Prof. Dr. Serkan Bertan, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, evaluated the profiles of participants attending the sky observation events held at Topuklu Plateau in the Beyağaç district of Denizli, based on survey results covering the 2022–2026 period. First held on August 5–8, 2021, the event took place for the sixth time in 2026, between August 11 and 13. Prof. Dr. Bertan stated that the findings showed that the event had evolved from a one-time gathering into a regular astrotourism event.

Prof. Dr. Serkan Bertan noted that Topuklu Plateau's designation as Türkiye's first Dark Sky Park would increase its visibility and recognition both nationally and internationally, contribute to the development of the region, and help establish and promote it as an astrotourism destination.

63 Percent of Participants Have Attended at Least Twice

The most striking finding of the research was the increase in repeat visits. In 2023, 49.1 percent of participants were attending the event for the first time; this figure declined to 36.6 percent in 2026. Accordingly, the share of those attending for at least the second time rose from 50.9 percent to 63.4 percent. The proportion of participants attending three or more times also increased from 26.9 percent to 44.1 percent over the same period. The share of those attending for the third time rose from 8.3 percent to 16.8 percent, while the proportion of fourth-time attendees increased from 5.6 percent to 10.1 percent, nearly doubling. In 2026, approximately 6 out of every 100 participants had attended the event for the seventh time or more.

Prof. Dr. Bertan emphasized that these figures indicated the formation of a loyal visitor base for Topuklu Plateau and noted that repeat visitors were the most valuable audience for the sustainability of a rural destination.

In terms of age distribution, the share of participants aged 17 and under increased from 15.7 percent in 2023 to 28.0 percent in 2026. Regarding occupational distribution, the proportion of students rose from 6.3 percent in 2022 to 17.6 percent in 2026, nearly tripling. Civil servants remained the largest occupational group, accounting for 39.8 percent, while the share of retirees also increased from 6.3 percent to 9.2 percent.

The Event's Identity as a Family Activity Is Growing Stronger

Most participants attend the event with their families. The share of those attending with family members was 47.2 percent in 2022 and has remained between 52 and 58 percent since 2023, reaching 54.9 percent in 2026. The proportion of those attending with friends was 21.6 percent in 2026, while those attending with relatives accounted for 9.8 percent. Prof. Dr. Bertan stated that the increase in the proportion of child and young participants, when considered alongside family participation, demonstrated that sky observation offered an important opportunity for family tourism.

Social Media Is the Leading Source of Information

Social media is the main source through which participants learn about the event. Its share was 59.3 percent in 2023 and 53.7 percent in 2025, reaching the highest level of the period at 63.7 percent in 2026. The share of recommendations from friends and relatives, which had risen to 37.7 percent in 2025, stood at 29.4 percent in 2026. The share of other sources, meanwhile, declined from 10.2 percent to 6.9 percent.

Participants largely make the decision to attend the event themselves. The proportion of those who made the decision independently remained above 80 percent throughout the four-year period, reaching its highest level at 85.3 percent in 2026. The share of those who stated that their spouse influenced their decision was 8.8 percent, while 3.9 percent said that their friends had influenced their decision.

Half of the Participants Come from Outside Denizli

The event attracts interest from both Denizli and surrounding provinces. The share of participants coming from Denizli was 40.0 percent in 2022 and 35.6 percent in 2023, before increasing significantly over the last two years to 48.5 percent in 2025 and 49.6 percent in 2026. Nevertheless, approximately half of the participants (50.4 percent) came from outside the province in 2026. Among visitors from other provinces, Muğla (9.6 percent), İzmir (6.9 percent), İstanbul (6.2 percent), Antalya (6.1 percent), and Aydın (4.7 percent) stood out in 2026. Muğla's share was above 12 percent in 2023 and 2024, dropped to 3.8 percent in 2025, and rose again to 9.6 percent in 2026.

Prof. Dr. Bertan stated that Topuklu Plateau demonstrated how Denizli could offer a strong tourism product beyond Pamukkale, with its dark-sky characteristics, local products, and rural lifestyle. He added that the sky observation events held significant potential for Beyağaç in terms of astrotourism and rural development.