GIS based daily tourism route proposal for surrounding provinces and districts from Ankara’s Çankaya district (Turkey)

Abstract With the dynamic evolution of the tourism sector, a multitude of shifts in tourism activities and traveler motivations have transpired. These changes, spurred by technological advancements, economic fluctuations, and geopolitical developments due to heightened global competition, have introduced a fresh dimension to tourism dynamics. Significantly, the strategic creation of new tourism itineraries has become pivotal, given the tourism sector's integral role in city branding. In this study, the focal point was the Çankaya district within the Ankara province, deemed a central reference. Positioned at the heart of Turkey, Ankara province boasts the second-largest population according to TUIK (2020) data. Within this province, Çankaya district stands as the most densely populated, rendering it the designated study area. In Çankaya, which is one of the most heavily employed areas by public workers in Turkey, strategically positioned and with high population potential, the tourism planning of day trips, especially on weekends, is crucial to be conducted within the framework of time–distance savings. Without such planning, it might be challenging to achieve an efficient travel organization, especially for tourists who allocate fewer resources to travel planning in recent years, have limited time, and are selective about tourism destinations. In line with the research problem, the aim of the study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of tourism accessibility, using the example of Çankaya district in Ankara, and to visualize the results of the analysis within a quantitative methodology framework to present concrete outputs. The more specific objective of this study is to determine a tourism route that allows tourists to reach important tourist attractions in the shortest and most convenient routes within the framework of time–distance savings, with a maximum travel time of 3 h in the research area. The expected scientific contributions from the objectives are as follows: contributing to transportation optimization related to tourism, bringing attention to historical, natural, and cultural places within the determined tourism route that are still undiscovered, less known, or not evaluated as individual tourism destinations, providing valuable information to destination managers, raising awareness about tourism opportunities in each destination, and contributing economically to the region. Employing a quantitative methodology, the study hinged on time-based road matrix analysis, facilitated by Geographical Information Systems, to chart routes from Çankaya district to surrounding districts. During this analysis, preference was given to routes with gentle curves, mitigating negative impacts on vehicle speed compared to more convoluted alternatives. Subsequently, leveraging 21 distinct types of tourism attractions, tourism sites feasible for visits within 1, 2, and 3-h intervals were pinpointed. At the study's culmination, an assemblage of 841 daily tourist destinations in and around Ankara were meticulously delineated and cartographically depicted using MapInfo Pro 2019.3 version. This endeavor underscores a concerted effort to offer tourists, both local and beyond, a well-crafted roadmap to explore and relish the plethora of cultural, historical, and natural treasures that Ankara and its neighboring regions have to offer.