Abstract:

This study has studied the effects of thermal resources in Gönen on tourism activities and economic and spatial changes. Therefore, first of all, the physical characteristics of the sources are assessed and compared to the close surroundings. Gönen is one of the first thermal tourism centers in our country in modern sense. Thermal tourism, which has developed with investments that began after the 1950s, has become one of the main sectors of the local economy. The majority of the sector serves tourists, with an average of 120-130 thousand per year. Today, the sector is integrated with Gönen not only by its economic dimension, but also by its socio-cultural and even image and symbolic dimensions. The tourism activities, in addition to the economic and social structure, have also shaped the place. In particular, the horizontal development of the city and its impact on urban land use is noticeable. It can be said that there is a need for a very extensive new planning.

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