Journal of Tourism & Hospitality
Open Access

Abstract

Impacts of High Speed Trains on Tourism Development: A Case Study of Ankara Konya High Speed Rail Lines

Omer Faruk Gorcun

Regional and urban transportation systems have a key role in developments in tourism activities. While people prefer air and maritime transportation in cross-country travels, they may prefer rail and road transportation in domestic travels. In domestic travels, alternatives related to transportation play an important role in terms of increasing tourism demand. On the other hand, passenger transportation alternatives such as high speed rail systems, light rail systems, subways and trams in urban areas can play an important role in customer behaviors related to tourism demands. In the past, some factors, such as history, entertainment, food and beverage had an importance; nowadays factors related to transportation have begun to gain importance for customers for comfortable, safe, cheap, speedy and safe travels. If available, high speed trains are mostly preferred by passengers because of these advantages. High speed trains can help reduce the economic and external costs of transportation. International and domestic tourism demands may increase thanks to high speed trains (HST). This paper analyses the impacts of High Speed Trains (HST) on regional and urban tourism development. On the other hand, HST can provide unusual tourism alternatives, passengers may travel to places of interest which are not included in their original itinerary using HST. However, HST can increase tourism demand. Before and after the opening of the high-speed train services, occurred changes related to tourism demand, including customers’ behaviors were taken into consideration and they were analyzed as variables. In this study, the high speed rail line between Ankara and Konya cities is selected as a case study. Impacts of HST on tourism demand are evaluated with the data obtained in the surveys.