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Discovering the hotel selection factors of vegetarians: the case of Turkey

Sebahattin Emre Dilek (Batman University, Batman, Turkey)
David A. Fennell (Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada)

Tourism Review

ISSN: 1660-5373

Article publication date: 13 July 2018

Issue publication date: 24 October 2018

984

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hotel selection preferences of vegetarians in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

The questionnaire used in this study had four main sections: animal and environmentally friendly hotel attributes; hotel features and facilities; hotel food and beverage services; and demographic and travel information of respondents. Data were collected by way of face-to-face questionnaires from 328 self-identified vegetarians who visited the first vegan/vegetarian event – “Didim VegFest” – in Turkey on 29-30 April 2017.

Findings

Eco-animal friendly hotels, customer requests and animal friendly and environmental ethics (main Factor 1); comfort and value, facilities and security, the natural environment and the staff and their services (main Factor 2); standards and sanitation, sensibility, atmosphere and knowledge (main Factor 3) were identified as the main hotel selection factors of vegetarians in Turkey.

Originality/value

This study is the first of its kind in the tourism literature.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Vegan and Vegetarian Association of Turkey , which is a member of the International Vegetarian Union , the European Vegetarian Union , the European Vegetarian and the Animals News Alliance, and it is a legal representative of the Vegetarian/Vegan Label (V-Label) Certification in Turkey. The author would like to express thanks for their support.

Citation

Dilek, S.E. and Fennell, D.A. (2018), "Discovering the hotel selection factors of vegetarians: the case of Turkey", Tourism Review, Vol. 73 No. 4, pp. 492-506. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-11-2017-0175

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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