Examining the Impacts of Tourism on Gumushane Residents According to the Doxey Index

Abstract

Tourism is a versatile activity that can have both positive and negative impacts on touristic destinations and local people. Reducing the negative impacts of tourism on touristic destinations depends on the development of a planned tourism. Accordingly, it is primarily required to determine the level of present tourism activities in destinations in order to achieve the planned tourism development. In this context, the ‘Doxey Irritation Index’, presented by Doxey (1975) based on the stages of euphoria, apathy, irritation and antagonism, is an important guide in determining the level of tourism development in destinations. In this direction, the purpose of this study is to determine the stage of Gumushane in terms of tourism development level according to the “Doxey Irritation Index” by revealing the opinions of Gumushane residents about Gumushane tourism. Accordingly, the opinions of Gumushane residents about tourism were consulted via face-to-face interviews. As a consequence, it was determined that tourism in Gumushane was at the stage of euphoria (beginning) according to the “Doxey Irritation Index”. Besides, the vast majority of Gumushane residents stated that tourism would not have negative social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts on Gumushane.