The Analysis of The Winter Tourism Potential of Ağrı Province

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The tourism sector has progressed substantially throughout the world, especially since the twentieth century. Depending on this development, it was noted that there were rapid changes and developments on both economic and socio-cultural structures of the countries that started to benefit from this sector. It has started to be observed that there is diversification and enrichment in the tourism sector depending on the needs and demands that have emerged with the impact of the globalization phenomenon. An important sector has emerged in tourism diversity with different names such as winter tourism, ski tourism or mountain tourism. Even though Turkey has stepped into this sector in a process that can be considered a little late, it has shown a rapid development and started to make investments by giving an important place to winter tourism in its tourism strategies. Within the scope of the 2023 Tourism Strategy, the corridor starting from Erzincan in the east-west direction and proceeding towards the route of Erzurum, Ağrı, Kars, Ardahan has been declared as a winter tourism investment region and has been included among the priority regions for private sector investments as well as public investments. In the study, it is aimed to determine the winter tourism potential in Ağrı, in order to determine the centres and to guide the new investments that can be made in the tourism sector. In the research, after the completion of the field studies, the data obtained from the observation were synthesized and interpreted by using content analysis, the data obtained from written sources was analysed via document analysis, and the statistical data obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry the General Directorate of Meteorology were analysed through frequency analysis. The fact that the snow stays on the ground for about 110 days in the mountainous regions where the altitude is high, especially on the northern slopes, shows that it has a favourable structure in terms of winter tourism. In addition, the presence of Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı), the highest mountain in our country, will increase tourism activities in the region and contribute great means to Ağrı. Besides, it has been understood that five different ski resorts have been built at different times and places in Ağrı since the 1960s, but they could not be utilized in terms of sustainability. The only ski resort that is actively used among these facilities is not equipped to serve tourism activities, since it is insufficient in terms of facilities and infrastructure, and can only provide daily service to the local people. As a result, it is understood that the structure in Ağrı cannot be adequately utilized, which has a rich winter tourism potential according to both topographic and climatological factors.

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Ağrı Province , Mount Ararat , Winter Tourism , Ski Tourism , Winter Sports Center

eastern geographical review

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eastern geographical review