Local restaurants effect on tourist experience

This study aims to determine the effect of local restaurant experiences on overall tourist experience at the destinations. In order to do so, a questionnaire consisting of four sections was prepared based on the literature. The first part of the questionnaire contains of tourists information seeking about the local food and restaurants at the destinastion they will visit, The second part includes the tourists' motivational and satisfying attitudes towards food, the third part includes the dimensions of the local restaurant experience, and the fourth part includes the demographic and tripographic information. This questionnaire applied to 263 foreign tourists whom experienced the services of local restaurants during their visit to Istanbul on January 2019. The obtained data analyzed through SPSS Statics 24. Exploratory Factor Analysis performed to determine the dimensions of tourists local restaurant experiences. ANOVA and Independent Samples T-Test performed in order to find out whether there are significant differences between the sub- dimensions of local restaurant experience and demographic characteristics. Also Correlation analysis conducted to measure the relationship between the sub-dimensions of the local restaurant experience and holiday satisfaction and intention to return to destination. As a result of the study, it was found that local restaurants had a positive effect on tourist experience, travel motivation and holiday satisfaction. The results are expected to help restaurant managers, tourism professionals, DMO's and the researchers to understand the impact of local restaurant experiences on tourist experience and develop marketing strategies accordingly. Key Words: Tourist Experience, Local Restaurant Experience, Satisfaction, Motivation, Intention to Return.