The Relationship Between The Level of Alienation and Seeking Authenticity of Domestic Tourists in Türkiye

Yasin Bulut; Bilgehan Gülcan

Article Details

The Relationship Between The Level of Alienation and Seeking Authenticity of Domestic Tourists in Türkiye

Authors:

Yasin Bulut | Bilgehan Gülcan

Publisher:

Afyon Kocatepe University

Main Topics:

Tüketici Davranışı | Turist Davranışı ve Ziyaretçi Deneyimi

Journal:

Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.27 Issue 3, pp.1239-1254

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358818

pISSN:

1302-1265

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Alienation and the related seeking authenticity are at the intersection of sociology, psychology and tourism disciplines. In the research, it is aimed to determine the existence of the relationship between the alienation level of domestic tourists in Türkiye and the seeking authenticity and whether the difference in travel purpose appears as an effective factor on the level of alienation or the seeking authenticity. In this context, research data were collected through face to face surveys from 479 domestic tourists traveling for five different types of tourism in different regions of Türkiye: culture, belief, travel-entertainment-rest, health and relative-hometown visit. According to the results of the research, it has been determined that the increase in the level of alienation of domestic tourists has a positive effect on the seeking authenticity, but there is no significant difference in the level of alienation of domestic tourists according to different travel purposes or in their seeking authenticity. The fact that the level of alienation of domestic tourists in Türkiye affects their seeking authenticity, albeit at a low level, highlights the importance of developing productsservices focused on authenticity and traditional folk culture for tourist destination, business and product developers, and in this direction, it points out that it is a necessity to bring cultural and artistic values to the forefront of all kinds of objects that enable individuals to connect with the past. It is thought that the results of the research can help to better understand the destination choice and purchasing behavior of tourists traveling for different purposes, and accordingly, to shape the product supply for the expectations of the tourist.

 Alienation and the related seeking authenticity are at the intersection of sociology, psychology and tourism disciplines. In the research, it is aimed to determine the existence of the relationship between the alienation level of domestic tourists in Türkiye and the seeking authenticity and whether the difference in travel purpose appears as an effective factor on the level of alienation or the seeking authenticity. In this context, research data were collected through face to face surveys from 479 domestic tourists traveling for five different types of tourism in different regions of Türkiye: culture, belief, travel-entertainment-rest, health and relative-hometown visit. According to the results of the research, it has been determined that the increase in the level of alienation of domestic tourists has a positive effect on the seeking authenticity, but there is no significant difference in the level of alienation of domestic tourists according to different travel purposes or in their seeking authenticity. The fact that the level of alienation of domestic tourists in Türkiye affects their seeking authenticity, albeit at a low level, highlights the importance of developing productsservices focused on authenticity and traditional folk culture for tourist destination, business and product developers, and in this direction, it points out that it is a necessity to bring cultural and artistic values to the forefront of all kinds of objects that enable individuals to connect with the past. It is thought that the results of the research can help to better understand the destination choice and purchasing behavior of tourists traveling for different purposes, and accordingly, to shape the product supply for the expectations of the tourist.

 Alienation and the related seeking authenticity are at the intersection of sociology, psychology and tourism disciplines. In the research, it is aimed to determine the existence of the relationship between the alienation level of domestic tourists in Türkiye and the seeking authenticity and whether the difference in travel purpose appears as an effective factor on the level of alienation or the seeking authenticity. In this context, research data were collected through face to face surveys from 479 domestic tourists traveling for five different types of tourism in different regions of Türkiye: culture, belief, travel-entertainment-rest, health and relative-hometown visit. According to the results of the research, it has been determined that the increase in the level of alienation of domestic tourists has a positive effect on the seeking authenticity, but there is no significant difference in the level of alienation of domestic tourists according to different travel purposes or in their seeking authenticity. The fact that the level of alienation of domestic tourists in Türkiye affects their seeking authenticity, albeit at a low level, highlights the importance of developing productsservices focused on authenticity and traditional folk culture for tourist destination, business and product developers, and in this direction, it points out that it is a necessity to bring cultural and artistic values to the forefront of all kinds of objects that enable individuals to connect with the past. It is thought that the results of the research can help to better understand the destination choice and purchasing behavior of tourists traveling for different purposes, and accordingly, to shape the product supply for the expectations of the tourist.

 Yabancılaşma ve bununla ilgili olarak ortaya çıkan otantiklik arayışı, sosyoloji, psikoloji ve turizm disiplinlerinin bir kesişme noktası durumundadır. Araştırmada, Türkiyedeki yerli turistlerin yabancılaşma düzeyi ile otantiklik arayışı arasındaki ilişkinin varlığını ve seyahat amacı farklılığının yabancılaşma düzeyi ya da otantiklik arayışı üzerinde etkili bir unsur olarak belirip belirmediğini tespit etmek, amaçlanmıştır. Bu bağlamda araştırma verileri, Türkiyenin farklı bölgelerinde kültür, inanç, gezi-eğlence-dinlenme, sağlık ve akraba-memleket ziyareti olmak üzere beş farklı turizm türüne yönelik seyahat eden 479 yerli turistten yüz yüze gerçekleştirilen anketler aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Araştırma sonucuna göre yerli turistlerin yabancılaşma düzeyinin artmasının otantiklik arayışını da pozitif yönde etkilediği, ancak yerli turistlerin farklı seyahat amaçlarına göre yabancılaşma düzeylerinde ya da otantiklik arayışlarında anlamlı farklılık olmadığı saptanmıştır. Türkiyedeki yerli turistlerin yabancılaşma düzeyinin düşük düzeyli de olsa otantiklik arayışlarını etkilemesi, turistik destinasyon, işletme ve ürün geliştiriciler için otantiklik ve geleneksel halk kültürü odaklı ürünhizmet geliştirilmesinin önemine ve bu doğrultuda, bireylerin geçmiş ile bağ kurmasını sağlayan her tür nesnenin, kültürel ve sanatsal değerin daha fazla ön plana çıkarılmasının bir gereklilik olduğuna işaret etmektedir. Ayrıca, araştırma sonuçlarının farklı amaçla seyahat eden turistlerin destinasyon seçimi ve satın alma davranışlarını daha iyi anlamada ve buna bağlı olarak turistin beklentilerine yönelik ürün arzının şekillenmesinde yardımcı olabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Article Details

The Relationship Between The Level of Alienation and Seeking Authenticity of Domestic Tourists in Türkiye

Authors:

Yasin Bulut | Bilgehan Gülcan

Publisher:

Afyon Kocatepe University

Main Topics:

Tüketici Davranışı | Turist Davranışı ve Ziyaretçi Deneyimi

Journal:

Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.27 Issue 3, pp.1239-1254

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358818

pISSN:

1302-1265

Domestic Tourism

Domestic Tourist

Alienation

Authenticity

Seeking Authenticityİç turizm

Yerli turist

Yabancılaşma

Otantiklik

Otantiklik arayışı

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Yasin Bulut | Bilgehan Gülcan

Publisher: Afyon Kocatepe University

Main Topics: Tüketici Davranışı | Turist Davranışı ve Ziyaretçi Deneyimi

Journal: Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.27 Issue 3, pp.1239-1254

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 9/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001358818

pISSN: 1302-1265

Issues

Authors:

Yasin Bulut | Bilgehan Gülcan

Publisher:

Afyon Kocatepe University

Main Topics:

Tüketici Davranışı | Turist Davranışı ve Ziyaretçi Deneyimi

Journal:

Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.27 Issue 3, pp.1239-1254

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358818

pISSN:

1302-1265