The effect of the relationship between authenticity and gastronostalgic attitude on the intention of revisit and destination image

Aimed at making a contribution to the literature with a different approach, this research primarily tries to investigate the concepts of authenticity, nostalgia, memory, gastronostalgia, and attitude in detail. The scale of research and model are formed by making use of two different studies. The universe of this research is specified as Bodrum, the district of Mugla. The sample of research is composed of local tourists (aged over 20) who have visited Bodrum at least twice or more in their entire life including their knowledge of local food of the destination, and the ability to compare its current status to its nostalgic past. The validity of the scores attained from the scales used in the content of this research, and the structural validity of the scores attained from the scales used in analyses relating to their reliability, have been executed by means of LISREL 10.20. In analyses, polychoric correlation matrix has been used in accordance with the ordinal data; and the Kaiser rule, stacked graph, and results of the Parallel Test have been examined in order to decide for the factor number. For the examination of the compatibility of model, absolute compatibility indexes such as GFI: Goodness of Fit Index, RMSEA: Root Mean Square Error of Approximation and SRMR: Standardized Root Mean Square Residual and comparative compatibility indexes such as NFI: Normed Fit Index and CFI: Comparative Fit Index have been used. The Original Model and the Alternative Model, which have been examined in the content of the research, have been tested by means of Path Analysis. An alternative model has been composed because of the exemplary model's failure in showing suitability with the subject based in the context of compatibility values in the research. The composed model explains 21% of the variance in Nostalgia variable, 7% of the variance in Gastronostalgia variable, 14% of the variance in Attitude towards Local Food variable, 40% of the variance in Destination Image variable, and 51% of the variance in Revisit Intention variable. In conclusion, it has a positive and meaningful impact on the concept of 'individual and nostalgia' and 'authenticity, nostalgia, gastronostalgia, destination image and revisit intention'. Keywords: Authenticity, Gastronostalgia, Attitude, Revisit, Destination Image