Social tourism as a tool for creating an inclusive society :|examining Turkey’s alternative camp

Abstract

Social tourism is a well-known type of tourism practiced commonly in Europe because of its benefits. Academic studies on social tourism in Europe are also widespread. However, in Turkey, social tourism practices, and academic studies on social tourism are few. This current research and its conceptual framework are motivated by an awareness of the positive impact of social tourism on the inclusion of disadvantaged groups in society. The aim of the research is to explore the potential of social tourism for creating an inclusive tourism form through investigating a non-governmental social tourism organization and its management model. Therefore, the Alternative Camp in Turkey, which is a social tourism practice developed by a social entrepreneur, was examined as a case study with ethnographic research methods. Data was gathered by semi-structured face-to-face interviews and participant observation methods over a year. In addition to the primary data, secondary data was collected in the form of organizational and other types of documents. The findings of the study bring a new perspective to social tourism in Turkey. According to research findings, a new definition of social tourism proposed. Finally, the research develops a social tourism management model. The model proposes that social tourism should be governed by considering three components: (1) sustainable financial support, (2) a strong volunteer structure, (3) an aspirational goal.