Comparison of visitors' motivations of participating in events in accordance with type of events: Example of Izmir

Recently , numerous studies have been done on the event management in the frame of tourism discipline (Getz, 2000, 2008; Harris et al, 2001; Hede et al, 2002, 2003; Sherwood, 2007). This respect is a manifestation that especially individuals participating in events and destinations in which events take place are the focus of interest of researchers. Moreover, international researches in that field indicate that especially event management to be healthy, also individuals' motivation who participating events plays a decisive role (Backman et al, 1995; Chang, 2006; Crompton ve Mackay, 1997; Formica ve Uysal, 1996, 1998; Lee, 2000; Lee et al, 2004; McMorland ve MacTaggart, 2008; Mohr et al, 1993; Schneider ve Backman, 1996; Scott, 1996; Uysal et al., 1993). From this point of view, conducted studies have become a current issue with several approaches which reflecting different viewpoints to an evaluation in tourist behavior issue. Examination of tourist behavior allows us to understand the characteristics of tourists, accordingly it leads to the realization of more effective tourism activities and services.To understand of the importance of motivation by going down deep and to evaluate motivation in tourism are definitely important for event tourism and event management. The investigation of visitors? motivation to participate in events, the categorization of visitors? demographic characteristics and the classification of their participation motives contribute to event planning and marketing to a great extent.İzmir is one of the most important potent tourism centers in terms of the natural historical beauties and mild climate. Especially, in terms of its natural and historical values are evaluated, it is seen that it has been a witness to each year domestic and foreign tourists' visitation and become a current issue with several events. For many years, been identified with İzmir, İzmir International Fair is only one of these. It is fact that İzmir has been hosting various events and aforementioned events have been appealed to individuals who have different backgrounds and different characteristics.Also the purpose of this study is to classify the motives of individuals participating in the events of İzmir, the subgoal of the study is to set light to event tourism in İzmir, on the other hand to analyze the potential response of İzmir to these motives of individuals participating in the event. In this respect, the effect of research on area will occur to develop schemingly event tourism for professional sector representatives and local government who are active in event tourism, solve the problems about development and to convert İzmir into an important center of event tourism in the national and international field in the future .Quantitative research method has been determined as the research method. The research population consists of individuals in participating event tourism; the sample is determined by random selection of individuals in the events of İzmir. As research data is analyzed with SPSS, the findings are interpreted by comparing with the other researches taken place in the literature. Research on the nail is original in the literature especially in terms of being carried out in İzmir, comparison of individuals' motivation in participation in different events and the creation of typology. This research will contribute to sector in terms of giving an opinion to individuals who are assigned in tourism planning and marketing of İzmir. In other words, motives of participation in events are thought to contribute to literature in respect to have the characteristics of an example of research about economical, social and