Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20867/thm.30.4.8
Tourist harassment and its impact on tourism experience
Mehmet Yavuz Çetinkaya
; Ph.D., Pamukkale University, Faculty of Tourism Department of Tourism Guidance
*
Zafer Öter
; Ph.D. Izmir Katip Çelebi University, Faculty of Tourism, Department of Tourism Guidance
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Purpose – This study addressed the harassment of international tourists visiting Istanbul,
debated both in print and visual media as a global problem for tourist destinations, and
investigated its potential impact on the tourism experience.
Methodology/Design/Approach – This study utilized a questionnaire, which was first outlined
by De Albuquerque & McElroy (2001) and later developed by Kozak (2007) in English.
A total of 500 international tourists from 40 different nationalities residing in 45 different
countries located in 11 different regions were surveyed in 8 main languages at Sabiha Gokcen
International Airport.
Findings – The findings revealed that international tourists were subjected to six types of
tourist harassment: persistence of vendors, begging, verbal abuse, sexual harassment, physical
abuse, and peddling of drugs. Finally, the study revealed that harassment had a negative
impact on the overall tourism experience, including variables like satisfaction level and future
behavioral intentions.
Originality of the research – This study added to a still-maturing stream of research on tourist
harassment by coming up with empirical evidence from one important tourist destination,
Istanbul, Türkiye and providing several important theoretical and practical implications.
Keywords
Tourist Harassment, Tourism Experience, Istanbul, Türkiye
Hrčak ID:
322051
URI
Publication date:
5.7.2024.
Visits: 127 *