A research on the evaluation of tourist visitors' comments about Sinop destination

Today, , tourists' destination selection processes are directly shaped by comments and evaluations shared on digital platforms. Especially potential tourists who are searching for information before their travels get a preliminary impression about the destinations they plan to visit through these platforms. This situation increases the importance of online user comments in terms of the promotion of touristic destinations and destination marketing. Sinop is one of the important touristic destinations known for its nature and historical texture, located in the north of the Black Sea Region. This study aims to evaluate the opinions of touristic visitors who visited the Sinop destination in a thematic framework by examining the Google comments. By examining the comments made on the Google platform, it will be possible to understand the perceptions, expectations and experiences of tourists about the destination in depth. Thus, the strengths and weaknesses of the destination will be determined and information that can contribute to Sinop's tourism strategies will be presented. In this context, the comments about the Sinop destination will be evaluated in themes and categories using the content analysis method. The prominent results within the scope of the research are as follows; Sinop's natural beauties, historical sites and calm atmosphere have been evaluated positively by a large portion of visitors. Tourist areas such as Sinop Castle, Hamsilos Bay and İnceburun are among the places that are particularly liked and frequently recommended by visitors. Visitors emphasize that Sinop has an attractive atmosphere, especially for those who want to get away from a stressful life. There is also some negative feedback in visitor comments. The increasing crowds, especially in the summer months, have negatively affected the visitors' experiences. It has been analyzed that dense crowds prevent the enjoyment of natural beauties and that Sinop destination does not have the service potential to respond to the crowds. In addition, the mosquito problem encountered especially in areas intertwined with nature has caused visitors to have negative experiences.