Destination Image and Its Functional Relationships

Abstract

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.

Projected Images of Major Chinese Outbound Destinations

“…Media, such as travel magazines, plays a significant role in forming tourists' perceived destination image (Mercille, 2005) and influencing tourists' travel decisions (Tasci & Gartner, 2007). Thus, an understanding of the images being projected by the media is vital for destination marketing organizations (DMOs).…”

“…Various forms of information, including organic and induced, play a role in determining tourists' destination image (Tasci & Gartner, 2007). Sources that are not directly associated with destination marketing efforts would influence tourists' organic images, whereas sources that are related to the marketing efforts of tourism destination organizations would affect tourists' induced images (Gunn, 1988).…”

Using Social Media Mining to Understand Public Opinion towards Destination Image

“…Perceptions or impressions of a destination held by tourists with respect to the expected benefit or consumption values (Rajesh, 2013). In a present study, commonly cited definition of destination image as an interactive system of thoughts, opinions, feelings, visualizations and intentions toward a destination (Tasci & Gartner, 2007).…”

Determining Drivers of Destination Attractiveness: The Case of Nature-Based Tourism of Bangladesh

“…In the connection with information sources, a tourist set some important factors back of his mind before travelling to any tourist spot which commonly recognized as destination image, "the sum of beliefs, ideas, and impressions that a person has of a destination" (Crompton, 1979). Some researchers relate the importance of proper image development to the overall success of a destination in tourism (Chen, 1999;Crompton, 1979;Dadgostar & Isotalo, 1992;Gartner, 2007;Hunt, 1975).…”

“…Therefore, identification and analysis of factors that are important for designing tourism services and managing destination has been the subject of much attention in related academic literatures, and has made a significant contribution to a greater understanding of tourist behavior (Beerli & Martin, 2004;Enright & Newton, 2004;Madhavan & Rastogi, 2011;Mohsin & Ryan 2004). In this regard, there are close relations among tourist's expectation about destination attributes, nature of destination management (Crouch, 2011;Dwyer, Cvelbar, Mihalič, & Koman, 2014), positive image of the destination (Crompton, 1979;Gartner, 2007;Pike, 2002) and destination competitiveness (Armenski, Dwyer, & Pavluković, 2017;Cucculelli & Goffi, 2015;Dwyer, Armenski, Cvelbar, Dragićević, & Mihalic, 2015). Successful identification of attributes is thus significant to specific tourism sector for designing tourism management in a more appropriate way and in turn which will enhance destination competitiveness in a given location.…”