SWOT-TOWS Analysis of Urla Destination’s Alternative Tourism Development

Abstract

The first part of the study provides a brief information on Urla district in Izmir, Turkey and briefly emphasizes alternative tourism benefits. The second section focuses on Urla district and the alternative tourism applications of the destination namely; festival tourism, heritage tourism, new-culture tourism, camping tourism, trekking tourism, yacht and sailing tourism, wine tourism, gastronomy tourism, adventure tourism and eco- tourism. A SWOT analysis on Urla’s alternative tourism is derived and included in the final part where appropriate strategies and suggestions which are likely to optimize the strengths and opportunities, to eliminate or strengthen the weaknesses and to handle the threats are developed. Thus, the suggestions are provided according to the results of the analysis and include grouping the alternative tourism types for synergy and selection of one or two groups according to the SWOT analysis results.