Are Tourist Interactions Good or Bad? Tourist–Tourist Interactions at 5-Star Hotels in Istanbul

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of ambience and aesthetics on tourist–tourist interaction and the effects of tourist–tourist interaction on a sense of belonging, intention to recommend, and satisfaction in accommodation establishments. The study was carried out based on the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) model. The study was conducted in 5-star hotels in Istanbul/Turkey. Data were collected from 392 tourists staying in these hotels through a survey. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data obtained. The results of the study reveal that ambience and aesthetics have a significant effect on tourist–tourist interaction in accommodation establishments. It was also found that tourist–tourist interactions have a significant effect on the sense of belonging, intention to recommend, and satisfaction. This study provides contributions to the important field of tourist–tourist interaction, and accordingly fills a gap in the literature.