Identifying unique attributes of tourist attractions: an analysis of online reviews

Abstract

ABSTRACT Predicting tourist attraction engagement has gained much attention in the literature. However, the unique elements of tourist attractions that distinguish them from their competitors remain unclear. To fill this gap, this paper identifies the competitive advantages of tourist attractions using novel online review datasets and the sentiment analysis method, taking 18 tourist attractions in the Yangtze River Delta as examples. After identifying high-frequency words in positive tourist attraction reviews and categorizing the attractions into two types, this paper shows that the unique attributes of primary tourist attractions are associated with renown, authenticity, and unique and local landscape, and that intermediate tourist attractions are characterized by renown, authenticity, and unique cultural and historical connotation. Overall, the unique attributes of tourist attractions that make them desirable relate to renown, authenticity, local culture and scarcity. Unique selling point theory is used to explain these four typical characteristics of tourist attractions. This study contributes to theory on identifying unique characteristics by employing standardized and complex procedures. It also enhances understanding of the unique attributes of tourist attractions from a management perspective. The results illustrate how destination managers can develop the competitive advantage of tourist attractions.