Participant Observations on Iranian Tourists Taking Part in Guided Excursion in Kusadasi, Turkey

Öz

This research aims at investigating the behaviors of Iranian tourists on guided excursion tours. In accordance with this purpose, firstly, the authors used the scale developed by Pizam & Sussmann (1995) and added sixteen more items to find out Iranians’ behaviors on guided tours. Before adding those items, the researchers first acquire the opinions of industry professionals such as travel agents, tour operators, salespeople and guides. Then, secondly, one of the researchers joined in five guided excursions 174 Iranian tourists (71 male; 73 female and 30 children) participated at different occasions in Kusadasi (The Virgin Mary- Ephesus tour and shopping oriented city tours). During those daily excursions, one of the researchers participated as a participant observer and observed Iranians’ behaviors (such as bargaining, purchasing, tipping, interaction etc.). The observer was introduced to the tourists as an intern with the purpose of observing their natural behaviors from the beginning to the end of the tours. The research reveals that Iranians show a low tendency to interact with other tourists, salespeople/ vendors and to buy local products. Unless the tour guides take their attention to the tip box, Iranians do not show any tendency to leave tips. Besides, these tourists do not tend to eat or drink anything during the shopping oriented tours. It is also revealed that some delays are detected during the excursions, so it is possible to state that punctuality is not ranked among their priorities. On the other hand, they show a high tendency to buy clothes in their free time at the shopping malls. According to the findings of the research, LCW, Zara and Koton are, respectively, the clothing brands most preferred by Iranians during their shopping tours. In addition, they prefer buying souvenir photographs taken during the site visits and bargaining when the prices are not fixed.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Iranian Tourists,Tourist Behavior,Shopping Behavior,Guided Tours,Participant Observation,Qualitative Research

Günübirlik Rehberli Turlara Katılan İranlı Turistler Üzerine Katılımlı Gözlemler: Kuşadası (Türkiye) Örneği

Öz

Bu araştırma, Kuşadası’nı ziyaret eden İranlı turistlerin rehberli turlarda sergiledikleri turist davranışlarını (pazarlık, etkileşim, alışveriş vb.) ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Öncelikle, Pizam ve Sussmann (1995) tarafından geliştirilen “20 tipik turist davranışı” ölçeğinden yararlanılmış, sonrasında turizm sektörü çalışanları ile yapılan fikir alışverişleri neticesinde bu ölçeğe 16 ifade daha ilave edilerek bir katılımlı gözlem formu oluşturulmuştur. Daha sonra, araştırmacılardan biri, Kuşadası’nda farklı zamanlarda İranlı turistlere yönelik gerçekleştirilen rehberli turlara katılarak onların davranışlarını gözlemlemiştir. Beş günübirlik tur boyunca toplamda 174 İranlı turist (71 erkek, 73 kadın ve 30 çocuk) gözlemlenmiştir. Katılımlı gözlemler esnasında turist gruplarını rahatsız etmemek adına aynı zamanda profesyonel turist rehberi olan araştırmacı, turlar boyunca turist rehberi çalışma kartını boynuna asmıştır. Bu yaklaşımla araştırmacı, İranlı turistler tarafından seyahat acentası çalışanı olarak algılanmasını amaçlamıştır. Bu araştırmada, İranlıların diğer turistlerle, satış personeli/ seyyar satıcılarla etkileşime girme ve yöresel ürün satın alma eğilimlerinin düşük düzeyde olduğu ortaya koyulmuştur. Bunun yanı sıra, tur rehberi bahşiş kutusuna dikkat çekmedikçe İranlı turistlerden bahşiş veren olmamıştır. Bunun yanı sıra, alışveriş odaklı turlarda İranlı turistler, düşük düzeyde yeme içme eğilimi sergilemiştir. Günübirlik turlar boyunca zaman zaman gecikmeler yaşanmıştır. Dolayısıyla, dakikliğin İranlı turistlerin öncelikleri arasında yer almadığı söylenebilir. Diğer yandan İranlı turistlerin, alışveriş merkezinde kıyafet satın alma eğilimlerinin yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Araştırma bulgularına göre, alışveriş turları boyunca İranlı turistler tarafından en fazla tercih edilen giyim markaları sırasıyla LCW, Zara ve Koton olmuştur. Bununla birlikte, bazı turistler, ören yeri ziyaretleri esnasında çekilen hatıra fotoğraflarından satın almışlardır. Alışveriş merkezinde pazarlığa yönelen İranlı ziyaretçi olmamasına rağmen Efes’teki seyyar satıcılarla ve deri mağazasında görevli tezgâhtarlarla pazarlık eden ziyaretçiler olmuştur.  

Anahtar Kelimeler

• İranlı Turistler,Turist Davranışı,Alışveriş Davranışı,Rehberli Turlar,Katılımlı Gözlem,Nitel Araştırma

Kaynakça

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