CHILDREN OF TOURISM: CHILDREN ON THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND SIDES OF TOURISM

Children's tourism is a strategically important and stimulating field that has long been neglected in tourism research. There are only a few studies in the literature regarding children and their holiday preferences. Therefore, future studies targeting this age group can demonstrate the importance of these groups—which have been more neglected compared to traditional adult markets—in terms of being a market that can also preserve the long-term existence of tourism destinations. Historically, the tourism sector in industrial and post-industrial Western societies has not paid much attention to the children's tourism market.

Changes in family structure in the early 21st century have led to significant shifts regarding people traveling with their families, resulting in new trends such as shifting from traditional holidays to cultural travels and participating in activities abroad. Decisions regarding where families will go and what they will do there are now increasingly influenced by children. The tourism industry is also leaning more towards this market, and child-friendly services are taking up more space in destinations. Due to these developments mentioned on the demand side of tourism, this market segment requires more attention than ever before, and service providers need to develop new approaches and products to meet the holiday expectations of this demographic group.

Looking at the other side of the coin, there is a growing danger directed towards children in tourism, also defined as "child abuse or exploitation." Child abuse is an international shame today, and various studies show that they are abused in a significant part of the world. According to an organization named ECPAT (SECTT), despite 20 years of efforts in this field, unfortunately, this problem is becoming even more widespread worldwide. In other words, the apathy toward the global spread of the risk of child abuse and exploitation could have severe social and economic consequences. Various studies report the main causes of child abuse as making money from foreigners, the use of children by illegal organizations for their own purposes, cheap labor, contributing to poor families, and meeting personal needs.

Consequently, child abuse is the biggest disgrace of tourism that must be swiftly resolved by relevant public authorities and international organizations. The primary purpose of this presentation is first to draw the public's attention and focus to this important problem, to establish a tourism approach in which all children can freely participate, and to encourage tourism service providers to create products that more satisfyingly meet the expectations and needs of children.