The Factors Affecting the Formation of the Destination Image from the Domestic Tourists’ Perspective

The purpose of this research is to investigate the key factors affecting the image formation of Tabriz city from the viewpoint of the local tourists who visited Tabriz. The main tool for collecting information is a questionnaire. To this end, 384 questionnaires were distributed by simple random sampling method in summer 2016. For analyzing the data, structural equation modeling and Friedman rank test were used. The research findings show that the priority of the components forming the image of Tabriz city is urban infrastructure, tourist attractions, events and occasions, and economy and trade respectively. Therefore, as the urban infrastructure is considered the most effective factor in shaping the image of Tabriz, the promotion of infrastructure, standards, and quality of services and tourism facilities should always be considered by officials and urban planners