Tourism, known as a flueless industry, is among the most important sources of income for countries. To attract more consumers, new types of tourism are offered to tourists. Gastronomic tourism has been one of the most striking types of tourism in recent years. Tourists who prefer local gastronomic products prefer to experience new tastes by visiting recreation centers. In tourism activities, tourists spend their leisure time with enjoyable and quality activities. Among the leisure activities, gastronomy elements have an important share within the scope of recreational activities. Tourists learn about the culture, history and traditions of the region through gastronomic products. Organized gastronomic festivals, cooking competitions, tasting days of local foods attract tourists to recreation centers therefore gastronomic products have an important share in the promotion of recreation centers. This study aims to determine the effect of gastronomic products on the recreation center preference of domestic tourists. The research was carried out in Zeyve Pazar, a recreation center in Ermenek district of Karaman province, and the data were obtained via interviews with local tourists visiting Zeyve Bazaar. In the study in which the qualitative research method was used, purposeful sampling was preferred and a semi-structured interview form was created by making use of the scientific studies determined as a result of the literature review. The data obtained as a result of the interviews with the volunteer participants and interpreted by making content analysis and descriptive analysis. At the end of the study, the elements of gastronomy grouped as restaurant meals, local foods and gastronomic tools were determined in Karaman Zeyve Bazaar. It has been concluded that the gastronomic products in the Zeyve Bazaar affect the choice of recreation center of domestic tourists after the elements of nature such as water resources and trees.
Keywords: Karaman, Ermenek, Zeyve Bazaar, recreation, gastronomy