Abstract:

Families of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face various difficulties both on vacation and during travel. This study aims to determine the holiday experiences of families with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, identify the problems they experience throughout the vacation, and provide suggestions to relevant stakeholders to develop related marketing strategies. A semi-structured focus group interview technique was used in this study. A form containing interview questions was created, and interviews were conducted with 17 families having children with ASD living in Konya. Research findings show the most critical problems the families with ASD children experience in hotels; It has shown that the services offered by accommodation businesses are not accessible to such families, that the hotel staff and other families do not have sufficient awareness of the subject, that the employees have problems in establishing effective relationships due to those issues. The problems experienced by families during their travel negatively affect their holiday. This situation draws attention to the necessity of reintegrating the families who have children diagnosed with ASD, raising awareness of the society on autism, and providing more accessible holiday options for them.

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