Employment Experiences of Immigrant Workers in Tourism Sector: A Study on Syrian Immigrants in Istanbul

Joud Nayal; Burçin Cevdet Çetinsöz

Makale detayları

Employment Experiences of Immigrant Workers in Tourism Sector: A Study on Syrian Immigrants in Istanbul

Yazarlar:

Joud Nayal | Burçin Cevdet Çetinsöz

Yayıncı:

Süleyman Demirel University

Ana Başlıklar:

Turizm (Diğer)

Dergi:

Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Vizyoner Dergisi Vol.16 Issue 47, pp.980-1006

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001356639

pISSN:

1308-9552

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 The civil war in Syria has caused mass migration, making Turkey a key destination for forced migrants. Syrian migrants in Turkey must enter the labor market to sustain their livelihoods. Istanbuls strategic position in the tourism sector and its status as a migration destination preferred by Syrian migrants form the studys focus. The study aims to contribute to the literature by examining the employment access, working conditions, challenges, and future aspirations of Syrian migrants working in Istanbuls tourism sector, while developing policy recommendations to support their integration into the labor market. Using a qualitative research design, data collected from interviews with 15 Syrian migrants were analyzed with MAXQDA 2024. Findings show that migrants access employment more easily through social networks; however, lack of diploma recognition and absence of Turkish citizenship hinder participation. Despite limited experience, support from employers and coworkers in learning job tasks, along with a positive work environment, facilitates integration. Conversely, long working hours, low wages, informal employment, lack of work permits, and difficulties obtaining travel authorization constitute major challenges. Migrants with career aspirations in tourism plan to continue their activities in Turkey by opening travel agencies and working as tour guides after obtaining Turkish citizenship.

 The civil war in Syria has caused mass migration, making Turkey a key destination for forced migrants. Syrian migrants in Turkey must enter the labor market to sustain their livelihoods. Istanbuls strategic position in the tourism sector and its status as a migration destination preferred by Syrian migrants form the studys focus. The study aims to contribute to the literature by examining the employment access, working conditions, challenges, and future aspirations of Syrian migrants working in Istanbuls tourism sector, while developing policy recommendations to support their integration into the labor market. Using a qualitative research design, data collected from interviews with 15 Syrian migrants were analyzed with MAXQDA 2024. Findings show that migrants access employment more easily through social networks; however, lack of diploma recognition and absence of Turkish citizenship hinder participation. Despite limited experience, support from employers and coworkers in learning job tasks, along with a positive work environment, facilitates integration. Conversely, long working hours, low wages, informal employment, lack of work permits, and difficulties obtaining travel authorization constitute major challenges. Migrants with career aspirations in tourism plan to continue their activities in Turkey by opening travel agencies and working as tour guides after obtaining Turkish citizenship.

 The civil war in Syria has caused mass migration, making Turkey a key destination for forced migrants. Syrian migrants in Turkey must enter the labor market to sustain their livelihoods. Istanbuls strategic position in the tourism sector and its status as a migration destination preferred by Syrian migrants form the studys focus. The study aims to contribute to the literature by examining the employment access, working conditions, challenges, and future aspirations of Syrian migrants working in Istanbuls tourism sector, while developing policy recommendations to support their integration into the labor market. Using a qualitative research design, data collected from interviews with 15 Syrian migrants were analyzed with MAXQDA 2024. Findings show that migrants access employment more easily through social networks; however, lack of diploma recognition and absence of Turkish citizenship hinder participation. Despite limited experience, support from employers and coworkers in learning job tasks, along with a positive work environment, facilitates integration. Conversely, long working hours, low wages, informal employment, lack of work permits, and difficulties obtaining travel authorization constitute major challenges. Migrants with career aspirations in tourism plan to continue their activities in Turkey by opening travel agencies and working as tour guides after obtaining Turkish citizenship.

 Suriyedeki iç savaşın neden olduğu kitlesel göç, Türkiyeyi zorunlu göçün merkez ülkesi haline getirmiştir. Türkiyeye gelen Suriyeli göçmenler, geçimlerini sağlamak amacıyla işgücü piyasasına katılmak durumundadır. İstanbulun turizm sektöründeki stratejik konumu ve Suriyeli göçmenler tarafından tercih edilen bir göç şehri olması, bu araştırmanın odak noktasını oluşturmaktadır. Çalışma, İstanbulda turizm sektöründe çalışan Suriyeli göçmenlerin iş olanaklarına erişim yolları, çalışma koşulları, karşılaştıkları sorunlar ve gelecek beklentilerini inceleyerek literatüre katkı sağlamayı ve göçmenlerin işgücü piyasasına uyumunu destekleyecek politika önerileri geliştirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Nitel araştırma yöntemi benimsenen çalışmada, 15 Suriyeli göçmenle yapılan görüşmelerden elde edilen veriler MAXQDA 2024 programı aracılığıyla analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular, göçmenlerin sosyal ağlar aracılığıyla istihdama daha kolay katıldıklarını; ancak diploma denkliği eksikliği ve Türk vatandaşlığına sahip olmamanın süreci zorlaştırdığını göstermektedir. Mesleki deneyimleri bulunmasa da işverenler ve çalışma arkadaşlarının desteğiyle işin öğretilmesi ve olumlu bir çalışma ortamı sağlanması, istihdam sürecini kolaylaştıran etkenler arasındadır. Buna karşın, uzun çalışma saatleri, düşük ücretler, kayıt dışı istihdam, çalışma izni eksikliği ve seyahat izni alma güçlükleri temel sorunlar olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Turizm sektöründe kariyer hedefi olan göçmenler, Türk vatandaşlığı elde ettikten sonra seyahat acentesi açmak ve turist rehberi olarak faaliyet göstermek amacıyla turizm alanındaki çalışmalarını Türkiyede sürdürmeyi planlamaktadır.

Makale detayları

Employment Experiences of Immigrant Workers in Tourism Sector: A Study on Syrian Immigrants in Istanbul

Yazarlar:

Joud Nayal | Burçin Cevdet Çetinsöz

Yayıncı:

Süleyman Demirel University

Ana Başlıklar:

Turizm (Diğer)

Dergi:

Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Vizyoner Dergisi Vol.16 Issue 47, pp.980-1006

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001356639

pISSN:

1308-9552

Tourism

Migration

Syrians

Employment

İstanbulTurizm

Göç

Suriyeliler

İstihdam

İstanbul

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Joud Nayal | Burçin Cevdet Çetinsöz

Yayıncı: Süleyman Demirel University

Ana Başlıklar: Turizm (Diğer)

Dergi: Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Vizyoner Dergisi Vol.16 Issue 47, pp.980-1006

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 8/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001356639

pISSN: 1308-9552

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Joud Nayal | Burçin Cevdet Çetinsöz

Yayıncı:

Süleyman Demirel University

Ana Başlıklar:

Turizm (Diğer)

Dergi:

Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Vizyoner Dergisi Vol.16 Issue 47, pp.980-1006

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001356639

pISSN:

1308-9552