The effect of leisure motivation, leisure satisfaction and mental well-being of elderly tourists participating in recreative activities on their revisiting intentions

Recreation is the activities that individuals participate in, individually or in groups, at their own will, for purposes such as having fun, relaxing or socializing. Recreational activities, which have a very important place in the tourism sector, include many types of activities that can be created for individuals of all age groups. As a result of participation in recreational activities, individuals gain great benefits in terms of physiological, psychological, aesthetic, social, educational and relaxation. One age group that experiences recreational activities and the benefits that can be obtained from recreational activities is individuals aged 50 and over. Individuals aged 55 and over want to have different holiday experiences after their working period. The aim of this thesis is to determine the relationship between leisure motivations, leisure satisfaction and mental well-being of tourists aged 50 and over participating in recreational activities in Antalya and to evaluate the effects of these factors on their revisit intentions. Quantitative method was used in the research. Convenience sampling method was chosen for the sample of the research. Data were collected by survey technique. The survey form was applied in 4 languages: Russian, English, German and Turkish. The questionnaire form was applied to a total of 394 participants aged 55 and over who participated in recreational activities in hotels in Antalya province. When the findings obtained as a result of the research were evaluated, there was a difference in the perception of tourists' leisure motivation according to age, education level and income status, but no difference according to gender and marital status. Tourists' perceptions of leisure satisfaction differ according to gender, marital status, income status, age and education level. Tourists' perceptions of mental well-being differ according to gender, marital status, age and education level, but no difference was found according to income level. Tourists' revisit intentions differed according to marital status, age and education level, but not according to gender and income level. A positive relationship was found between leisure motivation, leisure satisfaction, mental well-being and revisit intentions of participants participating in recreational activities.