The Role of Spatial Familiarity in Visual Perception: An Investigation in Protected Landscapes in Cappadocia

Visual perception is one of the main elements that shape the visitor experience in tourism and recreation activities. The Cappadocia Region, where natural and cultural landscape elements form a unique integrity, has a strong visual appeal at the universal level in this respect. In this study, the perceptual effects of different landscape types of Cappadocia on individuals were examined; the role of individual variables such as spatial familiarity, settlement and visit history on perception was evaluated. Methodologically, the study consisted of (1) photographing the characteristic landscapes of the region, (2) selecting photographs with diverse content, (3) administering a questionnaire to 120 participants in order to evaluate these images in terms of scenic beauty, tranquility, attractiveness and excitement, and (4) statistically analyzing the data. The findings revealed that Cappadocia has a strong aesthetic and emotional impact on the participants with its natural landscapes as well as its cultural landscape elements. However, it was also found that locals evaluated certain landscapes more positively and that spatial familiarity and emotional connection created significant differences in the perception of "tranquility" and "beauty". Moreover, individuals who had visited the region before, developed a deeper and more meaningful perception of some images. The results point to the importance of developing holistic planning strategies that are sensitive to user profiles and consider perceptual differences in areas with unique landscapes such as Cappadocia. They also emphasize the need to integrate visual perception into tourism planning and promotion processes.