KARS’TA BACASIZ FABRİKA: GASTRONOMİ TURİZMİNE RESTORAN İŞLETMECİLERİNİN BAKIŞI
CHIMNEYLESS FACTORY IN KARS: RESTAURANT OPERATORS' PERSPECTIVE ON GASTRONOMY TOURISM

Summary/Abstract: This study aims to understand the relationship between local food, which is one of the important elements of gastronomy tourism, and restaurant operators in Kars and determine their perspective on gastronomy tourism. For this purpose, the study was conducted in Kars, which has a cultural richness since many different groups, such as Natives (it is the name of a group), Azerbaijanis, Terekemes, Turkmens, Malakans, Kurds, live together. An anthropological study was carried out using qualitative methods to determine the awareness of restaurants about their role in the preparation and consumption of local dishes and the promotion of these dishes in terms of gastronomy tourism. Participant observation and in-depth interview techniques were used in this study. Yusufpaşa District, which is the place where tourists spend most of their time in the city, was chosen as the study area, with Kars Castle, Baltic-style architectural structures, restaurants with local menus opened in these historical buildings, souvenirs, and cheese/honey shops. In-depth interviews were held with 11 neighborhood business owners and/or operators. As a result of these interviews, observations, and informal conversations, it has been understood that tourism has recently become almost the only source of income for Kars, but there is a shortage of qualified personnel in these enterprises. Although young people do not prefer tiring jobs, women who know food do not work outside the home in food-related businesses due to traditional tendencies, and the delay in winter tourism due to climate changes seem to be problems in the number of tourists in the sector, it has been observed that operators and the public have a positive attitude towards tourism. The interviews of this field study, which is a part of the ongoing project numbered 122G024 titled "Determining the Contribution of Local People to Gastronomy Tourism in Kars" and supported by TÜBİTAK, will continue to be held with local people and tourists coming to Kars. The data obtained from the project will also be prepared for publication.

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