Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Tourism Management and Hospitality
Year: 2024
DOI:
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A Qualitative Study of Campus Recreation Facilities in Northern Cyprus: Perspectives from Educational Tourists
Mohammad Samarghandi Khorassani, Hamed Rezapouraghdam
ABSTRACT:
Field research reminds us that college students are especially prone to mental stress as they encounter many challenges and tolerate increasing pressure to achieve scientific and social stability (Arnberger & Eder, 2015). Previous studies assert that feeling detached and recluse can destructively affect students’ academic achievement, their likelihood to persist as well as their mental health and well-being (Eubank & DeVita, 2023). National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA, 2004) reflected that campus recreation engagement eventually supports the recruitment, retention, and success of college students. Students who utilize recreational facilities report feeling more comfortable on campus with a greater sense of belonging than those who do not participate (Duran et al., 2020). The favorable outcomes can have a profound impact on the economy of the destinations and their sustainable development, specifically, in Northern Cyprus which relies heavily on revenue from educational tourism (Rezapouraghdam et al., 2018). Nevertheless, the Campus Recreation Facilities in Northern Cyprus, which host many international students, have not been thoroughly investigated. This study will use qualitative research methodology to immerse in the real-life experiences of educational tourists in this particular location. Purposefully selected educational tourists who are enrolled at the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) which is the only governmental institution in Northern Cyprus will be interviewed to share their lived experiences. The study aims to address the research topic of how to enhance recreational facilities to promote the mental and physical well-being of educational tourists. In particular, we will search for answering the following research question: How do educational tourists perceive the quality of campus recreation facilities of Northern Cyprus universities and how can universities improve educational tourists’ mental and physical well-being?
keywords: Campus recreation facilities; educational tourists; Northern Cyprus; qualitative research; EMU