Determination of Digital Literacy Levels of Tourism Education Students: Muğla Case

Abstract

With the advancement of information and communication technologies, the digital revolution has contributed to the emergence of new business models. To adapt to this transformation, it is essential for business employees to acquire the skills and competencies required by the modern work environment. Initiating this process during individuals' educational journey, before entering professional life, is crucial in terms of cultivating digitally literate individuals. This study aims to determine the digital literacy levels of students receiving tourism education. The research was conducted with 204 undergraduate students enrolled at the Faculty of Tourism, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, during the 2024–2025 academic year. A survey method was employed, and the data were analyzed using parametric tests. According to the results, students’ overall level of digital literacy is moderate. Among the sub-dimensions of the scale, privacy and security were found to be at a good level; ethics and responsibility, and daily use were at a moderate level; general knowledge and functional skills, as well as the social dimension, were at a low level; and professional production was determined to be at a very low level. Additionally, a significant difference in digital literacy levels was observed in favor of male students based on the gender variable. A positive correlation was also found between computer usage level and digital literacy. The findings are expected to contribute to both tourism enterprise managers operating in the field and academic educational institutions.