Analysis of tour guide selection in Mevlana cultural tours using the TOPSIS method

Saeid Foroughi; Abdullah Karaman

Analysis of tour guide selection in Mevlana cultural tours using the TOPSIS method

Abstract

This study aims to objectively select the most suitable tour guides for Rumi-themed cultural tours in Konya, Turkey, by identifying key service quality determinants. Employing the TOPSIS multicriteria decision-making method, the research analyses six critical criteria communication skills, knowledge, foreign language proficiency, guest satisfaction, cultural sensitivity, and crisis/group management rated by expert opinions. A decision matrix was constructed to normalize, weight, and compare candidates, calculating their proximity to the ideal solution. The results demonstrate that a guide's level of knowledge and cultural sensitivity are the most decisive factors for this specific tourism context. Theoretically, this paper fills a literature gap by presenting a practical human resource management model for cultural and faith-based tourism and emphasizing the guide's vital role as a knowledge transmitter and service quality guarantor. Practically, it provides a systematic, transparent, and repeatable framework that reduces subjective judgements in guide selection. The study concludes that TOPSIS is a viable, data-driven model for evaluating guide performance.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No financial or in-kind support was received from any individual or institution during the preparation of this study.

Project Number

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Ethical Statement

The authors declare that national and international research and publication ethics were followed in the article. In case of any violation, the Çatalhöyük International Journal of Tourism Research bears no responsibility, and all responsibility rests solely with the authors of the article.

Thanks

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Editor and the reviewers for their time, valuable comments, and suggestions during the evaluation of the article.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Institutional Governance

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Saeid Foroughi ^*
0000-0002-7556-2118
Türkiye

Abdullah Karaman
0000-0001-7934-0451
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

November 14, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 31, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Number: 14

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA74PN33TM

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Foroughi, S., & Karaman, A. (2025). Analysis of tour guide selection in Mevlana cultural tours using the TOPSIS method. Çatalhöyük International Journal of Tourism Research, 14, 62-79. https://izlik.org/JA74PN33TM

AMA

1.Foroughi S, Karaman A. Analysis of tour guide selection in Mevlana cultural tours using the TOPSIS method. Çatalhöyük International Journal of Tourism Research. 2025;(14):62-79. https://izlik.org/JA74PN33TM

Chicago

Foroughi, Saeid, and Abdullah Karaman. 2025. “Analysis of Tour Guide Selection in Mevlana Cultural Tours Using the TOPSIS Method”. Çatalhöyük International Journal of Tourism Research, nos. 14: 62-79. https://izlik.org/JA74PN33TM.

EndNote

Foroughi S, Karaman A (December 1, 2025) Analysis of tour guide selection in Mevlana cultural tours using the TOPSIS method. Çatalhöyük International Journal of Tourism Research 14 62–79.

IEEE

[1]S. Foroughi and A. Karaman, “Analysis of tour guide selection in Mevlana cultural tours using the TOPSIS method”, Çatalhöyük International Journal of Tourism Research, no. 14, pp. 62–79, Dec. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA74PN33TM

ISNAD

Foroughi, Saeid - Karaman, Abdullah. “Analysis of Tour Guide Selection in Mevlana Cultural Tours Using the TOPSIS Method”. Çatalhöyük International Journal of Tourism Research. 14 (December 1, 2025): 62-79. https://izlik.org/JA74PN33TM.

JAMA

1.Foroughi S, Karaman A. Analysis of tour guide selection in Mevlana cultural tours using the TOPSIS method. Çatalhöyük International Journal of Tourism Research. 2025;:62–79.

MLA

Foroughi, Saeid, and Abdullah Karaman. “Analysis of Tour Guide Selection in Mevlana Cultural Tours Using the TOPSIS Method”. Çatalhöyük International Journal of Tourism Research, no. 14, Dec. 2025, pp. 62-79, https://izlik.org/JA74PN33TM.

Vancouver

1.Saeid Foroughi, Abdullah Karaman. Analysis of tour guide selection in Mevlana cultural tours using the TOPSIS method. Çatalhöyük International Journal of Tourism Research [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1;(14):62-79. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA74PN33TM