DESTINATION MANAGEMENT THROUGH GASTRODIPLOMACY IN WINE TOURISM: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACH

This research aims to reveal the relationship between wine tourism activities in Cappadocia [Turkey] and gastrodiplomacy. In this context, the wine tourism and gastrodiplomacy concepts are discussed from a phenomenological perspective. The phenomenological research pattern is used as one of the qualitative research patterns. To determine the participants, the purposive sampling method was used, with snowball sampling being preferred. To obtain qualitative data, 10 participants were selected for interview. The audio files obtained as a result of face-to-face interviews were deciphered and identified on MAXQDA, a qualitative data analysis software program. As a data analysis method, content analysis and word cloud were applied; subcode tab statistics were used to visualize the data. Data processing was performed using a combination of inductive methods. On this basis, five main themes and fifteen sub-themes were obtained in accordance with the literature and data. As a result of the analyzes conducted based on the main themes and sub-themes, it was found that wine tourism has not been developed, although there are many vineyards and wine production in the region. Even though gastrodiplomacy practices for wine tourism are known, other studies still need to be carried out.