The factors influencing destination preferences of yoga tourists

Yoga, which is seen as a relaxing practice against the pressure and stress of daily life, has gained a place in the lives of many people over time. The spread of yoga in many parts of the world, including Turkey, has led to an increase in yoga-related travel; and traveling for yoga camps, yoga festivals, yoga retreats and yoga trainings have created the concept of "yoga tourism". Although there have been studies on yoga tourism, which has become increasingly widespread in recent years, it has been observed that the number of studies is far from being sufficient. This study was mainly carried out to determine the factors influencing the destination preferences of yoga tourists. In addition, it has sub-aims such as revealing the factors that determine yoga tourists' choices of yoga camp or yoga festival and encourages them to participate in yoga tourism; determining the information sources they use in this process; and understanding the positive or negative experiences they had during the camp or festival they had participated in. In the study, which is conducted with qualitative methods, yoga practitioners who had attended a yoga camp or a yoga festival at least once were interviewed using a semi-structured interview form; the data obtained were analyzed by coding and were reported with quotations. As the result of the study, the factors influencing yoga tourists' destination preferences were determined as geographical characteristics, destination image, transportation factors, accommodation facility type and accommodation facility qualities. Yoga tourists prefer destinations that are in touch with nature; close to water sources such as sea, lake or stream; mountainous, wooded; quiet, calm; far from residential areas and easily accessible. In addition, it has been determined that factors such as yoga-appropriate nutrition, sustainability and hygiene are influential in yoga tourists' destination preferences.