Dimensions of tourist satisfaction in cooking class experiences: A thematic analysis of online reviews in Cappadocia

Purpose: With the recent surge in interest in gastronomy, cooking classes have become one of the most popular activities for tourists.In this context, the aim of this study is to examine cooking class experiences.Design/methodology/approach: User-generated content, a frequently used data source in this field, was utilized, and 508 reviews on cooking classes in Cappadocia were analyzed.Results: The reviews were subjected to thematic analysis, resulting in a 7-dimensional framework, which includes: staff, culinary learning, cultural experience, food, social and emotional experience, physical environment, and functionality and value.Discussion: Satisfaction with cooking classes is shaped as a result of co-creation, cultural learning, hospitality, and high levels of interaction as well as the food.Theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed at the end of the study.