NATURE BASED OUTDOOR RECREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND DESTINATION BRANDING: ILGAZ MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

The aim of this study is to verify the significant differences between the expectations of the visitors concerning a destination brand and their personal assessment of Ilgaz Mountain National Park as a destination for nature based outdoor recreative activities. Face to face interview method was applied to collect data in the study. The scope of the study is the visitors coming to Ilgaz Mountain National Park. It was found out that the expectation levels of the participants are higher than their assessment of Ilgaz Mountain National Park as a destination brand. Therefore, higher expectations of the visitor comparing the current state of the destination reveal the deficiencies of Ilgaz Mountain National Park as for the complete destination brand features. Suggestions about the study and Ilgaz Mountain National Park were offered with reference to the result of the study