Abstract:

In tourism, an emotional connection is established between tangible and intangible nostalgic elements and the individual, and this affects the visitor experience positively. The aim of this study is to reveal the effects of retro /nostalgic items used in food and beverage establishments operating in Safranbolu and serving gastronomic tourism on the visitor experience along with business promotion and marketing activities. The qualitative research method and the phenomenology research design were employed. Within the scope of the research, 9 food and beverage establishments using nostalgic elements were identified; however, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the 8 business officials. As a result, it was found that retro businesses that use remarkable nostalgic elements in the design of the place also include food and drinks produced by adhering to their original recipes in their menus. It was revealed that the advantages of retro businesses are more than the disadvantages. The establishments have domestic and foreign loyal customers. However, the disadvantages are that they are far from the center, the cost of local products is high, and they have difficulty finding staff.

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