Assessing the attractiveness of tourist destinations by the travel photo method

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to use the travel photo method (TPM) to reveal the kinds of tourist attractions that cause travelers to be attracted to tourist destinations. In the investigation, we obtained the cooperation of 75 travelers. As a result of analyzing 742 supplied photographs, European and American travelers assessed the attractiveness of Nara through the subjects of temple and shrine architecture, modern architecture, statues of Buddha, and Japanese homes, while Asian tourists did so through subjects such as food and shops, lanterns, and torii (gateways to Shinto shrines). Among the Japanese travelers, the group who had visited many times assessed the attractiveness of Nara through the subjects of stone ruins and flora, while the group who had visited fewer times did so through the subjects of fellow travelers, temple and shrine architecture, and deer. Further, the results showed that travelers' tourism experiences in Nara can be broadly divided into three types. Based on these, we considered the practical significance of assessments of the attractiveness of tourist destinations using TPM.