In this study the role of pop-culture on shaping destination image was derived from focus groups and interviews with 24 fans from different nationalities of the Korean pop star Ahn Jae-wook. Three ...main theses emerged from the study: 1) the destination image induced by pop-culture was changed in a positive way; 2) the pop-star's event reinforced a positive place image through experiences of the event and travels in South Korea; and 3) the positive image from pop-culture experiences had a strong impact on future behavior. Results of the study suggest that pop-culture as an autonomous agent delivers a more powerful and stronger influence on destination image than previously recognized in the literature. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed.
•This research revealed the impact of pop-culture on destination image formation.•Pop-culture was a significant autonomous agent on destination image.•Pop-stars played an important role in influencing the image of their own country.•Actual visitation due to pop-star events strengthened fans' destination image.
When addressing the ever-increasing role that social media plays in generating a clear image of the travel destination chosen by tourists, the research and specialty literature tends to be rather ...limited. Despite an increase in social media-generated content, the process is not yet fully understood, although research suggests the importance of two different factors (i.e., tour-operator-generated content and user-generated content) in influencing destination image formation. In this regard, the present paper aims to examine the most significant factors currently affecting the potential behavior of travelers towards the selection of sustainable destinations. What is more, another purpose of this paper is to explore the effects that tour-operator-generated content and user-generated content have upon the formation of the overall mediating destination image through cognitive and affective destination images. For the current analysis, a structural equation modeling (SEM) method was used in order to test the conceptual model. Data from Shanghai, China (n = 425) were used. The results demonstrate and establish that travel information sources (i.e., tour-operator-generated content and user-generated content) have a positive effect on destination image formation. The analytical results also revealed that in order to select a sustainable destination, travelers are influenced by tour-operator-generated content, as well as by user-generated content, with the effect of the latter being more important and influential. Travelers’ use of social media content has played a key role in the formation of the overall destination image through the mediating effect of cognitive and affective destination images. This research thus provides valuable theoretical and practical implications for academics and practitioners alike, implications which are valuable for the fields of destination marketing and management. Furthermore, practitioners of the management of sustainable destinations can thus make use of the results throughout the entire decision-making process.
Destination image has been extensively studied in tourism and marketing, but the questions surrounding the discrepancy between the projected (perceptions from the National Tourism Organizations) and ...perceived destination image (perceptions from tourists) as well as how the discrepancy may influence sustainable experience remain unclear. Poor understanding of the discrepancy may cause tourist confusion and misuse of resources. The aim of this study is to empirically investigate if the perceived (by tourists) and projected (by NTOs) destination image are significantly different in both cognitive and affective aspects. Through a comprehensive social media content analysis of the NTO-generated and tourist-generated-contents (TGC), the current study identifies numerous gaps between the projected and perceived destination image, which offers some important theoretical and practical implications on destination management and marketing.
In days gone by, Balaton Lake predominately attracted domestic tourists, without focusing on the countries which neighbour Hungary and their respective markets. However, as a consequence of the ...Covid-19 pandemic, domestic and regional tourism flows have been stimulated, as travel restrictions resulted in a tendency towards travel to local and neighbouring destinations. In line with these trends, the research investigates the congruence of both Balaton Lake’s projected and perceived (virtual) destination image in the era of Covid-19, with Serbia being considered as a neighbouring and emitting market. The study deployed a sequential exploratory mixed-method approach (qualitative and then quantitative). The study contributes to the existing knowledge by addressing the gap between the visual and textual content of a projected (virtual) destination image and by acknowledging non-visitor perception of destination image in the context of pronounced regional international travel.
While previous studies have merely focused on travel destination image (TDI) with respect to influencing international students’ decision-making for academic destinations (i.e. the pre-experience ...stage), research on TDI relating to students’ on-site educational experiences and future behavioural intentions remain scant. This study introduces the ‘higher edutourism’ concept as a key enabler from the higher education market in attracting international students for the tourism industry. This study attempts to extend the TDI paradigm by empirically examining cognitive, affective and conative TDIs from a multidimensional perspective and its effects on overall perceived value, while also testing the indirect effects of TDIs. A total of 515 questionnaires were analysed using structural equation modelling. The results confirmed that cognitive TDI would positively impact affective TDI, perceived value and subsequently, conative TDI. Theoretical and practical implications for policymakers, higher education administrators and tourism marketers are also discussed.
The COVID-19 outbreak has the world gripped by fear and panic with its high velocity of infection. Based on the first three months of the global pandemic centred in Asia, this study investigates the ...relationship between the perception of COVID-19 on consumers' destination image towards Wuhan and China, and how risk perceptions and changes in destination image affect travel intention to the destinations. Findings illuminated that perceptions of COVID-19 do not have a direct effect on destination image. Instead, risk perception of travelling during the pandemic mediated its effects on the destination image of Wuhan and China. Theoretical and practical implications concerning the management of destination image for the recovery of tourism are discussed with future possibilities of this research.
What shapes tourist's attitudes towards destinations most, abstract destination image or concrete sensory impressions? This exploratory research investigates the unique role played by sensory ...impressions in understanding destination loyalty through a multi-level validation process utilizing three progressive studies. Study 1, based on online reviews found that positive sensory impressions have a positive effect on loyalty while negative sensory impressions have a negative effect. A field study then revealed that sensory impressions can be distinguished from destination image and provides incremental explanatory power on loyalty. Through a survey of actual tourists, Study 3 verified the robustness of the conclusions of the first two studies and provides evidence that sensory impressions are related to other outcome concepts (perceived quality, value and satisfaction). This research illustrates the mechanisms behind the influence of this emerging construct on destination loyalty, and more importantly, verifies its importance and necessity through a more rigorous multi-level validation.
•Examines how sensory impressions influence tourist loyalty.•Utilizes three interrelated studies to assess how physical impressions relate to image.•Compares the differences between destination image and sensory impressions.•Initially adopts a multi-level validation process for new constructs in tourism research.
In an industry that sells experiences rather than tangible products, tourism destination image (TDI) is an important strategic marketing tool through which destinations compete with each other, ...strengthen their positioning on the market and attract potential visitors. TDI was an active area of researchers’ investigation; however, in recent times it seems to have received less attention leaving a significant amount of unaddressed issues. The strength of this work comes essentially from the conceptual clarity it endeavours to provide by proposing a conceptual framework, which explicitly displays the multi-staged process of TDI formation and a set of image determinants based on previous empirical TDI research or included in other models of TDI formation, and also highlights under-researched areas that still require researchers’ attention.
This paper examines the effects of a sustainable destination image on residents' satisfaction and pro-sustainable behavior considered through positive word-of-mouth (WOM) and engagement in ...sustainable tourism practices. The paper also explains the moderating role of two demographic variables, i.e., gender and age, in the proposed research model. The findings show that a sustainable destination image affects residents' satisfaction, positive WOM, and engagement, while satisfaction is found to influence only positive WOM with an insignificant impact on engagement. Whereas gender moderates only the relationship between residents’ satisfaction and engagement, the moderating role of age is not confirmed.
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