The impact of crime and security perception on revisit and recommendation: The mediating role of visitor satisfaction

Factors such as globalization, economic and political instability, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks directly affect the tourism sector, and perceptions of security are key determinants of tourist preferences. Despite its rich natural and cultural assets, Şırnak, located in the Southeastern Anatolia Region, has not fully realized its tourism potential due to past security problems. Following the implementation of recent security measures, tourism activity in the region has experienced a noticeable resurgence, accompanied by an increase in visitor numbers. Therefore, this research aims to examine the effects of visitors’ perceptions of crime and security in Şırnak on their satisfaction, intention to revisit, and intention to recommend. A quantitative research method was adopted, and a survey was administered to 402 participants selected via simple random sampling between March 1 and April 23, 2024. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, explanatory factor analysis (EFA), correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation model (SEM). Research findings reveal that visitors’ positive perceptions of crime and security in Şırnak positively affect satisfaction, revisits, and recommendation intentions. In addition, it has been determined that visitor satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between crime and security perception and revisit and recommendation intentions.