Acculturation Research in Residential Tourism

Although the acculturation theory has been tested in tourism, there are almost no empirical studies in residential tourism. It needs to be clarified whether the general assumptions of the acculturation theory can be applied or whether the specifics of residential tourism call anew for an evaluation of the preconditions of acculturation theory in this setting. The existing studies, however limited, are misleading. This article calls attention to this fact and shows the necessity of testing the presumptions of acculturation theory in residential tourism before further research is conducted. A questionnaire research was conducted among residential tourists in Alanya. A total of 489 questionnaires from over 12 countries were included, reflecting the residential market in Alanya. The preference for a specific acculturation strategy was tested in relation to the influencing factors and level of satisfaction with life in the destination. The most preferred strategy by international residential tourists was integration, followed by assimilation and marginalisation. The strategy preference was influenced by demographic characteristics, holiday behaviour factors, second home characteristics, personality traits, and level of knowledge about Turkish culture. The overall level of satisfaction with life was 4.3 out of 5, which implies a very high level of satisfaction. Following limited previous research, the article uncovers the pitfalls and proposes a more suitable approach for acculturation research in this area. If the unique circumstances of residential tourism are taken into consideration, the study reveals some results that oppose the general acculturation theory and thus calls for further research.