Special issue on places for people in a turbulent world

Abstract

In a world where the values and stability of our financial and work environments are threatened daily, one thing remains relatively stable through the years and even generations: our sense of place. The greater the chaos, the more the people seek security of the places that they know and trust – the place brands. How can places compete against growing competition in times of economic downturn? The key challenge of place marketing and branding is that places are not products or corporations, and there is a widely held view that simply applying commercial marketing techniques to places may be inappropriate, inadequate and arguably ineffectual. This special issue illustrates, applies and comments on place branding and marketing strategies and consumer reactions.