Scholarly record
PATTERNS OF SEEING AND ILLUSTRATING THE DANUBE DELTA BIOSPHERE RESERVE (ROMANIA) THROUGH ONLINE VISITOR PHOTOS
Abstract
It is known that the information acquired before the journey is essential for building visitor expectations and behavior. With its increasing role as information and communication tool, internet has become a key factor for destination image formation. Specialized travel websites in particular have a major contribution to building and communicating destination image, especially those with user generated content. Perceived as more objective, personal visitor experiences shared online are much more convincing and influential for future tourists. They contain both cognitive and affective elements regarding tourist experiences, as well as recommendations. They also show the way visitors perceive destination image. Therefore, this paper was aimed to analyze the destination image of Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, as communicated by visitors' photos posted on the TripAdvisor website. Content analysis of pictures and reviews were used to identify the most important place attributes selected and highlighted by visitor photos as well as specific patterns of seeing and photographing the reserve. The results indicate an overall destination image of a wild paradise for nature lovers.
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