Comparison of tourism education programs in Turkey and Greece and future challenges

Abstract

The power of an educated human being is getting a meaningful aspect and provides activities for the physically employed staff in the tourism sector. The qualification of the educated human being provides the fullfillment of the expectations of the tourist. The comprehension of the importance of tourism by the society and sector being provided with enough qualified staff are both necessary to enable it to enter the World Tourism Market where a harsh concurrence is being encountered. The education of the qualified staff is only possible with an education of tourism of high quality. It is only possible to succeed with a well educated staff in order to obtain more from the piece of tourism market both for Greece and Turkey who have the similar products in the Mediterrenean area. The activities of education of tourism are held by 2 types of educations in Turkey: organized education and diffused education. The education of tourism which is part of organized education consists of 3 dimensions, 20 postgraduate education programs, 34 graduate programs and 121 associate level programs the whole totally making up 172 programs. In Greece, on the other hand, the education of tourism is carried out by 6 universities through their institutes bound to them. This study will give proposals for the future in comparing the education of tourism at the university level both in Turkey and Greece.