The use of online platforms by Kazakh tourists coming to Turkey

Online destination promotion and marketing platforms are an important tool of tourism and have a great role in the preferences and decisions of individuals. This thesis investigates the effect of different destination promotion platforms on the preference and decision-making processes of Kazakh tourists coming to Turkey during the destination selection process. In this study, which was carried out by quantitative data collection method, survey technique was applied. The data set consists of data obtained from 342 Kazakh tourists through Google Forms. The responses of the participants to determine the impact of Kazakhstan citizens visiting Turkey on destination selection decisions were transferred to the IBM SPSS 26 program and tested. Reliability analysis, Difference tests (Anova, Independent t-test), Factor analysis, Correlation and Regression analyses were performed. According to the results obtained, it was determined that tourists use promotional platforms, which positively affects their preferences and decisions, konuand this differs depending on their age and educational status, whereas there are no significant differences in influencing tourist decisions of the platforms according to gender, occupation and marital status. As a result, destination promotion and sales organizations are required to conduct their activities taking into account the characteristics of Kazakh tourists.