Evaluation of tourist reviews on TripAdvisor for the protection of the world heritage sites: Text mining approach

A text mining analysis of 4183 TripAdvisor reviews from 2018 to 2020 reveals that Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia are generally well-protected with high positive perceptions (75%) and low negative evaluations (33%). While tourists praised churches, fairy chimneys, valleys, and underground cities, concerns about protection emerged, particularly regarding frescoes in rock churches where terms like 'painted' and 'drawn' indicated sensitivity to damage. Negative reviews often mentioned overcrowding, steep terrain, and extra payments. The study also found that only 30.6% of tourists were aware they were visiting a World Heritage Site. Recommendations are made to address visitor-induced damage to preserve the region's natural and cultural assets.

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