The Point of View of Youth in Youth Tourism: Comparison of Eastern Mediterranean University and Kocaeli University

Abstract

Tourism is a type of action in which individuals begin with traveling from one place to another and perform in accordance with their preferences and possibilities. These opportunities are changing day by day in the globalized world. This change has determined the social structure of young people, their welfare level, their preferences and most importantly their wishes and curiosities and prepared the ground for the emergence of youth tourism. The aim of this study is to examine the perspectives of 18-25-year-old students studying at Eastern Mediterranean University and Kocaeli University on youth tourism and to determine the factors affecting the preferences of young people. A survey was conducted on 283 people studying at Eastern Mediterranean and Kocaeli University in order to determine the expectations and attitudes of young individuals before and during travel and to evaluate the factors which are effective. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the gender variable did not have a direct effect on university students' attitude and view towards youth tourism. In addition, it is seen that young people studying at Eastern Mediterranean and Kocaeli University indirectly affect youth tourism in terms of both economic and trust variables. This study will contribute to the future studies in order to make a comprehensive determination of the factors that affect young tourists' view of youth tourism.