Tourist Destination

Vol. 3, No. 2 (2025) • pp. 39-51 • Research Papers

Determining the professional self-esteem levels of tourism guide students

Seda Çiçekli Ayyıldız, Hande Akyurt Kurnaz

This study aims to examine the levels of professional self-esteem among students enrolled in a tourism guiding program and to determine whether these levels differ according to selected demographic and educational variables. A quantitative research design was employed, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 198 undergraduate students studying tourism guiding at a public university during the 2024-2025 academic year. Professional self-esteem was measured using an adapted version of the Professional Self-Esteem Scale, and the data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, independent samples t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. The results indicate that students generally exhibit moderate to high levels of professional self-esteem. Significant differences were observed in certain dimensions of professional self-esteem with respect to gender and class level. Furthermore, prior knowledge about the profession and voluntarily choosing the program were found to be significant determinants of students' sense of professional belonging. These findings suggest that professional self-esteem among tourism guiding students is shaped not only by individual characteristics but also by educational experiences and informed career choices. The study contributes to the limited empirical literature on professional self-esteem in tourism education and provides insights for strengthening professional identity development in tourism guiding programs.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18096641

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Vol. 3, No. 2 (2025) • pp. 53-65 • Research Papers

The role of service orientation in shaping tourism students' willingness to work within the sector

Selda Güven, Berna Mazlum, Esra Cesur, Seda Şahin, Merve Aycan

A shortage of qualified personnel in the tourism sector adversely affects service quality, a problem exacerbated by insufficient tourism-trained staff and the tendency of tourism graduates to leave the industry. This study aims to examine the relationship between service orientation and the intention to work in the tourism sector, as well as to identify potential differences based on demographic and educational characteristics. Data were collected from 470 tourism students through convenience sampling and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS statistical software. The findings indicate that the type of degree program significantly influences service orientation. Moreover, the intention to work in the tourism sector varies according to the type of university attended, voluntary department choice, prior awareness of job requirements, and the decision to pursue tourism education despite knowledge of employment conditions. The results reveal a statistically significant and positive relationship between service orientation and the intention to work in the tourism sector. These findings suggest that alignment between individual personality traits and career choice enhances employee effectiveness and contributes to service quality and sectoral sustainability.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18106632

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Vol. 3, No. 2 (2025) • pp. 67-85 • Research Papers

Socio-cultural, economic and environmental impacts of tourism from the perspective of local people: A field study in the context of sustainability

Gökhan Onat, Ramazan YAĞCI, Hümeyra KASAR, Ömer ERTAN, Hamza YILMAZ

The purpose of this study is to examine the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic perceptions of the local population living in the provinces of Rize and Trabzon in the Eastern Black Sea Region regarding sustainable tourism development within the framework of stakeholder theory and to reveal whether these perceptions differ according to demographic variables. A quantitative research design was adopted in the study; data were obtained from 360 participants reached through convenience sampling via a questionnaire prepared using a 5-point Likert scale. The construct validity of the scale was tested using exploratory factor analysis, and its reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. In addition to descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used in the analysis of the data. The research findings show that the local community's perceptions of the economic effects of tourism are highly positive, while they exhibit a more cautious attitude regarding environmental and socio-cultural effects. Furthermore, it was determined that perceptions of economic sustainability significantly strengthened with increasing education level and income; age, marital status, and monthly income variables created significant differences in some sustainability dimensions. In contrast, no significant differences in perceptions were found based on gender, income from tourism, and place of residence variables. The research highlights the decisive role of local community perceptions in the success of sustainable tourism policies; it contributes to the development of region-specific governance and planning strategies aimed at strengthening local participation within the stakeholder theory framework.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18115780

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Vol. 3, No. 2 (2026) • pp. 87-99 • Research Papers

Haute Cuisine, Cultural Capital, and Tourist Destination Image: A Qualitative Study from Türkiye

Osman Özer

This study approaches haute cuisine and fine dining not only as an area of gastronomic development but also as a strategic tool for the image building, international positioning, and competitive differentiation of tourist destinations. The primary objective of the research is to examine the role of the fine dining ecosystem in Turkey on destination image from a multi-stakeholder perspective and to reveal its contributions to the destination marketing and management literature. The research was designed within the qualitative research paradigm using a phenomenological approach; data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews. A total of 19 participants, selected through purposive sampling, consisted of Michelin-starred chefs, fine dining restaurant owners, young generation chefs, gastronomy academics, gastronomy writers, consumers who regularly experience fine dining, and international gastrotourists. The data obtained were analyzed using thematic analysis. The research findings show that fine dining experiences enhance the perceived prestige, cultural sophistication, and experiential value of destinations. Fine dining stands out as a symbolic tool that highlights the dimensions of exclusivity and quality in destination image, especially for tourist segments with high spending potential. It was determined that international guides such as the Michelin Guide play an important role in increasing the global visibility of Turkey's fine dining scene; however, this visibility has not yet been transformed into a comprehensive and sustainable strategy in the context of destination marketing and management. In conclusion, the study reveals that fine dining is not only a gastronomic value for Turkey but also a strategic asset in terms of destination image and international competitiveness; it offers important theoretical and practical insights in the context of destination management, gastronomic diplomacy, and brand positioning.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18118050

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Vol. 3, No. 2 (2026) • pp. 101-112 • Review Paper

An examination of the Fener Alayı and Şivlilik tradition as an element of intangible cultural heritage (ICH)

Aslı Sultan Eren, Özgenur Şeker

The aim of this study is to examine the Fener Alayı and Şivlilik traditions, which are specific to Regaip Kandili and practiced in Konya, at a conceptual and theoretical level within the framework of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) approach. The study is based on the assumption that these rituals should be evaluated not only as religious practices but also as multidimensional cultural practices in the context of building social belonging, maintaining cultural identity, keeping collective memory alive, and intergenerational cultural transmission processes. The research does not rely on empirical data collection techniques from qualitative research methods; it is a conceptual study designed using a traditional (narrative) literature review approach. The theoretical framework is structured based on UNESCO's ICH classification and Turner's theory of rites of passage and collective memory approaches. The literature review determined that the Fener Alayı and Şivlilik traditions highly correspond to the categories of "social practices, rituals, and festive events" and "oral traditions and expressions" in UNESCO's ICH classification. The findings reveal that these rituals play a decisive role in children's culture and socialization processes, strengthen community solidarity at the neighborhood level, and contribute to the reproduction of local cultural identity. The study emphasizes that evaluating the Fener Alayı and Şivlilik traditions as elements of SOKÜM offers significant potential for the preservation, documentation, and perpetuation of these practices within the framework of sustainable cultural policies.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18118770

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