Medet Yolal

An Examination of Festival Motivation and Perceived Benefits Relationship: Eskisehir International Festival

The objectives of this study are threefold. The first objective is to understand the underlying dimensions of motivation for attending a prominent city festival in Turkey and if motivation will vary with respect to the socio-demographic composition of attendees. The second objective is to ascertain how festival attendees perceive the socio-economic benefits of the festival and how these vary across select demographic variables. Finally, the study examines the nature of the relationship that may exist between festival motivation and perceived benefits of the festival. The results indicate that the only significant variation in motivation occurs across gender. Female visitors place significantly more importance on “escape and excitement,” “family togetherness,” and “event novelty.” The findings also reveal that younger attendees seem to place more importance on socialization and event loyalty, and older attendees place more importance on family togetherness. Multiple classification analysis indicates that as age increases, so does the importance placed on event novelty. This finding is also valid for increased educational level. Escape and excitement is a common motivator across all age, income, and occupation groups. The study findings also point out that local attendees see a positive relation between the perceived socioeconomic benefits of events, community cohesion, and motivation for attending such events. The article ends with both practical implications for the festival organizers and city officials and theoretical contributions to the growing research of event attendee behavior.

Comparative research of motivations across different festival products

Purpose – The study has three objectives. The first objective of this paper is to investigate the underlying dimensions of motivation for attending an international festival in Turkey and whether motivation will vary across six different festival products (symphony, rock, world music, dance, ballet, and theater). The second purpose is to understand how festival attendees perceive the socio‐economic impacts of the festival and how these perceived impacts vary across different festival attendee groups. Finally, the study examines the overall satisfaction of festival attendees with respect to different festival products.Design/methodology/approach – The empirical data was collected by way of self‐administered questionnaires to obtain perceptions and motivations of 523 attendees in Eskisehir International Festival.Findings – The results showed that there were significant differences in motivation among attendees from six different festival products. Duncans multiple‐range tests were performed to further exam...

Human Resources Management in Small and Medium-Sized Hotels in Turkey

Effective human resources management (HRM) is vital for the success of small- and medium-sized hotel enterprises (SMHEs). However, there are no single studies concerning HRM practices of SMHEs in Turkey. The purpose of the study is to analyze the current HRM practices of SMHEs in Turkey. Findings from 313 SMHEs revealed that they did not possess formal HRM practices and this resulted in lack of professionalism in these firms. The study concludes that small- and medium-sized hotels, apart from microfirms, should formalize their HRM practices. However, formalization of HRM practices requires financial support and training of owner/managers on managerial skills and the importance of HRM. Cooperation and collaboration among the government, educational institutes and firms are recommended in order to improve HRM applications.

Impact of Trust on Local Residents’ Mega-Event Perceptions and Their Support

This study examines the influence of residents’ trust in government and organizing committee on their impact perceptions and support for a mega-event, namely, 2014 FIFA World Cup. Findings suggest significant relationships between impact perceptions and support. While trust in government is found to be a significant determinant of impact perceptions, findings indicate no significant relationship between trust in government and support, which suggest that the relationship is mediated by impact perceptions. While a positive relationship between trust in the organizing committee and positive impact perceptions is found, findings suggest no significant relationship between trust in the organizing committee and negative impact perceptions. Trust in the organizing committee is also found to have significant positive impact on support.

Marketing of SMHEs in Turkey: A Comparative Analysis

Marketing function in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is seen as peripheral to the management. This paper aims to analyze marketing practices of small and medium sized hotel enterprises (SMHEs) in Turkey, and to comprehend characteristics and differences of two types of businesses, urban and resort hotels, in marketing practices. This quantitative study builds on a university-funded research project aiming to determine characteristics and problems of SMHEs in Turkey. Data were collected by questionnaire forms based on the relevant literature. The findings indicate that both groups, urban and resort hotels, behave mostly in the same manner related to marketing practices, with little differentiation owing to the market segments they serve. It is also seen that hotels display innovative characteristics by the use of new technologies.

Examine destination loyalty of first-time and repeat visitors at all-inclusive resorts

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that are likely to influence the loyalty behavior of first-time and repeat visitors to all-inclusive resorts. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from first-time and repeat Russian tourists to Antalya, Turkey, utilizing a self-administered survey questionnaire. A total of 339 usable responses were obtained. A structural equation modeling approach was used to test the proposed model on the first-time and repeat visitors’ samples. Findings This study suggests that the effects of cognitive evaluation of the resort (service quality) channel through affective evaluation of the visitor experience (visitor satisfaction) before bolstering visitor loyalty. This study also shows that differences exist between the two groups of visitors – first time visitors value cognitive attributes more and rely more on cognitive evaluation. Practical implications Destination marketers and managers need to promote all aspects and attributes of a destination among all-inclusive vacationers by creating innovative and comprehensive marketing campaign. Due to the differences between first-time and repeat visitors, it is critical to differentiate the two groups in designing targeted marketing campaign and providing targeted service/product. Originality value All-inclusive resorts have attained substantial global presence and popularity over the past 40 years. However, guest satisfaction/loyalty studies in this particular context have not often been approached with the kind of statistical breadth and rigor presented herein. This study adds new information for the understanding of and marketing to the all-inclusive resort guest.

A Pilot Study on Spectators’ Motivations and Their Socio-Economic Perceptions of a Film Festival

The main objective of this pilot study is to examine spectators’ motives for attending a film festival, their perceptions of socio-economic impacts of the festival to the host community, and their satisfaction with the festival utilizing data collected from the attendees of the Transylvania International Film Festival, which takes place on a regular basis in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The results indicate that there are significant variations in motivations, satisfaction, and perceptions of impacts across gender, age, level of education, and occupation of attendees. Theoretical contributions, managerial implications, and limitations are addressed.

Cross-cultural tourist behavior: An examination of tourists’ behavior in guided tours

This study attempts to explore behavioral characteristics of international tourists visiting Istanbul in guided tours, and to examine the differences and similarities among tourists of different nationalities using data provided by Turkish tour guides. Data were collected utilizing a survey site designed for research for Turkish tour guides working in Istanbul, Turkey. The results suggest that there are three underlying dimensions of tourists’ behavior during guided tours, namely, shopping, activities, and social interaction. Significant differences are observed among seven nationalities. Pair comparisons of the groups belonging to the three dimensions are conducted for the purpose of revealing similarities and differences. The Japanese are found to be the most distinct tourist group in comparison to others. Finally, conclusions and implications are discussed at the end of the study.

History of Tourism Development in Turkey

Bearing the hallmarks of unique geographical variation and numerous natural, historical, and cultural resources, Turkey has the necessary resources for international tourism markets. As a result of long-term orientation, which began in the 1960s, Turkey has achieved considerable growth in tourism. Currently, Turkey is a leading tourist destination in Europe and the Mediterranean region and is also among the top ten countries in the world in terms of international arrivals and tourism receipts. This chapter summarizes the main steps of the Turkish tourism industry by emphasizing the role of the government in shaping the geography of tourism development in Turkey.

Examining the perceptions of mobility-impaired travelers: an analysis of service expectations, evaluations, and travel barriers

This study examines tourism experiences of mobility-impaired individuals, their evaluations and expectations from tourism service providers, and their satisfaction with the services provided. Data were collected from a sample of respondents in Eskisehir, Turkey. The findings suggest that health is not the main barrier to travel; instead, income is found to be one of the most important factors affecting the travel patterns of the mobility impaired. Additionally, while the respondents are found to have a generally favorable evaluation of hotel attributes, transportation services are found to present a significant barrier to travel. Implications and recommendations for strategic tourism management are provided.