The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourist guide profession: The example of Cappadocia

In this study, it was aimed to examine the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourist guiding profession. A total of 84 tourist guides, including 27 women and 57 men, working in the Cappadocia region, participated in the research. During the data collection process of the research, a semi-structured interview form consisting of 23 questions, prepared by the researcher by scanning the literature, was used. During the data analysis process of the research Frequency analysis was used in the SPSS 22.0 program. At the end of the research, it was found that the pandemic process negatively affected the tourist guiding profession in many aspects. According to the obtained findings, it was determined that tourist guides experienced both economic difficulties and serious stress in protecting themselves from the disease during the pandemic period. According to the opinions of tourist guides, it has been seen that the tourist guiding profession is among the professions most affected by the pandemic process. In this process, it was found that the professional chambers to which the tourist guides are affiliated supported the solution of the guides' problems. It has been observed that the majority of tourist guides do not consider changing their profession during the pandemic despite experiencing difficulties. In addition, according to the opinions of tourist guides, it has been determined that when the necessary precautions are taken, the tourism season can be continued smoothly during the pandemic processes as well. As a result, it can be said that the Covid-19 process has affected the tourist guiding profession, especially economically, but despite the negativities experienced, tourist guides tend to continue their profession. Key words: Covid-19 pandemic, tourism, tourist guiding profession