Visitor Experience in Hostels: The Case of Antalya – Kaleiçi

Abstract

This study aims to examine visitor experiences in hostels, which represent form of
accommodation, through a qualitative research approach. For this purpose, hostels located in the Kaleiçi district of Antalya, which characterized by high tourist attractiveness, were selected as the research setting. A total of 1,094 user reviews collected from www.hostelworld.com were analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed seven main themes shaping the visitor experience, namely: “staff and hospitality, social atmosphere and interaction, location, cleanliness, safety, privacy, and physical conditions”. The findings indicate that all themes influence the overall hostel experience. However, staff and hospitality as well as social atmosphere and interaction emerged as the most decisive factors. In contrast, cleanliness, safety,
privacy, and physical facilities were found to have a comparatively lower impact on visitor experience.