The effect of professional affiliation and career commitment on professional burnout syndrome: A study on tourist guides

Tourist guides are important professionals serving in the tourism sector, conveying and accompanying accurate information in the appropriate language to local and foreign tourists participating in the tour, introducing and endearing the historical and cultural values of the certain destination, protecting the tangible and intangible heritage, and serving as a bridge between visitors and local people. is among the people. The ability of tourist guides to perform their functions effectively depends on their high level of professional affiliation, career commitment, and low burnout levels. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of professional affiliation and career commitment on the professional burnout of authorized tourist guides operating in Turkey. Within the scope of the research, active guides registered to the Ankara Tourist Guides Chamber were reached using a simple random sampling method, and feedback was received from 207 guides. The survey technique for this purpose was used via Google Forms, and the link was shared via the Instagram application. To analyze the data obtained through the survey application, firstly, validity and reliability analyses were carried out for each scale used in the research. As a result of descriptive analyses, it was determined that the participants' career commitment was high, and their burnout levels were low. On the other hand, the two main hypotheses of the research were accepted, and it was determined that the sense of professional belonging had a greater impact on professional burnout syndrome than career commitment. Given that the research sample is limited, both variables are important factors that contribute positively to reducing occupational burnout syndrome. However, due to the absence of any study on professional commitment, career commitment, and professional burnout in the field of tourist guiding, it is expected that the current research will be pioneered and contribute to subsequent academic studies in the field. Key Words: Tourist Guide, Professional Affiliation, Career Commitment, Professional Burnout Syndrome