Tourism perception of cappadocia: Sentiment analysis and thematic review of economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts

Ozge Kaya; Nurten Ulusay; Nazife Kaya

doi:10.70736/ijoess.1748

Authors

Ozge Kaya Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Faculty of Tourism, Nevşehir, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5247-7546
Nurten Ulusay Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Nevşehir, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0972-9407
Nazife Kaya Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Nevşehir, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4118-7978

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70736/ijoess.1748

Keywords:

Data Mining, Phenomenology, Tourism Economics, Text Mining, Sustainable Tourism

Abstract

Analyzing tourist experiences through digital content is crucial for understanding destination image, visitor satisfaction and sustainable tourism development. This study examines how tourists perceive Cappadocia based on user-generated content on Reddit. Using the Python Reddit API Wrapper, 59 posts and 119 comments from 2013 to 2024 were collected and analyzed with text mining techniques. Emotion analysis via the NRC Emotion Lexicon identified dominant sentiments such as trust, anticipation and joy, while fear and sadness were linked mainly to safety or heritage concerns. A phenomenological approach and content analysis revealed five key themes: Cultural and Historical Values, Tourism and Economic Impacts, Social Interaction, Nature and Environment and Technological Innovation. The findings highlight Cappadocia’s strong emotional appeal but also point to challenges like pricing, overcrowding and infrastructure issues. The study offers recommendations for sustainable destination management and emphasizes the value of integrating technologies like AR/VR and preserving cultural and natural assets. These insights can guide tourism stakeholders in enhancing visitor experiences and supporting long-term sustainability.

References

Abou Zeid, R. M., & Abouraia, M. G. (2019). Price discrimination and its ımpact on tourist satisfaction and loyalty: Evidence from tourist companies and five star hotels. Journal of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels-University of Sadat City, 3(1).

Avcıkurt, C. (2009). The importance of natural and cultural heritage in tourism: A case of Cappadocia. Management and Education, 1, 23-32.

Aydın, Ş., & Akpınar, A. (2023). Faith tourism potential of Cappadocia region. Request & Demand Address, 343, 1-14.

Barış-Tüzemen, Ö., Tüzemen, S., & Çelik, A. K. (2023). Sentiment analysis of reviews on cappadocia: The land of beautiful horses in the eyes of tourists. European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, 13(2), 188-197. https://doi.org/10.2478/ejthr-2023-0015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ejthr-2023-0015

Bayer, M. Z. (1992). Turizme giriş [Introduction to Tourism]. İşletme Fakültesi Yayını.

Büyükkuru, M., & Yılmaz, İ. (2022). Determining the development level of Cappadocia tourism. Journal of Tourism & Management Research, 7(1), 2149-6528. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.650133

Cabeleira, M., & Vaz de Carvalho, C. (2025). Using augmented reality to improve touristic efficacy. Computers, 14(2), 75. https://doi.org/10.3390/computers14020075 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/computers14020075

Cakir, O., Evren, S., Tören, E., & Kozak, N. (2018). Utilizing the sustainable livelihoods approach to evaluate tourism development from the rural host communities’ point of view: The case of Cappadocia (Turkey). GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 21(1), 7-25.

Coban, G., & Yildiz, O. S. (2019). Developing a destination management model: Case of Cappadocia. Tourism Management Perspectives, 30, 117-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2019.02.012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2019.02.012

Çamlıca, K. (2024). Evaluation of Cappadocia region in terms of sustainable development: Tourism sector. Journal of Tourism & Gastronomy Studies, 12(4), 3058-3074. http://doi.org/10.21325/jotags.2024.1525 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21325/jotags.2024.1525

Çamlıca, K. (2024). Guest experience and unique accommodation features in Göreme, Cappadocia: An Airbnb review analysis. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Tourism, 9(3), 317-325. https://doi.org/10.31822/jomat.2024-9-3-317 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31822/jomat.2024-9-3-317

Demirçivi, B. M. (2017). Göreme Millî Parkı ve Kapadokya Kayalık Bölgeleri’ne ilişkin UNESCO raporu değerlendirmeleri ve öneriler. Turizm Akademik Dergisi, 4(2), 91-106.

Elbaz, A. M., Abou Kamar, M. S., Onjewu, A. K. E., & Soliman, M. (2023). Evaluating the antecedents of health destination loyalty: The moderating role of destination trust and tourists’ emotions. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, 24(1), 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/15256480.2021.1935394 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15256480.2021.1935394

Erginal, G. & Uludağ, M. (2018). Natural and anthropogenic threats to the cultural tourism potential of kıyıköy, kırklareli, Türkiye. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics, 5(3), 296-303. https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.465547 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.465547

Evci, A., & Şahin, C. K. (2017). Evaluation of the Göreme Historical National Park in terms of tourism practices. Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Research, 1(2), 54-60.

Günden, Y., & Günden, B. (2022). An innovative culture route proposal in destination management of Cappadocia region. Revista Rosa dos Ventos-Turismo e Hospitalidade, 14(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.18226/21789061.v14i3p937

Karacaoğlu, S. (2025). A comprehensive outlook of culture, creativity and sustainability in rural areas through tourism development. In Niche Tourism and Sustainability: Perspectives, Practices and Prospects (pp. 94-104). CABI. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800626669.0008

Karagöz, D., & Ramkissoon, H. (2025). The effect of heritagescapes on immersion and hedonia: The moderating role of visitor type. International Journal of Tourism Research, 27(3), e70026. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.70026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.70026

Karakuş, Y. (2019). Identifying the best alternative tourism product for a destination: The case of Cappadocia. Anais Brasileiros de Estudos Turísticos: ABET, 9(1), 4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34019/2238-2925.2019.v9.16929

Kemer, E., Tekeli, M., Tekeli, E. K., & Etyemez, S. (2025). The effect of local people’s environmental attitudes and ecological awareness on environmentally friendly tourism behaviors within the scope of sustainable tourism: A research in Cappadocia region. In Meaningful Tourism (pp. 281-293). Emerald Publishing Limited. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83797-837-320251037

Li, X., Yuan, Y., & Zhang, J. (2024). The influence of tourists' emotional experiences on destination loyalty from the perspective of community economy. International Journal of Tourism Research, 26(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2630 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2630

Ozdemir, E., & Koroglu, A. (2025). An analysis of the perceived expensiveness of tourism destinations in Turkey through discourse analysis. Prof. Dr. Laura Diaconu Maxim Uzm. Dt. İbrahim Tevfik GÜLŞEN, 30, 84-98.

Özel, Ç. H., & Kozak, N. (2017). An exploratory study of resident perceptions toward the tourism industry in Cappadocia: A social exchange theory approach. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 22(3), 284-300. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2016.1236826 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2016.1236826

Özen, A. (2021). Evaluation of tourist reviews on tripadvisor for the protection of the world heritage sites: text mining approach. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Tourism, 6(1), 37-46. https://doi.org/10.31822/jomat.876175 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31822/jomat.876175

Özen, İ. & İlhan, İ. (2022). Opinion mining in tourism. Handbook of Research on Smart Technology Applications in the Tourism Industry, 1506-1527. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-6303-1.ch079 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-6303-1.ch079

Sari, S. L., & Burhanudin, B. (2023). Emotional experience and conative loyalty: The mediating role of revisit intention. Jurnal Manajemen Dan Kewirausahaan, 11(1), 40-48. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26905/jmdk.v11i1.10194

Surugiu, C., Surugiu, M. R., & Grădinaru, C. (2023). Targeting creativity through sentiment analysis: A survey on Bucharest city tourism. SAGE Open, 13(2), 21582440231167346. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231167346 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231167346

Şahin Perçin, N., & Yiğit, S. (2020). Tripadvisor da yer alan yiyecek ve içecek işletmeleri hakkındaki e-şikayetlerin değerlendirilmesi: Kapadokya bölgesi örneği. Journal of Tourism and Gastronomy Studies, 8(4), 2985-3001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21325/jotags.2020.747

Şalvarcı, S. (2022). Desti̇nasyon pazarlamasi bağlaminda Türki̇ye’deki̇ kültürel rotalarin pest anali̇zi̇ i̇le i̇ncelenmesi̇. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 24(1), 405-419. https://doi.org/10.16953/deusosbil.1027989 DOI: https://doi.org/10.16953/deusosbil.1027989

Topuz Cerrah, N., & Armatlı Köroğlu, B. İ. L. G. E. (2024). Sustainable tourism as a way to cope with local economic vulnerabilities: The Ürgüp, Cappadocia case. Sustainable Development, 35(4), 452-466.

Tucker, H., & Emge, A. (2010). Managing a world heritage site: The case of Cappadocia. Anatolia, 21(1), 41-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13032917.2010.9687089

TÜİK (Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu). (2024). Turizm İstatistikleri IV. Ceyrek: Ekim - Aralık, 2023. Yayımlanma Tarihi: 31 Ocak 2024, Saat: 10:00, Sayı: 53661. Erişim Tarihi: 26 Aralık 2024, https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Turizm-Istatistikleri-IV.-Ceyrek:-Ekim---Aralik,-2023-53661

Yang, Y., Wang, Z., Shen, H., & Jiang, N. (2023). The impact of emotional experience on tourists’ cultural identity and behavior in the cultural heritage tourism context: An empirical study on Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. Sustainability, 15(11), 8823. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118823

Yılmaz, A., & Aktaş, S. G. (2015). The reflections of the recent global economic crisis on the Turkish tourism sector: The sample of Fairy Chimneys Area (Cappadocia). In Hospitality, Travel and Tourism: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools and Applications (pp. 934-944). IGI Global. http://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-6543-9.ch054 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-6543-9.ch054

Zeng, Y., Liu, L., & Xu, R. (2022). The effects of a virtual reality tourism experience on tourist’s cultural dissemination behavior. Tourism and Hospitality, 3(1), 314-329. https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp3010021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp3010021

Tourism perception of cappadocia: Sentiment analysis and thematic review of economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts

Authors

DOI:

Keywords:

Abstract

References

Downloads

Published

How to Cite

Issue

Section

License

Make a Submission

Language

Information