SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Bölgesel Kalkınma Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 04 Sayı: 02

STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE TOURISM SECTOR AND REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS IN THE TRA2 REGION

TRA2 BÖLGESİ’NDE TURİZM SEKTÖRÜNÜN YAPISAL DÖNÜŞÜMÜ VE BÖLGESEL REKABET DİNAMİKLERİ

Ahmet Berke Demiral(Kafkas Üniversitesi)0000-0003-3382-8819
Pages
155–170
Publication Date
2026-10-27
🏛️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 reveal that tourism employment and the establishment counts in the TRA2 Region generally increased during the 2014–2024 period, although this development varied across provinces.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study examines the structural transformation of the tourism sector and regional competitiveness dynamics in the TRA2 Region during the 2014–2024 period through a quantitative and comparative approach at the provincial level.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The findings reveal that tourism employment and the establishment counts in the TRA2 Region generally increased during the 2014–2024 period, although this development varied across provinces.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The results indicate that tourism policies in the TRA2 Region should be tailored to province-level specialization and competitiveness patterns.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2014–2024 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Turizm · Yapısal Dönüşüm · Bölgesel Kalkınma

Abstract

This study examines the structural transformation of the tourism sector and regional competitiveness dynamics in the TRA2 Region during the 2014–2024 period through a quantitative and comparative approach at the provincial level. The study uses province-level tourism employment and workplace data obtained from the Social Security Institution. In the analysis, the specialization level of the tourism sector within the regional economy was assessed using the location quotient (LQ) while the sources of employment change were evaluated through shift share analysis. The findings reveal that tourism employment and the establishment counts in the TRA2 Region generally increased during the 2014–2024 period, although this development varied across provinces. According to the location quotient results, Kars reached a specialization level above the national average from 2021 onward, Ardahan remained close to the threshold value, and the concentration level in Ağrı and Iğdır remained more limited. The shift-share analysis results show that the regional competitiveness effect was positive in all provinces during the 2014–2019 period, while it remained positive in Kars, Ağrı, and Iğdır in the 2019 2024 period and turned negative in Ardahan. The results indicate that tourism policies in the TRA2 Region should be tailored to province-level specialization and competitiveness patterns.

Özet

Bu çalışma, TRA2 Bölgesi’nde turizm sektörünün 2014 2024 dönemindeki yapısal dönüşümünü ve bölgesel rekabet dinamiklerini il düzeyinde nicel ve karşılaştırmalı bir yaklaşımla incelemektedir. Araştırmada, Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu il bazlı turizm istihdamı ve iş yeri sayısı verileri kullanılmıştır. Analizde, turizm sektörünün bölgesel ekonomi içindeki uzmanlaşma düzeyi yerelleşme katsayısı (LQ) ile istihdam değişiminin kaynakları ise shift-share analiziyle değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular, TRA2 Bölgesi’nde turizm istihdamı ve iş yeri sayısının 2014 2024 döneminde genel olarak artış eğilimi gösterdiğini, ancak bu gelişimin iller arasında farklılaştığını ortaya koymaktadır. Yerelleşme katsayısı sonuçlarına göre, Kars 2021 yılından itibaren ulusal ortalamanın üzerinde bir uzmanlaşma düzeyine ulaşmış, Ardahan eşik değere yakın seyretmiş, Ağrı ve Iğdır’da ise yoğunlaşma düzeyi daha sınırlı kalmıştır. Shift-share analizi sonuçları, bölgesel rekabet etkisinin 2014–2019 döneminde tüm illerde pozitif olduğunu, 2019–2024 döneminde ise Kars, Ağrı ve Iğdır’da pozitif kalırken Ardahan’da negatife döndüğünü göstermektedir. Sonuçlar, TRA2 Bölgesi’nde turizm politikalarının il bazlı uzmanlaşma ve rekabet görünümleri dikkate alınarak geliştirilmesi gerektiğini ortaya koymaktadır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Demiral, A. B. (2026). STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE TOURISM SECTOR AND REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS IN THE TRA2 REGION. Bölgesel Kalkınma Dergisi, Cilt: 04 Sayı: 02, 155–170. https://doi.org/10.61138/bolgeselkalkinmadergisi.1911707

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (56)

  1. Arcelus, F. J. (1984). An extension of shift-share analysis. Growth and Change, 15(1), 3-8.
  2. Archer, B., Cooper, C. and Ruhanen, L. (2005). The positive and negative impacts of tourism. In W. F. Theobald (Ed.), Global tourism (3rd ed., pp. 79-102). Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
  3. Artige, L., and Van Neuss, L. (2014). A new shift-share method. Growth and Change, 45(4), 667-683.
  4. Bahar, O. ve Kozak, M. (2012). Turizm ekonomisi. Ankara: Detay Yayıncılık.
  5. Balland, P. A., and Boschma, R. (2021). Complementary interregional linkages and smart specialisation: An empirical study on European regions. Regional Studies, 55(6), 1059-1070.
  6. Barff, R. A., and Knight, P. L. (1988). Dynamic shift-share analysis. Growth and Change, 19(2), 1-10.
  7. Beceren, E. (2003). Bölgesel kalkınma analizlerinde değişim payı (shift-share) yaklaşımı. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, 8(3), 27-48.
  8. Bieger, T., and Laesser, C. (2021). Managing experiential co-creations in cooperative networks: Learnings from tourism. Die Unternehmung - Swiss Journal of Business Research and Practice, 75(1), 1-10.
  9. Boschma, R. (2004). Competitiveness of regions from an evolutionary perspective. Regional Studies, 38(9), 1001-1014.
  10. Brida, J. G., Cortes-Jimenez, I., and Pulina, M. (2016). Has the tourism-led growth hypothesis been validated? A literature review. Current Issues in Tourism, 19(5), 394-430.
  11. Capello, R. (2016). Regional economics (2nd ed.). London: Routledge.
  12. Cooke, P. (2001). Regional innovation systems, clusters and the knowledge economy. Industrial and Corporate Change, 10(4), 945-974.
  13. Cronjé, D. F., and du Plessis, E. (2020). A review on tourism destination competitiveness. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 45, 256-265.
  14. Crescenzi, R., and Giua, M. (2020). One or many cohesion policies of the European Union? Regional Studies, 54(1), 10-20.
  15. Çeken, H. (2008). Turizmin bölgesel kalkınmaya etkisi üzerine bir değerlendirme. Anatolia: Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi, 19(2), 293-306.
  16. Çelebi Deniz, Z., ve Erkut, G. (2024). Regional development, institutions and policies in Türkiye: Dynamic shift-share analysis (2004-2023). Megaron, 19(3), 389-402.
  17. Delgado, M., Porter, M. E., and Stern, S. (2016). Defining clusters of related industries. Journal of Economic Geography, 16(1), 1-38.
  18. Dinc, M., and Haynes, K. (2005). Regional efficiency in shift-share analysis. Growth and Change, 36(3), 374-394.
  19. Doğru, T., and Bulut, U. (2018). Is tourism an engine for economic recovery? Theory and empirical evidence. Tourism Management, 67, 425-434.
  20. Doğru, T., and Sirakaya-Turk, E. (2017). Engines of tourism’s growth: An examination of efficacy of shift-share regression analysis in South Carolina. Tourism Management, 58, 205-214.
  21. Duman, A. ve Kocaman, S. (2021). Turizmde destinasyon rekabetçiliği: Alanya ve Kemer turizm destinasyonları arasında karşılaştırmalı bir analiz. Türk Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi, 5(1), 1-18.
  22. Dunn, E. S. (1960). A statistical and analytical technique for regional analysis. Papers in Regional Science, 6(1), 97-112.
  23. Dwyer, L., and Kim, C. (2003). Destination competitiveness: Determinants and indicators. Current Issues in Tourism, 6(5), 369-414.
  24. Ekici, K. ve Çiftçi, M. (2021). Antalya işgücü piyasasında konaklama işletmeciliğinde bölgesel uzmanlaşma. Kırklareli Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Meslek Yüksekokulu Dergisi, 2(1), 18-41.
  25. Esteban-Marquillas, J. M. (1972). A reinterpretation of shift-share analysis. Regional and Urban Economics, 2(3), 249-255.
  26. Firgo, M., and Fritz, O. (2017). Does tourism drive regional economic growth? Regional Studies, 51(2), 267-278.
  27. Fitjar, R. D., and Rodríguez-Pose, A. (2020). Where cities fail to thrive: The impact of urban location on innovation. Regional Studies, 54(3), 332-343.
  28. Fletcher, J. (1989). Input-output analysis and tourism impact studies. Annals of Tourism Research, 16(4), 514-529.
  29. Fothergill, S., and Gudgin, G. (1979). In defence of shift-share. Urban Studies, 16(3), 309-319.
  30. Frenken, K., Van Oort, F., and Verburg, T. (2007). Related variety, unrelated variety and regional economic growth. Regional Studies, 41(5), 685-697.
  31. Gül, M. ve Gül, K. (2022). Destinasyon rekabetçiliğini etkileyen faktörlerin belirlenmesi: Ayvalık destinasyonu örneği. Güncel Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi, 6(Ek 2), 94-103.
  32. Hall, C. M. and Page, S. J. (2014). The geography of tourism and recreation: Environment, place and space (4th ed.). London: Routledge.
  33. Hall, C. M. and Williams, A. M. (2008). Tourism and innovation. London: Routledge.
  34. Herrendorf, B., Rogerson, R. and Valentinyi, A. (2014). Growth and structural transformation. In P. Aghion and S. N. Durlauf (Eds.), Handbook of economic growth (Vol. 2, pp. 855-941). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
  35. Martin, R. and Sunley, P. (2003). Deconstructing clusters: Chaotic concept or policy panacea? Journal of Economic Geography, 3(1), 5-35.
  36. McMillan, M. S. and Rodrik, D. (2011). Globalization, structural change and productivity growth. NBER Working Paper No. 17143. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research.
  37. Nazara, S., and Hewings, G. J. D. (2004). Spatial structure and taxonomy of decomposition in shift-share analysis. Growth and Change, 35(4), 476-490.
  38. Nunkoo, R., Ramkissoon, H., and Gursoy, D. (2013). Public trust in tourism institutions. Annals of Tourism Research, 41, 112-135.
  39. Özaltaş Serçek, G., Ataman, D. ve Ateş, C. (2025). Diyarbakır’ın destinasyon rekabetçiliğinin turizm paydaşları tarafından değerlendirilmesi. Kent Akademisi, 18(1), 428-445.
  40. Porter, M. E. (1990). The competitive advantage of nations. New York: Free Press.
  41. Porter, M. E. (1998). Clusters and the new economics of competition. Harvard Business Review, 76(6), 77-90.
  42. Purwono, R., Esquivias, M. A., Sugiharti, L., and Rojas, O. (2024). Tourism destination performance and competitiveness: The impact on revenues, jobs, the economy, and growth. Journal of Tourism and Services, 15(28), 161-187.
  43. Ray, D. M., Hall, P. G., and O’Donoghue, D. P. (2019). The elusive quest for balanced regional growth from Barlow to Brexit: Lessons from partitioning regional employment growth in Great Britain. Growth and Change, 50(1), 266-284.
  44. Richardson, H. W. (1978). Regional economics. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
  45. Ritchie, J. R. B. and Crouch, G. I. (2003). The competitive destination: A sustainable tourism perspective. Wallingford: CABI.
  46. Rodrik, D. (2013). The past, present, and future of economic growth. Global Citizen Foundation Working Paper 1. Geneva: Global Citizen Foundation.
  47. Romão, J., and Nijkamp, P. (2019). Impacts of innovation, productivity and specialization on tourism competitiveness: A spatial econometric analysis on European regions. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(10), 1150-1169.
  48. SERKA (Serhat Kalkınma Ajansı). (2024). TRA2 Bölgesi 2024-2028 Bölge Planı. Kars: Serhat Kalkınma Ajansı. https://www.serka.gov.tr/assets/upload/dosyalar/tra2-bolgesi-2024-2028-bolge-plani-lq-web.pdf, (Erişim tarihi: 20.06.2026).
  49. SGK (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu). (2025). SGK istatistik yıllıkları. https://www.sgk.gov.tr/, (Erişim tarihi: 04.03.2026).
  50. Sharpley, R. (2020). Tourism, sustainable development and the theoretical divide: 20 years on. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 28(11), 1932-1946.
  51. Sharpley, R. and Telfer, D. J. (2015). Tourism and development: Concepts and issues (2nd ed.). Bristol: Channel View Publications.
  52. Şahin, M., Uysal, Ö. ve Kuru, E. (2012). Türkiye turizm politikasının shift-share analizi. Marmara Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi, 32(1), 95-122.
  53. Sirakaya-Turk, E., Choi, H. S., and Var, T. (2002). Shift-share analysis in tourism: Examination of tourism employment change in a region. Tourism Economics, 8(3), 303-324.
  54. Stilwell, F. J. B. (1969). Regional growth and structural change. Urban Studies, 6(2), 162-178.
  55. Usun, Ç. F. (2024). Türkiye’de turizm sektöründe istihdam edilen nüfusun coğrafyası. Coğrafi Bilimler Dergisi, 22(2), 294-318.
  56. Yang, Y., and Fik, T. (2014). Spatial effects in regional tourism growth. Annals of Tourism Research, 46, 144-162.