The effect of cooking class experience on the positive psychology of tourists

Positive psychology focuses on happiness, well-being, positive emotions, virtues, and values by supporting the development of individuals, communities, and societies. It also contributes to individuals' exploration of their potential, development of resilience, and pursuit of a more meaningful life. Tourism provides individuals with meaningful and enjoyable experiences that support their psychological well-being by allowing them to escape from their daily routines. During their vacation, tourists tend to seek meaningful and enjoyable experiences away from their everyday lives. Cooking classes, in addition to playing a creative and experiential role in the tourism experience, offer individuals the opportunity for self-actualization. This study aims to examine the effects of cooking class experiences on tourists' positive psychology. The study data consists of a total of 2,000 reviews, with the most recent 250 English-written reviews for each of the selected cooking classes on the TripAdvisor website. The collected data was analyzed within the framework of PERMA and DRAMMA models, which are based on positive psychology approaches. The study is significant in addressing an important gap in the literature by focusing on both eudaimonic and hedonic experiences of tourists. The findings indicate that cooking classes provide participants with both eudaimonic (meaning and personal development) and hedonic (momentary pleasure) benefits. According to the PERMA and DRAMMA models, cooking classes particularly have a strong impact on social connections, positive emotions, and meaning. As a result, it has been revealed that cooking classes offer tourists a meaningful tourism experience that goes beyond mere entertainment by supporting their psychological well-being. Keywords: Positive psychology, PERMA, DRAMMA, eudaimonic, hedonic, well-being, cooking classes, gastronomy