An Evaluation of Turkey’s Renewable Energy Resources and Thermal Tourism Development*

Abstract

In recent years, energy has become one of the most important issues in the world. The world population continues to increase and the growing demand of the industry increases the demand for energy. Energy consumption, based on fossil fuels such as gasoline, coal and nuclear energy, has caused environmental pollution and increasing environmental pollution has made the
use of renewable energy compulsory. Researches on renewable energy sources are increasing together with consumption of energy sources. Renewable energy sources have a wide range of uses. Renewable energy sources make it possible to sustain the supply of energy with the ability to be renewable. Renewable energy sources such as geothermal heat, sun, wind, rain,
tides, currents and ripples constantly renew themselves. Turkey’s renewable energy sources offer significant opportunities in terms of diversity and potential. Especially, geothermal resources are also used for centuries for both health and industrial purposes. The distribution of the geotermal areas is important. Recently, geothermal fields gained touristic attractions in some regions in Turkey. Thermal tourism makes important contributions to the economy of the country and the region, and has important effects on the social structure. Thermal tourism potential of Turkey has rapidly been increasing over the years. The aim of this study is to evaluate geothermal resources, one of the renewable energy sources in Turkey, from the point of thermal tourism. A SWOT analysis was conducted according to the literature to evaluate thermal tourism in Turkey and some strategies related to thermal tourism in Turkey were discussed.