Managing natural tourism attractions based on visitor reviews: a case study of Golden Beach, Karpaz

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to uncover the critical factors relating to the enhancement of a natural tourism attraction from a visitor perspective. Design/methodology/approach The reviews (n = 336) of Golden Beach, Karpaz were collected from the Tripadvisor.com platform. Content analysis was conducted with Leximancer software to determine the themes relating to natural tourism attraction development. Findings The most widely highlighted themes in the data were environment, infrastructure, location, activities, visitors and locals. Pro-environmental visitors, the responsibilities of government and visitor management issues are discussed in relation to managing natural tourism attractions. Practical implications The paper has a number of practical implications for tourism stakeholders involved in developing sustainable destinations. Originality/value This paper emphasises the value of analysing visitor generated comments in order to better understand visitor thoughts and perceptions. In so doing, the authorities can make decisions that align with the expectations of visitors and manage their resources accordingly.