COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on cultural tours and cultural tourists in Turkey

ABSTRACTIn this study, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cultural tours and cultural tourists was examined. The case study, a qualitative method, was adopted. Data was collected from 15 tourist guides through semi-structured interview technique. The data was analysed using both content analysis and descriptive analysis. The results of the study show that the behavioural changes of cultural tourists during the pandemic period may continue in the post-pandemic period, and new changes may emerge. During the pandemic, cultural tourists are more worried, cautious and less social, which leads to fluctuations in their satisfaction levels. It can be said that the tourists prefer nature-based tours to cultural tours. In addition, the destinations visited on cultural tours and the characteristics of cultural tours have changed during the pandemic.KEYWORDS: COVID-19pandemiccultural tourismcultural toursTurkey Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsOkay CoşkunOkay Çoşkun He graduated from Adıyaman University, College of Tourism and Hotel Management, Travel Management and Tourism Guidance Department (2018). He received his Master’s Degree from Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Business Administration, Department of Tourism Management (2021). He continues his doctoral education at the same university and in the same department. He is also a professional tourist guide.Yilmaz AkgunduzYılmaz Akgunduz He is a professor of gastronomy and culinary arts at the Dokuz Eylül University School of Applied Sciences, Turkey. His current research interests include organizational behaviour and human resources management in the hospitality industry.