Browsing by Author "Seyitoğlu, Faruk"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 31

Citation - Scopus: 6
Discovering cities with peer-to-peer local-guided bike tours: tourists’ experiences and perceptions
(Taylor & Francis Online, 2022) Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Atsız, Ozan
This study explores tourists’ experiences and perceptions of peer-to-peer (P2P) local-guided bike tours using a netnography approach. The content of reviews of tourists regarding P2P local-guided bike tours offered by a sharing economy platform–Withlocals–in different destinations was analysed. The results show that tourists’ experiences of P2P local-guided bike tours include discovery, hedonic, safety and comfort, edutainment, local interaction, and memorable aspects. In addition, tourists perceive P2P local-guided bike tours in various ways. Our findings illustrate that P2P local-guided bike tours can be defined as engaging activities that provide multidimensional and rich experiences and help explore a destination. Due to the lack of research on P2P local-guided bike tours and the increasing demand by tourists for these tours, this study fills the gap by exploring tourists’ P2P local-guided bike tour experiences and perceptions. Furthermore, although this research will guide scholars and practitioners, future studies could shed more light on the subject.
Cappadocia: the Effects of Tourist Motivation on Satisfaction And\rdestination Loyalty
(2020) Seyitoğlu, Faruk
The present study investigates how the motivations of foreign tourists visiting the Cappadocia region in Turkey affect\rtheir satisfaction and destination loyalty. The research was conducted using a questionnaire, which was answered by\r363 foreign tourists visiting Cappadocia. First, the main factors in tourists’ motivation for travel were determined. These\rmotivation factors and satisfaction and destination loyalty intention scales were used to conduct multiple regression\ranalyses. The results suggest that three categories of tourist motivations (‘novelty and learning’, ‘escape and relaxation’,\rand ‘socialization’) had a direct correlation with satisfaction, while two (‘novelty and learning’ and ‘escape and\rrelaxation’) had a direct correlation with destination loyalty. This work has implications for destination managers and\rtourism businesses, and we conclude with suggestions for future studies.
Citation - WoS: 3
Citation - Scopus: 4
GENDER (IN)EQUALITY AND WORK-LIFE (IM)BALANCE IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY LABOUR: PERSPECTIVES OF TOURISM ORGANISATIONS IN PORTUGAL
(University of Rijeka, 2023) Costa, Carlos; Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Malta, Ana Maria; Martins, Mariana
Purpose – This research note explores the perceptions of key stakeholders in tourism organisations regarding gender equality and work-life balance in the Portuguese tourism and hospitality industry. Methodology/Design/Approach – Eleven key stakeholders representing tourism organisations in Portugal were interviewed to obtain qualitative data. A content analysis was then conducted to uncover themes and sub-themes. Findings – The results show two main themes, including sub-themes: Gender inequality (partial gender equality, lack of gender salary equality, lack of women in higher positions, and gender inequality in career advancement) and work-life balance (the difficulty of balancing work and personal/family life and the need for better conditions for women accompanying children). Originality of the research – his study highlights gender equality and work-life balance in the tourism and hospitality industry from the perspective of managers of the leading tourism organisations in Portugal. The study also provides critical implications and future directions based on the findings.
Citation - WoS: 6
Citation - Scopus: 8
Dimensions of (post-)viral tourism revival: actions and strategies from the perspectives of policymakers in Portugal
(Taylor & Francis Online, 2021) Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Costa, Carlos; Malta, Ana Maria
This research explores the dimensions of (post-)viral tourism revival from the perspectives of policymakers in Portugal. Accordingly, the data were collected through semi-structured interviews with policymakers representing Portugal’s regional and national level tourism organisations. The findings include six main themes: financial actions, structural and logical strategies, demand-related strategies, workforce aspects and actions, marketing and promoting strategies, and optimization of funds. By providing the necessary actions and strategies, the present study results will be helpful for destinations to develop effective crisis management planning in the (post-)viral tourism to revive. Additionally, this paper is the first to reveal in detail the dimensions of (post-)viral tourism revival from the perspectives of policymakers who are in significant positions of regional and national level tourism organizations. Thence, the findings are original and will contribute to the tourism literature.
Citation - WoS: 25
Citation - Scopus: 29
Tourist Experiences of Guided Culinary Tours: The Case of Istanbul
(Journal of Culinary Science and Technology, 2021) Seyitoğlu, Faruk
The aim of this study is to investigate the culinary experiences of tourists visiting Istanbul, Turkey. This study adopted a qualitative case study method utilizing user-generated content by analyzing travelers’ comments on one of the most popular travel websites. The data was collected between 30 May and 28 June 2019 from travelers’ reviews. The findings show that culinary tour experiences are heterogeneous based on dimensions of guide, food characteristics (taste, variety, flexibility, and availability), educational experience, authentic experience, memorable experience, value/price, socialize/meet people, safety, the hospitality of locals, and satisfaction, recommendation, and revisit intentions. Since there are no previous empirical studies on the culinary tour experience of tourists in the existing literature, it is believed that this study provides a significant contribution to the current knowledge. Moreover, from a managerial perspective, this study provides an in-depth understanding of the culinary tour experience in tourist destinations.
Citation - WoS: 7
Citation - Scopus: 8
Tourism education and internships: a metaphor analysis
(ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2017) Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Çakar, Kadir
The objective of the present study was to examine tourism undergraduates' perceptions of their education and internship experiences through metaphorical analysis whilst striving to raise the awareness of tourism educators towards using metaphors. A qualitative methodology was used to explore this phenomenon. Participants were senior students (n = 94) from the Faculty of Tourism at Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey. The data were collected with a semi-structured questionnaire and processed using content analysis. Next, metaphors found in answers were categorised into different groups, and relevant excerpts were identified. The results provide insights useful to both tourism education providers and tourism establishments. Conclusions, limitations and future research directions are also presented.
Citation - WoS: 15
A netnography approach on the daily local-guided shopping tour experiences of travellers: An unexplored facet of the sharing economy
(Sage Journals, 2022) Atsız, Ozan; Seyitoğlu, Faruk
This research explores the travellers’ experience of daily local-guided shopping tours offered in a sharing economy platform-Withlocals using a netnography approach. Reviews of travellers participating in daily local-guided shopping tours in different destinations were gathered, and their content was analysed. As a result, seven main components of experiences of daily-local guided shopping tours revealed: guide, shopping companion, learning, hedonic experience, memorable experience, local interaction, and shop characteristics. The study substantially contributes to the shopping experience and sharing economy literature by providing a deep understanding of travellers’ shopping experiences in the local guided tours organised through sharing economy platforms.
Citation - Scopus: 10
Determinants and implications of travel motivations: international travellers visiting Cappadocia
(International Journal of Tourism Cities, 2021) Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Davras, Özgür
Purpose: This paper aims to explore the determinants and implications of travel motivations of international tourists visiting the Cappadocia destination. Design/methodology/approach: The quantitative research method focusing on numerical data was used to test the proposed hypotheses, and the survey technique has been used to collect data. The research participants consisted of 363 international tourists visiting the Cappadocia region/Turkey and spending at least one night there. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed using the AMOS 22 package program to ensure the scales’ construct validity. Then, the structural equation model was established to test the study’s hypothesis, and these hypotheses were tested with the help of path analysis. Findings: As determinants of travel motivations, while electronic word of mouth (eWOM) has a positive effect on travel motivation dimensions, the impact of travel risk perception is negative. Moreover, from the dimensions of travel motivations, novelty/learning and socialization positively affect destination loyalty. However, the influences of escape and relaxation and self-development are meaningless. Besides that, travel risk perception strongly impacts eWOM. Practical implications: Destination managers and practitioners must maintain a higher level of tourist motivation and reduce tourists’ travel risk perception levels to improve destination competitiveness by constituting a more loyal customer profile. Moreover, eWOM platforms should be used efficiently. Originality/value: This study points to a functional multidimensional model that contributes to the literature and guides destination managers and practitioners. The proposed framework of determinants and consequences of tourists’ travel motivation can also be applied in other service contexts. © 2021, International Tourism Studies Association.
Citation - WoS: 15
Citation - Scopus: 22
The two-way perspective of tourism undergraduates towards (post-)viral world: The future of tourism, and vocational development and career
(ScienceDirect, 2022) Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Atsız, Ozan; Kaya, Fazıl; Taş, Sedat
This timely paper explores the future of tourism and vocational career in the Covid-19 period from the perspective of undergraduate tourism students. The data were collected through semistructured interviews with 30 students majoring in tourism faculty departments following the qualitative methodology. The findings demonstrate that vocational development and career planning in the Covid-19 era and the future of tourism are the main dimensions identifying students’ perspectives. The vocational and psychological pandemic effects are shaping the future career decisions of students. Furthermore, the future of tourism includes the elements related to tourist expectations and behaviours and trends in the (post-)viral tourism.
Citation - WoS: 63
Citation - Scopus: 85
A conceptual study of the strategic role of gastronomy in tourism destinations
(International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 2020) Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Ivanov, Stanislav
The present study discusses the strategic role of gastronomy in destinations from the perspective of three theoretical foundations of strategic management, namely Resource-Based View (RBV), Emergent Strategy (ES), and Positioning Strategy (PS). Several concepts from the field of gastronomy are used, such as gastronomic identity, tourist behaviours (motivation, experience, consumption), a sense of place, and food image. Utilizing this multi-disciplinary literature, the present study provides an integrative review and develops a model explaining the strategic role of gastronomy in tourism destinations consisting of three main components (the source, process, and form of a strategy). According to the suggested model, gastronomic identity is considered a strategic resource for destinations. Depending on the gastronomic identity, a differentiation strategy can be formed in a destination that involves the presentation of gastronomic products developed and offered by discoverers (entrepreneurs, researchers, and tourists) to the relevant markets. This strategy is the result of an emergent, rather than deliberate, strategic process. However, when destination managers and stakeholders realize that a gastronomy-based strategy has emerged, such a strategy can also be transformed into a deliberate strategy. The predictions of the model are supported by the conceptual and empirical findings of earlier studies.
Citation - WoS: 9
Citation - Scopus: 8
Motivations and experiences of tourists visiting Hasankeyf as a last chance tourism destination
(Journal of Ecotourism, 2021) ÇAKAR, Kadir; Seyitoğlu, Faruk
The present study investigates the motivations and experiences of tourists visiting Hasankeyf–a historic district in the Batman province, situated in the southeast region of Turkey–as a last chance tourism (LCT) destination that has recently been submerged with the entry into operation of Ilısu Dam. A mixed-methods approach is employed for the study, in which quantitative data was collected via a survey filled out by visitors (n = 429) to the Hasankeyf heritage site, while qualitative data was obtained from the online reviews left by visitors (n = 78). The findings reveal that motivations to visit the site relate mostly to the ‘heritage’ and ‘last chance’ dimensions of the site. The study results reveal further that the motivation and the perception of authenticity are key indicators of a memorable tourism experience. Further implications are offered, along with recommendations for future research. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Citation - Scopus: 13
Motivation, perceived authenticity and satisfaction of tourists visiting the monastery of Mor Hananyo-Mardin, Turkey
(Emerald, 2022) Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Çakar, Kadir; Davras, Özgür
Purpose – This study aims to investigate the relationship between the dimensions of motivation, perceived authenticity and satisfaction of tourists visiting the Mor Hananyo Monastery as a heritage site. Design/methodology/approach – The quantitative research method was implemented to test the proposed structural model. Accordingly, a self-administered questionnaire was applied to 341 tourists visiting the monastery of Mor Hananyo between April and May 2019. First, confirmatory factor analysis was performed to ensure the scales’ construct validity; then, the covariance-based structural equation model was established to test the research hypothesis with the help of path analysis. Findings – The results showed that all motivation dimensions influence the objective authenticity perception of tourists. Heritage and ancestral motivations influence the constructive authenticity perception of tourists. However, the effect of educational motivation on the same variable was insignificant. Furthermore, only heritage motivation affects the existential authenticity perception of tourists. Originality/value – The results of this study demonstrate that tourist satisfaction has causal relationships with travel motivations and authenticity perceptions. Additionally, although tourist satisfaction has been accepted as an essential and extensively discussed subject in the tourism literature, this study is the first to examine the structural relationships of travel motivations (ancestral, heritage and educational motivations), authenticity perceptions (objective, constructive and existential authenticity) and tourist satisfaction in the monastery context.
Gastronomy Scholars’ Perspectives towards the Gastronomy Term: A Metaphorical Analysis
(2019) Seyitoğlu, Faruk
The purpose of this paper is to examine gastronomy scholars’ perspectives onto gastronomy term. By adopting qualitative research method, content analysis was utilized. The data were drawn from interviews with 29 scholars from tourism faculties in seven Turkish universities. After content analysis, the metaphors were put forward by the interviewees categorized into different groups such as tangible attributes, intangible attributes, living beings, food and nature, places and miscellaneous comparisons. Gastronomy and tourism scholars have yet to study the potentially useful applications of metaphors empirically. This study thus intends to fill a gap in the existing literature.
Citation - WoS: 2
Citation - Scopus: 2
Independent or chain-affiliated hotel? The dilemma of hotel employees
(Tourism and Hospitality Management, 2023) Ivanov, Stanislav; Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Yaneva Ba, Victoria
Purpose – This study examines the relationships between hospitality work experience factors and employees’ preference to work in a chain or independent hotel. Methodology/Design/Approach – Quantitative data were collected from hotel employees in Bulgaria who worked in independent and chain hotels. A total of 150 valid responses were used to conduct factor and regression analyses. Findings – The results illustrate that chain hotels provide a better set of operational standards and guidelines, more and better training than independent ones. They also give more opportunities to their employees for career development, better job security and work experience, but competition among employees in chain hotels is higher than in independent properties, and their employees’ salaries are not always more competitive. The factor analysis showed the existence of five factors. Additionally, ‘Communication and decision-making’ and ‘Resources and planning’ were more important than ‘Remuneration and working conditions’ and ‘Training and development’ in shaping employees’ preferences. However, ‘Workload and stress’ was not an important driver of respondents’ choice. Finally, demographic variables had no role in shaping respondents’ preferences. Originality of the research – This paper is one of the first to examine the factors that influence hotel employees’ preferences for working in chains or independent hotels.
Citation - WoS: 142
Citation - Scopus: 162
Service robots as a tool for physical distancing in tourism
(Current Issues in Tourism, 2021) Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Ivanov, Stanislav
COVID-19 pandemic is affecting negatively the tourism and hospitality industry. As people must avoid physical interaction, service robots can be a useful tool to ensure a high level of physical social distance during the epidemic. This paper discusses whether the application of service robots to provide physical distance in the tourism and hospitality context is going to be beneficial or there will be side effects as well. The paper posits that service robots create a technological shield between tourists and employees that increases the physical and emotional distance between them.
Citation - WoS: 16
Citation - Scopus: 28
A scenario planning framework for the (post-)pandemic tourism in European destinations
(Taylor & Francis Online, 2022) Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Costa, Carlos
Based on some presumptions or conditions to portray the future, scenario planning is a vital tool for scholarly evaluation of uncertainties and forming supportive strategies. Moreover, seeing that the course of the Covid-19 pandemic and the success of herd immunity is still not predictable, the world should be prepared for different future scenarios. In this vein, this study was designed to develop a scenario planning framework for the (post-)pandemic tourism in European destinations to make assumptions for the future and provide the necessary strategies. According to our scenarios, we suggest strategies comprising six main categories (financial strategies, travellers’ expectations and confidence, coordination and collaboration, employment, (post-)pandemic tourism marketing, and sustainable (post-) pandemic tourism) for policymakers, destination managers, stakeholders, and practitioners in European destinations. To the best of our knowledge, this research is the first that presents a comprehensive scenario planning framework for (post-)pandemic tourism in European destinations. Thus, it can play a reference role in understanding the different circumstances and determining the specific strategies to recover or re-design the industry in the (post-)pandemic epoch.
Citation - WoS: 1
Analysis of the names of accommodation establishments in Bulgaria
(Anatolia, 2021) Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Ivanov, Stanislav; Dimitrova, Fani
This paper identifies the categories of accommodation establishments’ names in Bulgaria and determines the role of a property’s characteristics (category, location, type, and size/capacity) on the chosen name using a quantitative approach. The findings indicate that male, female, and family names, and names indicating geographic toponyms, represent nearly half of all names. Plants, emotions, and quality-related words are also widely used. Furthermore, results reveal that category, location, size, and type of establishment influence the naming of establishments. In addition, the findings illustrate that Bulgarian names prevail in the naming of establishments. Binary logistic regression reveals that urban, higher category, and larger properties are more likely to have foreign names. The theoretical and destination marketing implications are discussed as well.
Citation - WoS: 3
Citation - Scopus: 3
Defining the Current Position of the Gastronomy Field in Turkey
(Journal of Culinary Science and Technology, 2021) Seyitoğlu, Faruk
The present study aims to investigate and define the current position of the gastronomy field in Turkey. In order to achieve this, interviews were held with academics who are involved in the field of gastronomy. According to the analysis of the data, the nature of gastronomy both as a field and a concept is ‘multi-defined/comprehensive’, has a ‘multi-component’ structure, is ‘interdisciplinary’, ‘lacks a specific (unique) research question’, and ‘is accepted mainly as practical area’. It then became clear that there have been some developments, such as ‘gaining attention and developing as an educational field’, ‘the increase in the number of publications and opportunities to publish’ and ‘the formation of a scientific community’. Some deficiencies and necessities have also emerged that are related to issues as ‘theoretical background’, ‘education’, ‘research area’, ‘the number of publications and opportunities to publish’, ‘methods’ and ‘the ideal gastronomy academic profile’.
Şanlıurfa’yı Ziyaret Eden Turistlerin Seyahat Motivasyonları
(2020) Harman, Serhat; Seyitoğlu, Faruk
Motivasyon, turistlerin belirli seyahat yerini veya turizm faaliyetlerini seçme nedenlerini açıklayabilmek adına önemli ve dolayısıyla destinasyon yönetimi ve pazarlamasının etkinliği açısından faydalı bir olgudur. Bu çalışmada temel amaç Şanlıurfa’yı ziyaret eden turistlerin hangi motivasyonlara sahip olduğunun belirlenmesidir. Şanlıurfa’yı ziyaret edenturistlerin profillerinin ve seyahat alışkanlıklarının neler olduğu da araştırmanın alt amaçlarını oluşturmaktadır. Bu çalışmada nicel yaklaşım çerçevesinde veriler üç bölümden oluşan anket formu yardımıyla toplanmıştır. Veriler Şanlıurfa'nın en çok ziyaret edilen aylarında (Eylül, Ekim ve Kasım 2019) toplanmıştır. Toplam 400 geçerli anket analize tabi tutulmuştur. Araştırmanın veri analizi sonucu, Şanlıurfa’yı seyahat eden turistlerin motivasyonlarının ‘kültür ve öğrenme’, ‘rahatlama’, ‘Şanlıurfa dokusu’ ve ‘sosyalleşme/saygınlık kazanma’ olmak üzere dört boyuttan oluştuğunu göstermektedir. Ayrıca çalışma kapsamında seyahat motivasyonlarının demografik özellikler ve seyahat alışkanlarına göre farklılık gösterdiği de tespit edilmiştir.
Citation - WoS: 10
Citation - Scopus: 8
Double-edged perspectives on service robots: working with robots and robots’ future career impacts
(Taylor & Francis Online, 2022) Seyitoğlu, Faruk; Atsız, Ozan; Taş, Sedat; Kaya, Fazıl
This study investigates the perspectives of undergraduate tourism and hospitality students on working with robots and the influence of the widespread use of robots on future careers. Accordingly, interviews were conducted with thirty students. The findings include two main categories: working with robots in the tourism and hospitality industry (advantages of working with robots, disadvantages of working with robots, and willingness to work with or implement robots) and future career impacts of the widespread use of robots (threatening human employment, reducing the motivation toward working in the industry, unfair competition between humans and robots, negative psychological impact/feeling of being less skilled than robots, and giving up/changing the industry). This research contributes to the literature by revealing the dimensions of working with robots and the future career impacts of the widespread use of robots. A model of future career impacts of the widespread use of robots was also proposed.