Grief Tourism on Destination Image Formation: Afyonkarahisar and Başkomutan National Historical Park

• Main Authors: Burhan KILIÇ, Hande AKYURT
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Gaziantep University 2011-06-01
• Series: Gaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences
• Subjects: Hüzün Turizmi; Destinasyon İmajı; Afyonkarahisar; Başkomutan Tarihi Milli Parkı; Grief Tourism; Destination Image; Başkomutan National Historical Park
• Online Access: http://dergipark.gov.tr/jss/issue/24244/257032?publisher=gantep

The diversification of supply sources owned causes differences between destinations and special interest which is shaped for demand leads to become tourism widespread. In Turkey, there are many destinations where different features exist together. By means of alternative tourism types, various destinations and tourism types emerge. When all the events happened during the Independence War are considered in terms of national heritage, Afyonkarahisar is an important centre among grief tourism destinations. In research related to image components of Afyonkarahisar, confectionery, food products, and thermal tourism are the values of this destination that come to mind first. When the city is considered in terms of tourism, by highlighting the thermal tourism, the slogan “The Capital of Thermal Tourism” has been used. However it is hard to say that thermal tourism has a success taking the research into consideration. Therefore either other tourism values will be used to support the slogan available or with the work of a new image, a new image destination image will be created. The aim of this study is to eliminate the current negativity of Afyonkarahisar province’s destination image, strengthen the image and examine the availability of grief tourism which is one of the heritage tourism types so as to increase its market share