Turkish Host Gaze at Russian Tourists: a Cultural Perspective

Abstract

This chapter examines Turkish hoteliers' gaze at Russian tourists visiting the south coast of Turkey. The gaze of the owners, managers and employees of all-inclusive resorts and hotels in the holiday districts of Antalya is analysed. The reasons for the specific host gaze are explained by focusing on cultural identity of Russian tourists and cultural underpinning of their behaviour. The chapter shows how cultural misperceptions and misunderstandings between hosts and tourists can upset the hosts and create a negative gaze. The chapter concludes by discussing the implications and relating to the cultural relativism theory