Analysis of Industry Perceptions and Expectations of Tourism Students: A Case Study in Turkey

Abstract

Tourism and Hospitality Management Schools' students must complete their internship before graduation in four or five stars hotels or travel agencies in Turkey. Some students may have negative perceptions of tourism education and working conditions in the industry, after they have worked as trainees in the industry. The aim of the study is to compare the perceptions and expectations of students in relation to tourism industry who have done their internship with those who have not and is to explore the differences in their future expectations and any changes in their career plans. For the purpose of the study a questionnaire was prepared, based on relevant literature, and the survey was conducted in the School of Tourism and Hotel Management at Anadolu University in Turkey. 204 students were selected by the use of stratified sampling as the study sample from the first, second, third and the fourth year. Half of the questionnaires were distributed to students who had done their internship and the rest to the students who had not undertaken internship yet. Results indicate that the respondents' perceptions and expectations of the industry were not significant according to their experience. Finally, the differences between respondents are summarized and implications are drawn for the educational institutions and further studies.

Undergraduate hospitality students’ perceptions of careers in the industry: The Ghanaian context

“…However, from Table 5, there was, generally, no significant difference in perceptions of students who had experienced careers in the industry and those who had not (p = 0.20). This finding is in congruence with a finding by Turanligil and Altintaş (2018) in Turkey, where both students with industry experience and those without experience generally had similar perceptions of the industry.…”

“…Similarly, Roney and Ötzin (2007) reported indifferent perceptions of students about careers in the industry in Turkey. On the contrary, Turanligil and Altintaş (2018) and Amissah et al (2019) found that hospitality and tourism students in Anadolu University and University of Cape Coast in Turkey and Ghana respectively had negative perceptions about careers in the industry. However, Barron et al (2007) reported positive perceptions of careers in the hospitality industry by students in United Kingdom.…”

“…Although students may have poor expectations from the industry, students found to have willingly chosen the hospitality programme were more willing and therefore wanted to choose careers in the industry after graduation (Akin Aksu & Deniz Kӧksal, 2005). Again in Turkey, Turanligil and Altintaş (2018) reported negative perceptions among tourism and hotel management students. Poor treatment of these students by the industry players, especially during internships, was identified as a probable cause of this negative perception.…”

“…However, students with industry experience also generally perceived careers in the hospitality industry to be characterised by a low salary, long working hours which hinder social life and perceived high job insecurity. In a recent study in Turkey, Turanligil and Altintaş (2018) sampled 204 students in Anadolu University and analysed their perceptions and expectations of the industry. The findings reported, among other things, that there were generally no statistically significant differences in the perceptions of students with industry experience and those without industry experience.…”