The relationship between travel motivations, experiences, perception towards destination image and satisfaction of tourists: Side case

This study aims to investigate the relationship between travel motivations, tourist experiences, destination image perceptions and satisfaction of domestic tourists visiting Side destination. The pattern of the study is the quantitative research method. The study consists of three parts. The first part covers the travel motivation and tourism experience of tourists, the second part covers the image of the destination and tourist satisfaction, and the third part covers the methods, findings and results of the research. The quantitative research method was used in the study and the scale form, which is one of the primary data collection methods, was used as a data collection tool. Based on the conceptual framework, hypotheses related to the researched subject were developed. In the study, the effect of travel motivation on experience, destination image and tourist satisfaction and the effect of experience and destination image on tourist satisfaction were tried to be measured. The population of the research consists of domestic tourists visiting the Side destination. In this context, questionnaire forms were applied to domestic tourists in Side destination. The scales were collected between 14 June 2021 and 18 September 2021. 432 scale forms were included in the analysis. While analyzing the data in the research SPSS Statistics 26 and Smart PLS 3 programs were used for analyzing the data in the research. As a result of the study, it has been determined that travel motivation has a meaningful and positive effect on tourist experience, destination image and satisfaction with the destination. It has been determined that the experience only has a significant and positive effect on the destination image. In addition, it has been determined that the destination image has a significant and positive effect on tourist satisfaction. Another important result of the study is that the experience does not have a direct effect on tourist satisfaction and the hypothesis is rejected. The study includes conclusions and recommendations for different stakeholders in the tourism system. Key Words: Travel Motivation, Tourist Experience, Destination Image, Destination Satisfaction, Side.