DESTINATION PERSONALITY IMPACTS ON THE SATISFACTION AND BEHAVIORAL INTENTIONS: A CASE OF PAMUKKALE – HIERAPOLIS SITE

Abstract

Destination personality is one of the major brand components that differentiates a location from its competitors. This research was intended to identify the effects of destination personality on tourist satisfaction and behavioral intentions using Pamukkale, one of Turkey's leading cultural heritage and tourism centers. The research data were obtained by convenience sampling through a face-to-face questionnaire given to 350 domestic tourists who stayed in hotels located in Pamukkale-Hierapolis from April to June 2018. Factor and regression analyses were carried out for the data. The research findings indicate that perceived destination personality for Pamukkale-Hierapolis had four dimensions: competence-sophistication, natural-happy, sincerity and ruggedness, which had positive effects on destination loyalty and behavioral intentions among visitors. This research determined that a positive perception of destination personality had a very important role in increasing destination satisfaction and predicting future behaviors of tourists for the destination they visited.