The Effect of Cittaslow Residents’ Hospitality Approaches on the Domestic Tourists’ Satisfaction, Revisit Intention and Loyalty: The Example of Seferihisar

Abstract

The Cittaslow movement, which emerged as anti-globalization, has important contributions to cities' environmental policies, the development of sustainable tourism, and ultimately to the sustainable competitiveness of cities. However, the contributions of the city administration may not be sufficient in this subject. At this point, the city residents’ hospitality approaches may have important effects on the domestic tourists’ satisfaction, satisfaction, and revisit intention. When the literature is reviewed, some studies suggest that Cittaslow can be an alternative way to make cities sustainable. However, the city residents’ hospitality approaches were not investigated. Also, the effect of satisfaction on the revisit intention and loyalty was not investigated by incorporation into the model. The study aims to reveal the impact of Seferihisar residents’ hospitality approaches on the domestic tourists’ satisfaction, revisit intention and loyalty. Research data were collected by face to face questionnaire method from domestic tourists in Seferihisar where is Turkey's first Cittaslow city. The research model was analyzed by structural equation modeling. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the dimensions of enthusiasm and friendliness to be effective on the domestic tourists’ satisfaction and this satisfaction had a positive effect on the domestic tourists’ revisit intention and loyalty.