Page 422 - 360.revista de Alta Velocidad - Nº 5

Dalkic, Gulcin. Tuydes-Yaman, Hediye. Delaplace, Marie.

When considering tourism sector statistics, the province has much lower inputs compared
to the existing potential (Sahin, 2012). However, according to the 2023 Turkey National
Tourism Strategy Report, it is stated that a thermal tourism master plan will be prepared for
the Phrygian region in which Eskisehir is also located and this region will be an important
centre for health tourism (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 2007). According to 2011 data,
there are 55 accommodation facilities with 5603 bed capacity and the occupancy rate is
around 40% for the years between 2008 and 2010.

Image 1. Some of the touristic places in Eskişehir a) Riverside in City Centre b) Odunpazarı Historical Area c) City Centre d)
Sazova Theme Park

In a 2014 study conducted with domestic travellers, the destination of Eskişehir was described
as a “student-university and cultural city” (Üsküdar et al., 2014, Tokay-Argan, 2016). In another
study, ease of transportation, economic comfort, geographical proximity, existing of cultural
places, parks and museums, having a social life and shopping options were found as the factors
motivating people to visit Eskişehir (Oyman et al., 2010; Tokay-Argan, 2016). Another study
showed that the factors affecting the development of tourism in Eskişehir were marital status,
educational levels and income level. These factors caused differences in perception of problems:
as the level of income increase, perceptions about the existence of problems increase. When
the impact of HSR on Eskişehir was investigated, it was found that there has been an increase
in daily trips due to the travel time saving provided by HSR (Seçilmiş, 2011).

Figure 3 shows the number of arrivals and stay overnights between 2007 and 2012, the HSR
service having begun in 2009. There has been an increase in total number of visitors from
138,677 to 173,461 between 2007 and 2010, while foreign visitor number had some fluctuations
in this period. However, 2012 data indicates that the total number of visitors decreased to
143,526. There has been a 35% increase in the total number of stay overnight between 2007
and 2010 (Akoğlan-Kozak et al., 2011). It decreased to 231, 515 in 2012. The number of stay
overnight for foreign visitors increased to from 18,729 to 23,513 between 2010 and 2012. (Note:
for Figure 3, 2007-2010 data was gathered from Akoğlan Kozak et al. (2011), 2012 data was
compiled from Eskişehir Culture and Tourism Provincial Directorate (2012), and 2011 data is not
available.)

420 360.revista de alta velocidad