COVID-19 pandemic's impacts on cultural tours and cultural tourists in Turkey

In this study, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cultural tours and cultural tourists was examined. The case study, a qualitative method, was adopted. Data was collected from 15 tourist guides through semi-structured interview technique. The data was analysed using both content analysis and descriptive analysis. The results of the study show that the behavioural changes of cultural tourists during the pandemic period may continue in the post-pandemic period, and new changes may emerge. During the pandemic, cultural tourists are more worried, cautious and less social, which leads to fluctuations in their satisfaction levels. It can be said that the tourists prefer nature-based tours to cultural tours. In addition, the destinations visited on cultural tours and the characteristics of cultural tours have changed during the pandemic.