Comparing Professional Problems of Travel Agencies and Tourist Guides Operating in Istanbul

This study aimed to compare and analyze the professional problems between travel agencies and tourist guides operating in the tourism sector in Istanbul. The research was conducted with a total of 26 participants, including 13 tourist guides and 13 representatives from travel agencies, using a semi-structured interview technique. The data obtained were analyzed under the headings of “mutual problems of travel agencies and tourist guides”, “problems related to guests”, “problems related to accommodation enterprises”, “other problems”, “illegal and shadow guiding problem”, and “base fees and adequacy”. It has been determined that the main problem that tourist guides experience with the travel agencies they work with is tour fees. Tourist guides underlined that travel agencies are very sales-oriented and this situation negatively affects the guides. In addition, it has been determined that intensive tour programs also cause significant problems for tourist guides. Agency representatives, on the other hand, stated that they had problems with inadequacies in the individual characteristics of tourist guides. In addition, non-compliance with the tour program, demanding high prices, and discrimination of guests were among the problems experienced by travel agencies with tourist guides. When the problems encountered by the two important stakeholders of the tourism sector other than the problems encountered with each other are taken into consideration, tourist guides stated that they encountered the problem of delays with their guests, the problem of insufficient personnel with accommodation establishments, and the problem of traffic in Istanbul. Travel agency representatives, on the other hand, emphasized the problems caused by high and different expectations with their guests, the problems experienced by accommodation businesses when purchasing rooms, and the traffic problems in Istanbul. Both stakeholders agree that the illegal and shadow guiding problem should be inspected and sanctions should be imposed. Stakeholders who evaluate the base wages of tourist guides have different opinions on this issue. While a significant portion of tourist guides think that the wages are adequate, agency representatives think that the base wage is high.