Determining the model of tourism business district (TBD) in coastal resorts: a case study of Turkey

Coastal resorts, whose dominant economic activities are those of providing an array of recreational services to tourists, reflect this specialization in their land-use patterns. Therefore, the business districts in coastal resorts have a unique morphology, landscape, and land use. However, the literature reflects that there is limited attention to the tourism business districts (TBDs) that have developed in coastal resorts. Moreover, few empirical studies have been conducted in developing countries, such as Thailand, China, and Turkey, as well as developed ones such as United States, Canada, and Italy. This study discusses the TBDs located in Turkey’s coastal resorts in terms of location, form, and function. The findings are presented statistically, and detailed maps are presented to explain the TBDs from a geographical and practical perspective. In this study, ArcGIS 10.5 software has been used to perform spatial analysis of the data. The main findings include that Turkish TBDs have similar characteristics in terms of location, form, and function compared to other coastal resorts worldwide. Therefore, it is possible to say that these similar features constitute a model in terms of land use. In addition, the statistical findings of the study are largely similar to those found in the literature.

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