Doğal Alanlara Yönelik Ziyaretçi Deneyimlerinin İçerik Analizi Yöntemiyle İncelenmesi: Balıkesir Örneği

Year 2025, Volume: 16 Issue: 1, 171 - 185, 29.01.2025

Selda Güven , Berna Mazlum , Seda Şahin

Abstract

Doğal alanlar çeşitli rekreatif faaliyetleri içermekte, sahip oldukları özellikler ile yerel halka ve ziyaretçilere benzersiz deneyimler sunmaktadır. Değişen turizm eğilimleriyle birlikte doğal alanların turizm açısından önemi her geçen gün artmakta, çevresel kaygılar, çevrenin niteliği, sürdürülebilirlik, kırsal kalkınma gibi olguların önemi dünya çapında kabul edilmektedir. Bu kapsamda bu araştırmada Balıkesir İli özelindeki doğal alanlara yönelik seyahat sitelerinde yer alan 569 ziyaretçi yorumu incelenmiş, veriler içerik analizi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Ön plana çıkan olumlu değerlendirmeler suyun niteliği ve manzara ile ilişkiliyken, olumsuz yorumlar insan kalabalığı, ateş yakılması ve doğal alanlarda çöplerin varlığı şeklindedir. Turizm faaliyetlerinin çeşitlendirilmesinde doğal alanlar en önemli kaynaklar arasında kabul edilmekte, farklı turizm türlerinin ortaya çıkmasında destekleyici bir unsur olarak kabul edilmektedir. Ancak bu alanları ziyaret eden bireylerin olumsuz değerlendirmeleri diğer turistlerin karar verme sürecini, bölgenin imajını etkilemektedir. Bu perspektiften doğal alanlara ilişkin olumsuz unsurların azaltılması, ön plana çıkan olumlu faktörlerin desteklenerek güçlendirilmesi gerekmektedir. Doğal alanlara yönelik sorunların tespit edilmesi ve tespit edilen sorunların çözümlenmesi ya da gerekli planlamaların yapılması noktasında ziyaretçi deneyimleri tarafsız ve gerçekçi bir yorum sunmaktadır. Diğer yandan, ziyaret edilen doğal alanlara ilişkin olumlu değerlendirmelerin artması diğer gezginlerin algılarını da olumlu etkileyerek kırsal dolayısıyla bölgesel kalkınma üzerinde olumlu etkiler yaratacak, doğal alanların turizm faaliyetlerinde efektif kullanımını destekleyecektir.

Keywords

Doğal alanlar, Ziyaretçi deneyimi, TripAdvisor

Exploring Visitor Experience of Natural Areas Via Content Analysis: The Case of Balıkesir

Abstract

Natural areas offer a mix of recreational activities that give both locals and visitors the chance to have unique experiences. The increasing relevance of natural areas for tourism is a result of evolving tourism trends, with a global consensus on the importance of environmental concerns, environmental quality, sustainability, and rural development. This research involved the review and analysis of 569 visitor comments about natural areas in Balıkesir Province from travel websites using content analysis. Positive reviews primarily emphasize the water quality and scenic views, while negative feedback highlights issues like overcrowding, fires, and litter in the natural environment. Natural areas play a crucial role in expanding the variety of tourism activities and promoting the development of various types of tourism. Visitors' negative feedback in these places can influence others’ decisions and shape the area's reputation. Hence, it is crucial to minimize the drawbacks of natural areas and emphasize the benefits. Visitors' experiences offer a fair and precise evaluation to identify problems in natural settings and develop solutions or strategies to tackle them. Enhancing positive reviews of visited natural destinations can positively impact how others perceive these places, benefit rural and regional development, and promote responsible tourism in natural areas.

Keywords

Natural areas, Visitor experience, TripAdvisor

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