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Destination image is commonly accepted as an important aspect in successful tourism development and destination marketing due to its impact on both supply- and demand-side aspects of marketing. Despite the ample amount of literature, a comprehensive conceptualization of destination image comprising its intricate relationships with several other factors on the supply and demand sides of the market has yet to emerge. In this study, a large body of literature on destination image and related concepts is reviewed and a comprehensive conceptualization of destination image is modeled. It was concluded that there are still many facets of this complex construct yet to be investigated empirically.

The destination image has received much attention for about three decades. Studies of various aspects of destination images increased in volume during the 1990s. Echtner and Ritchie's (1991) review of destination image literature resulted in several suggestions in terms of both the conceptualization and operationalization of destination image. This study looks at the evolutionary nature of tourism destination image studies from both theoretical and operational perspectives. Necessary adjustments in the methodological rigor and the focus of inquiry for destination image research are offered using Echtner and Ritchie's review as a guide. A review of literature about destination image and other pertinent concepts indicated that several of Echtner and Ritchie's recommendations have been followed, whereas others have not. Also, several other important conceptualization- and methodology-related issues identified in the destination image literature are addressed.

State tourism image is a complex combination of various products and associated attributes . Attribute identification, along with state tourism product position, was inves tigated using multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS). Two-dimensional analysis on image data collected for the states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah revealed salient attributes together with state touristic product images. The MDS procedure allowed for subjective interpretation of data, resulting in marketing implications for redirecting state image and modifying promotional campaigns. It was suggested that MDS analysis provides for alternative assessments of state tourism image, but before product reposition ing efforts are undertaken , individuals possessing intimate familiarity with the destination area be consulted for assistance in data interpretation.

This article investigates the concept of customer-based brand equity for a tourism destination, which has been introduced into the tourism literature only a few years ago. Specifically, it investigates whether differences between renewal and repeat tourists exist in their evaluation of a tourism destination. A theoretically proposed model, encompassing the dimensions of awareness, image, quality, and loyalty, was empirically verified for the European tourism destination Slovenia from the perspective of German tourists. The results imply that the dimensions of image and quality play the most important role in tourists’ evaluation of a destination, regardless of whether they are first-time visitors or repeaters. Results also reveal differences in importance for the dimensions of awareness and loyalty between renewal and repeat tourists. Drawing on the results, the article offers some implications for tourism organizations in developing and implementing destination marketing strategies in foreign markets.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) has yet to recover from a dramatic drop in tourism due to the Tiananmen Square conflict. Occupancy levels remain lower than those existing before the conflict. Although the drop in tourism can be quantified, it was not known if there was a corresponding drop in the touristic image of the country. A study assessing the image of the country held by the mature market in the United States was completed one day before the Tiananmen Square conflict. In an attempt to assess image change due to Tiananmen Square, the initial study was repeated one year after the conflict using a similar sample population. Images of tourism attractions and services were compared between groups using Anova procedures. Touristic images of the country, for the most part, had declined; however, not all image components changed equally. Some evidence suggests that the image changes for touristic services may mean more to future travel to the PRC than the image changes noted for attractions.

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