A study on the opinions of Japanese people living in Turkey about Turkish culinary culture

The culinary culture of a country holds a significant place in the vacation experiences of foreign tourists. In this context, understanding the opinions of tourists from different nations about Turkish cuisine can provide valuable insights to the tourism sector. This study, conducted with 450 Japanese residents living in Turkey between September and December 2023, aims to reveal the perspectives of Japanese individuals on Turkish cuisine and, based on the findings, to offer recommendations to food and beverage businesses as well as accommodation establishments. A survey form was used to collect data, and the findings were analyzed using the SPSS 24 software. It was found that Japanese residents in Turkey enjoy Turkish cuisine and have a positive attitude toward Turkish culinary culture. Upon closer examination, it was observed that Turkish cuisine is perceived as high in calories, with excessive use of oil and tomato paste, while desserts are seen as rich in sugar and fat, and pastries as oily. Regarding the knowledge of Japanese individuals about Turkish cuisine, it was identified that certain foods and beverages have low recognition rates, presenting opportunities for customer promotions and suggestions.When opinions about Turkish cuisine were compared based on the length of stay in Turkey, it was revealed that the proportion of participants who were undecided decreased as the duration of residence increased. In terms of gender comparison, it was found that women were more likely to agree with positive statements such as "it is delicious" or "it has a rich variety." Age-based analysis indicated that older groups were more likely than younger groups to consider Turkish cuisine expensive.