Tourism Education Universities in Turkey: Comparison of Different Structures and Related Effects on Education Quality

AbstractThere are many different tourism education applications in Turkey, common ones being; tourism faculties and their tourism related departments, departments of tourism management under business faculties or faculties of economics and administrative sciences, vocational tourism schools and tourism and hotel schools; all having their advantages and disadvantages brought to the tourism higher education system. Thus this rapid increase in the quantity has led to many complex and variable structures and forms in higher tourism education. The aim of this study is to analyze and discuss the different organizational structures of higher tourism education in Turkey and focus on the strengths and weaknesses of each by offering suggestions. In this study, qualitative research is conducted and among the methods available interview technique is preferred due to its suitability for the research area. The interview questions were open ended and structured and interviews were held face to face where the population of the study consisted of 20 people who are educators and experts in Turkish tourism educatio