Are tourists neophobic against offal meals?

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the neophobia levels and neophobic status of foreign tourists visiting Turkey against offal food, which has an important place in Turkish cuisine. A questionnaire of 10 questions was directed to a total of 933 participants, 563 men and 370 women, who came to Turkey as tourists from 5 continents (Asia, Africa, Australia, America and Europe). The data collected by the online questionnaire method was transferred to the SPSS package program; difference and correlation analyzes were performed using t-test, F-test (ANOVA), and Chi-square (Crosstab) analysis techniques. According to the results obtained, the participants' fear of novelty in food was above the average; it was determined that the majority of them were neophobic and they did not eat every meal by being selective about food. It was concluded that the majority of tourists are afraid of eating a new and different Turkish offal food that they have not experienced before, going to different ethnic restaurants, and consuming products for different country cuisines, on the other hand, it was found that they can consume Turkish offal food as long as they make it at home. In addition, it was determined that the neophobic levels of men, the elderly, tourists with high education and income levels and those living in America, Australia and Africa were higher against Turkish offal meals. When the literature was scanned, it was determined that the studies on offal meals were limited. In addition, no study has been found that includes the relationship between offal food and neophobia or measures the level of neophobia. The study will contribute to the field of gastronomy with this unique aspect.