products: A case of Korean tourists to Japan’’, Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 33(5), 671–686. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2016.1167360
  31. Seçilmiş, C. and Ünlüönen, K. (2009). ‘‘İstanbul’u ziyaret eden turistlerin güvenlik algılamaları üzerine bir araştırma’’, İşletme Araştırmaları Dergisi, 1(1), 65-84.
  32. Sharma, A. K. (2014). ‘‘State of tourism security in Pokhara Valley (Master's thesis, Department of Political Science, Prithvi Narayan Campus, Tribhuvan University)’’, Tribhuvan University Central Library.
  33. Tarlow, P. E. (2006). ‘‘Crime and tourism’’, In J. Wilks, D. Pendergast, & P. Leggat (Eds.), Tourism in turbulent times: Towards safe experiences for visitors (pp. 93–105). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-044666-0.50015-4
  34. Tarlow, P. E. (2014). ‘‘Tourism security: Strategies for effectively managing travel risk and safety’’ Butterworth-Heinemann.
  35. Türkay, O. (2014). ‘‘Destinasyon yönetimi: yönetimbilim bakış açısıyla işlevler, yaklaşımlar ve araçlar’’, Ankara: Detay Yayıncılık.
  36. Yıldırım, A. and Simsek, H. (2016). ‘‘Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri’’, Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık.
  37. Yılmaz Balkaner, S. and Aymankuy, Y. (2023). ‘‘Akademisyen Gözüyle Turist Sağlığı ve Turist Güvenliği’’, Gastroia: Journal of Gastronomy and Travel Research, 7(1), 157-179. https://doi.org/10.32958/gastoria.1263986
  38. Zhang, H., Wu, Y. and Buhalis, D. (2018). ‘‘A model of perceived image, memorable tourism experiences and revisit intention’’, Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 8, 326–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2017.06.004
  39. Zou, Y. and Meng, F. (2020). ‘‘Chinese tourists' sense of safety: Perceptions of expected and experienced destination safety’’, Current Issues in Tourism, 23(15), 1886–1899. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2019.1681382