Determination of Undergraduate Tourism Students’ Cultural Heritage Perceptions

Abstract

Cultural heritage assets at the center of tourism activities are vital attractions for tourist destinations. The development of the destinations and their transfer to future generations will be possible with the protection of natural beauties and cultural heritage elements. Especially, determining the level of perception of undergraduate students, who will undertake tourism education in the future, about cultural heritage assets is seen as an important step in preserving these assets and transferring them to future generations. The aim of this study is to determine the cultural heritage perceptions of undergraduate students studying in the field of tourism. For the purpose of the study, data was collected from 342 students studying in the tourism management department of Karabük University and Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University using the survey technique. Statistical analysis was applied to the obtained data. These analyzes are frequency distribution, reliability analysis, factor analysis, t test and Mann-Whitney U test. According to the results of the t-test and the Mann-Whitney U test, students' cultural heritage perceptions differ significantly from the university they studied.