Tourism-driven migration to Southwestern Turkey

Abstract

Two provinces in Southwestern Turkey have emerged as new magnets for internal migration. Socioeconomic, demographic and labor market characteristics of immigrants coming to these provinces from various regions are studied using unpublished data to uncover the reasons fueling their moves. Differences and similarities between this area and other migrant magnets, between immigrants and natives in the two provinces, and among immigrants from various origins are explored. It is found that migrants from different origins tend to have different demographic, socioeconomic and labor market characteristics and tend to specialize in different types of work. What draws migrants to the Southwest is not industry or urban amenities, as is the case typically, but jobs created in the sectors related to tourism, either directly or indirectly.