Tourist Destination Management. Comparative Case Study of Two Tourist Destinations: The Island of Kefalοnia in Greece and the City of Bolu in Turkey

This study offers a comparative examination of two regional tourist destinations Kefalonia (Greece) and Bolu (Turkey) focusing on aspects of local tourism governance, stakeholder involvement, destination branding, and sustainability practices. While both destinations share common features as nonmetropolitan areas rich in natural and cultural resources, they appear to follow somewhat distinct developmental and planning approaches. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research integrates semi-structured interviews with key local stakeholders and a review of relevant policy documents, reports, and academic literature. The findings indicate that tourism governance in Kefalonia is characterized by a continued reliance on seasonal mass tourism, with limited strategic diversification. On the other hand, Bolu demonstrates a more integrated and multilevel governance model, supported by participatory mechanisms, thematic diversification, and a more structured incorporation of environmental sustainability principles. The analysis highlights a series of good practices from the Bolu case such as stakeholder collaboration and strategic planning which, with appropriate contextual adaptation, could inform the development of tourism governance in comparable destinations. Overall, the study underscores the importance of coherent governance frameworks, inclusive stakeholder participation, and sustainability as foundational elements for fostering resilient and balanced tourism development.