Tourism destination brand identity: The case of Slovenia

Abstract

This paper explores the concept of tourism destination brand identity from the supply-side perspective, in contrast to those studies that have focused on the demand-driven, tourists' perceived tourism destination brand image. Both researchers and practitioners have concluded that an analysis of the branding concept from both the identity and perceived-image perspective is essential and should be intertwined, where appropriate. This study, however, argues that investigations of tourism destination branding have primarily been conducted from a perceived-image perspective. Therefore, the dearth of studies offering an insight into the supply-side perspective may lead to an unbalanced view, misunderstandings and oversights concerning the possibilities and limitations of tourism destination branding. It introduces a theoretical framework designed to analyse tourism destination identity, particularly for the case study of Slovenia.