معرفی
Prof. OSMAN ÇULHA is a Professor in the Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts at the Faculty of Tourism, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University. He has built a distinguished academic career spanning over 15 years in tourism and hospitality education, with expertise in tourism management and gastronomy. His academic journey began as a Research Assistant at Yaşar University, progressed through lecturer positions at Adnan Menderes University, and led to his current professorship at Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University.
His educational background includes a Doctorate in Tourism Management from Adnan Menderes University (2014), a Master's degree in Tourism Management from Dokuz Eylül University (2008), and a License in Tourism Management Education from Gazi University (2005).
Prof. Çulha's research primarily focuses on the intersection of tourism management and gastronomy, with particular interest in food festivals, culinary tourism, and the relationship between local foods and tourism development. His work examines how gastronomic experiences contribute to destination branding, place attachment, and tourist satisfaction. He has extensively studied the Didim International Olive Festival as a case study for understanding how local food events can drive regional tourism development. His research also explores workforce issues in the hospitality industry, including employee motivation, organizational commitment, and the impact of training programs.
Prof. Çulha has received recognition for his academic contributions, including the prestigious Academic Golden Pen Award Certificate of the Year in 2025 for his work "Collaborations of Tourism Academies in Türkiye: Topics, Stakeholders, Scope, Benefits and Obstacles." His publications span numerous high-impact journals in tourism and hospitality research, covering diverse topics from underwater diving motivation to the quality dimensions of non-formal vocational tourism education. His scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on practical applications of tourism theory to real-world industry challenges.
He has served in various administrative capacities, including as Farabi Coordinator and Faculty Board Member at Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, and as Deputy Head of Department at Adnan Menderes University. His professional development includes specialized training in occupational health and safety, big data applications, and artificial intelligence in research processes.
Prof. Çulha is actively involved in academic service as a referee for multiple tourism journals, including Alanya Academic View Journal, Tourism Research Journal, and International Journal of Hospitality Management. His commitment to advancing tourism education is evident through his editorial contributions to publications such as "Traces of Gastronomy from Past to Present: Research-Based Evidence" and "International Tourism Management."
