UNESCO Yaratıcı Şehirler Ağı Gastro-Turist Profilinin Belirlenmesi: Gaziantep ve Hatay İli Örneği (Determining Gastro-Tourist Profile of UNESCO Creative Cities Network: The Sample of Gaziantep and Hatay Province)

Abstract

The purpose of this research is determining the tourist profiles that travel with the motive of gastronomy. The sub-purpose parallel to this goal is evaulating the gastro-tourist demographic features and their travel attitues by identified profiles. Accordingly, first a survey was performed to the domestic tourists that visit to food and beverage bussinesses, bussinesses selling local products, street sellers that prepare local food and bevarages and UNESCO Gastronomy House that located in Gaziantep and Hatay that placed between UNESCO gastronomy cities. Frequency and percent distribution analyzes of datas that obtained from the participants were done. Parallel with the analyzes, factor groups were formed intended to determine gastro tourists’ profiles of participants. Based on the created factor groups, five gastro-tourist profile were identified. These are named as; those who travel with learning motivation, organic crop lovers, those who like to experience local products lovers, those who love using social media and innovators. On the other hand, according to the characteristics of existing groups, various comparative tests were made for the purpose of evaluating demographic specifications and travel attitues of participants. As a result of findings and analyzes, suggestions were developed for the bussinesses and workers of the industry, for the public and for the researchers.