Stategic quality management perceptions of the managers in thermal accomodations: A case study in Afyon region

In parallel to the rapid economical, political and technological advancements and developments in the world, significant changes are observed in tourism consumption patterns as well. In order to meet the new tendencies which have been created by the changes in tourist profiles and consumption patterns and to be able to share a bigger amount in world?s tourism movements, diversification of tourism policies has become inevitable. Health tourism in general and thermal tourism in particular emerged as an alternative type since it could be done during the whole year and can be integrated with other tourism types. Quality management has become a strategic neccessity for tourism facilities. To satisfy customers and to serve in such a quality that will turn this into customer loyalty is the only way for facilities to survive. Thermal accomadation facilities need to give importance to quality and use it as a strategic weapon so as to increase the income and utilize thermal tourism. This study aims to measure the perceptions of middle and higher rank managers about strategic quality management in thermal accomodation facilities that give thermal tourism service in the providince, Afyon. A questionaire has been developed and applied to the managers with this aim. SPSS statistic program was used to measure the data that was gathered in the research. The data was analyzed according to aim by using frequence (f), arithmetic mean ( ) percent (%), standard deviation (sd), t test and variation (anova). The results of this research show that managers pay the most attention to being customer oriented and the least attention to leadership among the dimentions of strategic quality management.