A RESEARCH ON UNIVERSİTY STUDENTS PERCEPTION OF DESTINATION IMAGE: THE CASE OF KEMALİYE

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This research has been carried out to measure the image perception of people coming to a tourist destination for educational purposes. Within the scope of the research carried out in Kemaliye destination, which is a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage and Cittaslow (Slow City), the survey technique was applied to 282 students studying at Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University Kemaliye Hacı Ali Akın School of Applied Sciences and Kemaliye Hacı Ali Akın Vocational School. Frequency, factor and difference analyzes were used to analyze the data obtained from the study conducted between 26 February-02 March 2018. According to the results of the research which has been studied to measure the image perceptions of the students; when the participants hear the word “Kemaliye”, the first words that come to their minds are nature, history, culture and Dark Canyon. As a result of the factor analyzes, 4 factor dimensions and general image size differences were analyzed. Difference analyzes were conducted according to gender, duration of stay, the desire to return to Kemaliye after graduation and the advices about Kemaliye to their environment. It is understood that the most powerful image perception of Kemaliye destination is in the dimensions of history, culture and natural environment.

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Destination , Destination Image , Kemaliye

International Journal of Geography and Geography Education

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International Journal of Geography and Geography Education