From Ancient Paths to Modern Discoveries: The Backpacker Tourism Experience on the Lycian Way

Abstract

The experiences of backpackers hiking the Lycian Way have been thoroughly examined in this study. The study indicates that the path can be a means of experiencing several dimensions at once. The analysis of user comments collected on Google Maps revealed that the experiences of tourists were gathered into four primary dimensions. These dimensions are Emotional, Physical, Intellectual, and Spiritual. Gratefully, on one hand, the emotional dimension impresses the natural scenery to tourists which include the feelings of awe and peace they have. On the other hand, the physical dimension highlights the difficulties of the walk that require endurance. The intellectual dimension is an opportunity to gain new historical and cultural impressions of sites along the route while the spiritual dimension involves the deep connection to nature and self-growth aspect. The research shows that the Lycian Way is not only a physical activity but also an emotional, intellectual, and spiritual experience. These results offer newer insights in sustainable tourism practices and destination management. Moreover, attention to tourism research through online user comments is underlined and stressed that it gives a realistic data source. Future research can be done on the influence of such occurrences in various tourist profiles and their contributions to the local economy