The relationship between visitor motivation, perception of ICH, experience and loyalty: Case of camel wrestling

In recent years, with the differentiation of individuals' expectations and demands for travel, cultural heritage tourism draws attention in terms of travel preferences. Cultural sights, attractions and local events are becoming an important source of motivation for travel. Recognition of cultural assets, sightseeing and being aware of this awareness while taking part in activities within this scope are significant both in terms of sustainability of cultural heritage and tourism. Camel wrestling is a rich accumulation of intangible cultural heritage values, keeps the culture alive and transfers it to the next generations. In the study, primarily, interviews were conducted with 16 cameleers of camel breeding culture and camel wrestling with its economic, social and cultural aspects of tourism. In the next phase, it is aimed to specify the structural relationships between the motivation factors, intangible cultural heritage perceptions, memorable tourism experiences and loyalty tendencies of the visitors participating in the camel wrestling. For this purpose, a face-to-face questionnaire was applied to 418 visitors who participated in camel wrestling. First section consists of, the problem, purpose, significance, hypotesis, limitations and definitions of the research. The next section covers motivation, cultural heritage, memorable tourism experience and loyalty within the theoretical framework. In the third part, information about the method of the research is given. The fourth chapter composes of the findings and comments regarding the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the research. The last part comprises and suggestions developed in conjunction. As a result of the research, it has been determined that the perception of intangible cultural heritage has a significant effect on the motivation of the visitors and the memorable tourism experience. Besides, memorable tourism experience has a significant effect on loyalty. According to the findings obtained from qualitative data, it is seen that camel breeding culture and camel wrestling are encounter problems such as the thought that camels are harmed, camel breeding in Turkey, legal problems, lack of marketing, insufficient support, and more efforts should be made to bring them into tourism.