Are internship programs encouraging or discouraging? - A viewpoint of tourism and hospitality students in Turkey

Abstract

This studyaimstoexploretheviewsoftourismandhospitalitystudents’ of summer internship programstheyparticipate.Theresultsofthesurveyreceivedfrom603students across Turkeyrevealthataftertheirinternshipexperiencesalmost18.3%ofthestudents do nowwishtoworkintourismandhospitalitysectorwhileasignificantproportionof them wishtoworkindifferentareasoftourismandhospitalitytheyhadoriginally intended. Thismaymeanthataminimumof$100millionmaybewastedperannum.The studyhasimportantpracticalimplicationsfortourismandhospitalityeducation.