Özet:

Although women’s travel around the world is known to have increased in the 18th and 19th centuries, supporting women in the travel industry in Türkiye came to the fore with the understanding of social tourism within the framework of the 3rd Five-Year Progress Plan (1973-1977). However, the patriarchal social structure caused women to leave many of their freedoms behind, some of the roles assigned to them. The freedom to travel is one of these liberations. The women who prefer traveling alone for a variety of reasons, including being independent, personal satisfaction, escapement and self-empowerment in recent years have come across some security-related problems during their travels. This study intends to shed light on what it means to be a female tourist in Türkiye and highlight the challenges that female tourists traveling alone undergo during their travels. The data was collected utilizing document analysis technique. According to the news in visual and printed media, as a result of the study, international female tourists who visit Türkiye encounter serious problems such as extortion, harassment, and rape. Such incidents, which appear in visual and printed media, are important because they negatively affect the country’s image and tourism. The study once again emphasizes the freedom women’s travel, who continue to exist in 2023, when the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye will be celebrated, and who have achieved various successes in almost every field. It should not be forgotten that the “safety” element, which constitutes one of the most important components of travel, is indispensable for female tourists; the concept of “women-friendly tourism” should be adopted by central and local governments, as well as tourism enterprises.

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