Tourism Climate Index (TCI): A Study for 29 Regions of Türkiye and Selected Coastal Regions

This study examines the spatial and temporal variability of Tourism Climate Index (TCI) values across selected meteorological stations in Türkiye during 2000–2025. Using observations from 29 meteorological stations, the analysis investigates regional differences in TCI-derived climatic suitability and evaluates temporal trends at selected coastal locations. The study applies TCI as an established tourism climatology assessment framework; it does not constitute an empirical validation of the index against tourist preferences or physiological measurements. The Tourism Climate Index (TCI) is a valuable tool for assessing climatic suitability in tourism destinations in Türkiye, particularly in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions. In this study, data from 29 meteorological stations and several major coastal tourism destinations, including Antakya, Mersin, Antalya, Marmaris, Bodrum, Çeşme, İzmir, and Çanakkale, were analyzed to calculate TCI values and evaluate tourism climate conditions. Biometeorological research related to tourism and recreation has received increasing attention because tourism activities are strongly influenced by climatic conditions. Consequently, assessing the potential impacts of climate change on tourism and recreation has become an important research priority. This study contributes to the biometeorology literature by investigating the spatial variability of tourism-related bioclimatic conditions in Türkiye using the Tourism Climate Index (TCI). The analysis is based on meteorological data obtained from stations located along the coastal corridor extending from Çanakkale to Antakya. The results provide insights into the spatial distribution of climatic suitability for tourism across Türkiye’s coastal regions and highlight the role of climate as a key factor influencing tourism development. The findings are expected to support tourism planning and management by improving understanding of regional tourism climate conditions and raising awareness of the importance of climatic factors in shaping tourism activities. The Tourism Climate Index (TCI) values indicate that the Aegean coastal zone generally exhibits more favorable tourism climate conditions than the Mediterranean coastal zone. This difference is primarily attributable to the more moderate thermal conditions and stronger wind regimes characteristic of the Aegean region, which contribute to improved outdoor comfort, particularly during the summer months. In contrast, the Mediterranean coast is more frequently affected by higher temperatures and greater heat stress, which can reduce climatic suitability despite its abundant sunshine and limited precipitation. As a result, the Aegean coast tends to achieve higher TCI scores and provides more comfortable conditions for a wider range of tourism activities, including beach tourism, urban sightseeing, nature-based recreation, and shoulder-season tourism. Trend analysis using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator revealed statistically significant decreasing trends (p < 0.001) in the Tourism Climate Index (TCI) at seven of the eight coastal stations. Sen’s slope values ranged from −0.18 to −0.28 TCI units year−1, with the greatest declines observed at Antalya and Antakya. Marmaris was the only station that showed no statistically significant trend (p = 0.73). Overall, the results indicate a consistent deterioration in climatic suitability for tourism across the majority of the study area during the study period.