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Authors: Ahmed Abdel Fattah, Mary E. Eddy-U

Abstract: Mosque-visiting is a form of religious tourism worthy of special consideration due to the
intense, mainly negative, media attention to Islam around the world. Despite a long scholarly tradition of looking at the relationship between Islam and tourism, the topic of non-Muslim visitors’ motivations and experiences in visiting mosques has not been researched. Terefore, this paper explores non-Muslim visitors’ motivations and experiences when visiting Al-Azhar mosque in Egypt. Tis paper presents the fndings of semi-structured interviews with twenty six non-Muslim visitors. Tree key themes were revealed of commonly reported motives and experiences shaping how non-Muslim visitors came to appreciate the site, namely: curiosity in learning more about Islam and its heritage sites; viewing icons of religious difference and taking photos; and personal interaction. Such experiences were explicitly secular and corresponded predominantly to the divergence paradigm of religious tourism. Important issues to be considered for the development and growth of non-Muslim mosque tourism are discussed. Finally, the paper indicates avenues for future research.

Keywords: mosques; Egypt; non-Muslim visitors; motivations; experiences; religious tourism.

DOI: 10.18421/TRZ20.03-01

Article info: 105-127

Received: August 2016 | Accepted: September 2016

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Authors: Akın Aksu, Sidal Yaşar, Kadir Öz, Ayşegül Demir, Ahmet Yasin Turgut, Syifa Fauziah

Abstract: Te main purpose of this research was investigating the current sustainability practices as well as training given to personnel and the use of discipline systems of 5-star hotels operating in the
Antalya Region of Turkey. Questionnaires used to survey responsible personnel recruited in the sampled 5-star hotels were evaluated seperately. SPSS 20.0 was used for the statistical evaluations. Regarding sustainability, 11 out of the 34 hotels sampled recruited environmental managers to provide training, implementation and control processes. Most of the sampled hotels gave information on waste management & recycling, energy savings and natural resource management topics to their personnel. Additionally, sampled hotels believed that trainings given on sustainability increase conscious awareness and sensitivity to the environment, quality of lifeand resourcesavings.From a practical perspective, the results of the research would be of help for tourism professionals, researchers and decision makers.Tis research is among the few to address current sustainability practicesof 5–Star Hotels in Antalya, Turkey in terms of current systems, training and best-practice policies.

Keywords: Sustainability practices, 5-Star Hotels, Antalya, Turkey

DOI: 10.18421/TRZ20.03-02

Article info: 128-140

Received: September 2016 | Accepted: October 2016

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Authors: Nikola V. Dimitrov, Cane Koteski, Zlatko Jakovlev, Tanja Angelkova Petkova, Dejan MetodijeskiA, Dusko JosevskiA

Abstract: Pelister National Park is the oldest Park in Macedonia and it’s established in 1948. The Park has an abundance of natural and anthropogenic geographical features.Mountaineering, alongside with sports, education and recreational tourism are the leading attractions for the tourists in the Park, which is evident from the system of trails suitable for these activities. The Park has great potential to harmonize the needs of different users. Te article is based on empirical research and a review of relevant literature. The empirical research was conducted on a sample of 124 respondentsin order to show the potential for the development of mountain, sport, educational and recreational tourism. The research includes interviews with climbers – presidents of mountaineering organizations in Bitola and the management team of Pelister. Trough the research we value the elements referring to attracting visitors to sports and recreation, as well as the elements of influence and management of natural resources in the PelisterNational Park. The results showed that National Parkis mostly practiced for mountaineering and climbing. From sports activitiesthe ones that dominated are skiing, Nordic running and cycling. Also the Park is a place for education and place with potential of developing health tourism.

Keywords: tourism, evaluation, mountaineering, sport, education, recreation, Pelister
National Park

DOI: 10.18421/TRZ20.03-03

Article info: 141-152

Received: September 2016 | Accepted: October 2016

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Authors: Nurettin Ayaz, Yüksel Öztürk

Abstract: It is essential that attitudes of stakeholders towards tourism be examined in today’s extreme competition among the destinations. It is further essential to carefully analyze the stakehold ers of destinations, which are going to be developed in rural areas and which plan to have a share in tourism gains. Te objective of this study is to present the relationship between the attitudes of mayors towards tourism and tourism activities of rural municipalities during the participation of the stakeholders in rural areas which are selected as areas for alternative tourism development. To this end, two-phase research process is followed where, in the frst phase, secondary sources are thoroughly examined and where, in the second phase, the relationship between the attitudes of mayors towards tourism and the activities of municipalities in rural areas is analyzed by the means of questionnaires conducted to the mayors. In the end of the research process, an intermediate relationship is identifed between the attitudes of mayors towards tourism and the activities of municipalities towards tourism. In the context of research fndings, certain suggestions are accordingly presented which might improve the mayors on tourism patterns and which might increase the level of participation of rural area municipalities in tourism.

Keywords: Rural area tourism, stakeholder analysis, mayors, mayor’s attitude, Turkey.

DOI: 10.18421/TRZ20.03-04

Article info: 153-167

Received: February 2016 | Accepted: October 2016