Do Perceptions Change? A Comparative Study

For developing nations affected by negative stereotypes, the question of whether a change in perceptions can be achieved through the tourism experience is important. This research aims to determine whether the perceptions of foreign tourists regarding a country and its people change as a result of the cultural tourism experience. The study examines the discrepancy between pre-travel and post-travel perceptions, matching the responses for every respondent. These changes are investigated from the comparative perspective of two sets of foreign tourists representing geographically different markets. Qualitative methodology is also used to enrich interpretation. The results determine that the perceptions of tourists regarding the host country and its people may positively change after the cultural tourism experience, although this effect is observed to be different for both samples. Implications are discussed, focusing on the role of tourism as benefiting other areas of the country such as trade and international relations.