Destination Image Research Articles

Investigating factors influencing the intention to revisit Mount Semeru during post 2022 volcanic eruption: Integration theory of planned behavior and destination image theory

Mount Semeru is one of the most popular tourist destinations in East Java, Indonesia. However, its 2022 volcanic eruption has caused devastating impacts on the surrounding area, particularly on its tourism; considering that the livelihood of nearby communities heavily relies on its tourism. Nonetheless, the lack of studies on the revisit intention of tourists after the post-recovery period of Mount Semeru urged the researchers to address this issue. The objective of this study is to investigate the factors that influence the intention of tourists to revisit Mount Semeru during post 2022 volcanic eruption by utilizing an integrated extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Destination Image. A total of 326 Indonesian mountaineers voluntarily answered a self-administered online survey that was distributed by utilizing a purposive sampling method. Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) revealed that past disaster experiences had significant effects on perceived behavioral control, destination image, and perceived value which subsequently led to subjective norm and revisit intention. In addition, Government support also had a significant effect on perceived value which also subsequently led to subjective norm and revisit intention. Interestingly, media had a significant direct effect on revisit intention. This study is one of the first studies to highlight the 2022 Mount Semeru volcanic eruption. Moreover, the findings of this study could be used to develop effective promotional strategies and track tourist behavior during their subsequent visits to Mount Semeru. Furthermore, the theoretical framework of this study could be extended and applied to various destinations during post disaster period.

The projection of Chinese University online image and social media engagement based on Bayesian model.

Social media platforms provide the public with a forum for interaction and communication with tourism destinations, playing a significant role in the shaping and dissemination of destination images. Similarly, social media plays a vital role in the construction and propagation of online images for higher education institutions. For instance, indicators such as likes, shares, and visits on Weibo can serve as measures of public engagement with university social media. To reveal the triggering rules of social media engagement by projected images of destinations and related factors, this paper builds a Bayesian model using data from posts and interactions on the official Sina Weibo account of a Chinese university from 2018 to 2023. This model simulates to infer the optimal decisions that trigger university social media engagement.

Sustainable Place Branding and Visitors’ Responses: A Systematic Literature Review

Admittedly, tourism stakeholders become more aware of the negative impacts of tourism, and it has become increasingly important to brand and position destinations towards sustainability. The main concern is emphasizing economic, social, and environmental awareness and implementation at the destination level regarding planning and development. This paper identifies the importance of sustainable place branding as part of destination social responsibility in the current global context. The main focus is identifying visitors’ responses as part of sustainable destination marketing. The study conducts a systematic literature review by rigorously selecting 26 related articles from the 106 search results for further analysis. The study results highlight the emergence of sustainable place branding concepts in academic literature, especially after the post-pandemic period. The themes identified in the literature analysis revolve around sustainable place branding in creating unique tourism experiences and engagement that resonates with the visitors’ self-perceptions and expectations of a destination. Sustainable place branding positively impacts destination image, trust, value, and loyalty. Moreover, it can create positive visitor outcomes, such as an intention to revisit because of positive word of mouth. The article concludes with suggestions for future research, emphasizing the need to explore further sustainable place branding and its influence on visitors’ responses in the evolving landscape of global tourism.

Serial mediation role of destination image: Will virtual reality replace the decision to visit offline destination?

This study aims to evaluate the impact of virtual reality exposure on Instagram users’ decisions to visit physical locations and their perceptions of the destination. It also analyzes the mediating role of destination image on the phygical tourism intentions of Instagram users in Indonesia. This study employs a positivist paradigm and uses an explanatory research design to conduct an online survey about virtual reality experiences and outline respondents’ opinions about the decision to visit particular destination. Next, 280 millennial generation Instagram account followers responded to an online questionnaire; the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The criteria for respondents are Indonesian citizens who are Instagram followers and have virtual experience. Most respondents were between the ages of 23-32 years. The research findings indicate virtual reality positively and significantly affects destination image and offline visit decisions. Destination image has a positive and significant effect on offline visit decisions. Virtual reality encounters were incapable of substituting offline visits. The virtual reality encounter affects the perception of a destination and influences the decision to visit specific location in person. Destination images partially mediate the relationship between virtual reality experience and offline visit decisions. This study enhances the understanding of consumer behavior by examining its relationship with technological advancements, particularly among millennials. This paper also offers tangible contributions to tourism marketing management for destination managers. AcknowledgmentsThis publication is partly funded by the Directorate General of Higher Education. The authors also acknowledge the financial support from the Directorate General of Higher Education through Brawijaya University.

Influence of time metaphor and destination image proximity on tourist responses

Travelers may use two common time metaphors to describe their upcoming vacations. The first is the time-moving metaphor, expressed as “the vacation is approaching us,” and the second is the ego-moving metaphor, conveyed through “we are approaching the vacation.” Drawing from construal level theory, this research establishes that the choice of time metaphor can impact the attractiveness of destination images. Three scenario-based experimental studies suggest that using a time-moving (ego-moving) metaphor along with a “close-up” (“long-shot”) destination image generates more positive tourist response. Processing fluency, which reflects the ease of information processing, has been identified as an explanatory mechanism for the generation of these effects. Practical implications of these findings are also discussed.

Assessing the Tourist Appeal of a North African Destination: An Analysis of Destination Image and its Effect on Recommendations and Revisit Intentions

ABSTRACT Algeria is actively enhancing its destination image for sustainable tourism through the “Tourism Development Plan: Horizons 2030,” aiming to boost its allure as a tourist destination. However, recent literature lacks an exploration of specific attributes’ impact on visitors’ behavior. A recent study on 338 Libyan visitors, utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), revealed that both cognitive and affective image aspects positively impact intentions to recommend and revisit, with the affective aspect exerting a stronger influence. Policymakers should prioritize promoting natural beauty and historical landmarks while enhancing local amenities to broaden Algeria’s appeal and attract more visitors. This comprehensive approach is essential for bolstering the country’s tourism sector in line with its development goals.

Factors Influencing Domestic Tourist to Visit Bali as a Medical Tourism Destination: A Preliminary Investigation

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of destination image, destination image, perceived value of medical costs, and perceived value of medical facilities and services on the intention to visit Bali as a medical tourism destination. The research used quantitative methodology, employing a survey method. The population consisted of all of domestic tourists who visited Bali. The sample was 87 domestic tourists who came to Bali for medical tourism purposes. The research findings indicate that destination image, perceived value of medical costs, and perceived value of medical facilities and services have an impact on intention to visit Bali for medical tourism. However, the perception of Bali as a destination did not have any impact on tourists' intention to visit for medical tourism purposes. These findings provide both theoretical and practical implication. A collaborative effort involving several parties is necessary to enhance the branding and promotion of medical tourism.

Visitors’ experience in a coastal heritage context: A segmentation analysis and its influence on in situ destination image and loyalty

Understanding visitors’ actual behaviour is key for tourist destinations to define strategies for different subgroups of experience-based visitors. The few studies that have analysed the influence of the intensity of visitors’ on-site experience on the formation of destination image also considered intentions and did not analyse its influence on loyalty. Also, existing research on previous experience with the destination or experiential familiarity has considered repeat visitors as a homogeneous group and failed to identify different patterns of experience. This study aims to overcome these gaps by grouping visitors based on their degree of experience (i.e., previous and on- site experience related to coastal and maritime cultural heritage activities) and ascertaining the extent to which a) the impressions of the destination and b) degree of loyalty of the visitors in subgroups differ. The sample included 720 questionnaires from domestic and international visitors in Aveiro, Portugal, leading to three groups with varying degrees of past and on-site experience: “destination enthusiasts”, “destination and heritage enthusiasts” and “destination and heritage discoverers”, thus supporting the intersection of these variables as valid for market segmentation. All groups presented dissimilar cognitive images and different levels of loyalty, but no differences were found in the affective image.

Multidimensional destination perception effects over medical tourists’ behavioural in emerging destinations: empirical evidence from China’s international medical tourism pilot area

PurposeThis study aims to explore the consumer perceptions of cognition and intention to visit pilot zone of international medical tourism as emerging, developed medical tourism destinations.Design/methodology/approachUsing a survey-based quantitative method, based on a survey of 439 tourists who have cross-border travel experience, the partial least squares approach was performed to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results show that internal factors had a stronger influence on destination image compared to external factors. Among different factors, preferential policies had the greatest impact on intention to visit. Perceived quality had a stronger effect on intention to visit than preference. Geographical distance had a varied effect, with those furthest away in Northeast China showing greater intention to visit compared to closer regions.Originality/valueThis study explores the impact of multidimensional destination perception on medical tourists’ behavioural intention in emerging destinations by integrating the push-pull theory and theory of planned behaviour and tests how geographical distance affects intention to visit emerging destinations. Using China international medical tourism pilot area as a typical case of medical tourism emerging destinations for empirical analysis. This research offers guidance for branding and marketing strategies, contributes to a deeper understanding of medical tourists’ destination choices, enriches the theoretical explanation of emerging destination choice in medical tourism and provides valuable insights for destination recovery.

Understanding the Impact of Psychological Distance on Medical Tourism Intention: The Health Belief Model Perspective

ABSTRACT This study advances the Health Belief Model (HBM) within the context of medical tourism, exploring the intricate interplay between destination image, health beliefs, psychological distance, and the behavioral intentions of potential medical tourists. Our investigation reveals that destination image significantly influences perceived barriers and severity of risks, which, along with perceived susceptibility and benefits, strongly predicts tourists’ visitation intentions. Notably, the study revealed the dual roles of psychological distance: as a mediator between destination image and tourist preferences, and as a moderator affecting the impact of destination image on perceived risks. These findings underscore the importance of psychological factors in medical tourism decisions, suggesting that addressing psychological distance can enhance marketing strategies and improve patient outcomes.

Photography and Destination Image: An Analysis of China Eastern Airline Facebook Photographs

ABSTRACT The main purpose of this study is to explore the projected destination image represented by photographs emerging in social media from a potential DMO member. The official page of China Eastern Airlines on Facebook (@CEAir) was selected as a case study, in which a total of 40 photographs were collected and classified into five groups according to their themes. To identify the destination image of China, five groups of photographs were analyzed by using visual analysis, semiotic analysis, and multimodal discourse analysis. The main findings show that Chinese food, architecture, natural landscape, people, and ethnic minorities are common signs engaging in constructing the destination image of China. These photographs mainly adopted wide shots and brilliant color tones, which convey to overseas tourists that China is a great power with a long history, full of charm, and a contributor to global development. More importantly, not only landscape photography but also still life photography, candid photography, and travel photography are all considered to be modes of representation of the destination image. Different genres of photography employ Chinese culture as a special gaze to shape the destination image.

Consuming communist heritage in China: user-generated image of red tourism via photographs

Purpose As a distinctive form of communist heritage tourism, the ideology and government-led form of red tourism warrants an in-depth examination of how tourists consume and perceive it. This study aims to reveal tourists’ perception of red tourism through the lens of destination image. Design/methodology/approach This study collected 9,819 user-generated photographs within four types of red tourism destinations (RTDs) and used a computer visual and semiotic analysis approach to conduct photograph-based cognitive and affective attributes extraction. Network analysis further visualized the co-relations between cognitive images and affective images. ANOVA analysis compared the differences of the four types of destination images. Findings Ten dimensions of cognitive image and eight categories of affective image of red tourism were identified. It found that monuments, statues, memorial symbols were the distinctive cognitive features, and admiration was the most dominant emotion. Heterogeneity of destination images was identified among the four types of RTDs. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the study is one of the first to explore tourists’ consumption of red tourism through the lens of destination image, which reveals the inconsistencies between the officially projected images and tourists’ perceived images of red tourism. Using Plutchik’s model, it validates a series of positive and negative emotions contributing to the affective images of red tourism, which expands the findings of emotions within the extant red tourism research. Through combined applications of computer visual and semiotic analysis, ANOVA, network analysis and model visualization, the study provides an important methodological triangulation for photograph-based destination image studies.

The Post-Effects of the Authenticity of Rural Intangible Cultural Heritage and Tourists' Engagement.

Amidst the burgeoning interest in rural Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) tourism, this study, anchored in the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theoretical framework, chose Meizhou Island in Fujian Province as a case study to examine the impacts of tourists' perceptions of authenticity and their engagement levels on the destination image and loyalty towards rural ICH tourism. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze survey data, findings revealed that higher perceptions of a destination's preservation of original characteristics and traditional values correlate with a more favorable overall perception of the destination, albeit with smaller impact on emotional connections. Conversely, depth of tourist engagement was shown to enhance both understanding and emotional bonds with the destination. Further, familiarity with the destination was found to foster affection, thereby increasing the likelihood of repeat visits or recommendations. The more tourists know about a place, perceiving it as authentic, the more likely they are to remain loyal; similarly, deeper engagement enhances understanding and affection, increasing the probability of revisiting or recommending the place. These outcomes not only offer new insights into tourist behavior but also provide theoretical and practical guidance for the protection and development of rural ICH tourism, destination marketing, and management strategies, thus promoting the sustainable development of rural ICH tourism.

Pengaruh SMM dan E-Wom Terhadap Visit Intention dengan Destination Image Sebagai Variabel Intervening pada Industri Pariwisata Religi: Studi Kasus Syeikh Zayed Grand Mosque Solo

Tourism has the capacity to significantly contribute to Indonesia's economic expansion by creating employment opportunities and enhancing the country's infrastructure. Nonetheless, in the current digital age, promoting visitor destinations presents the tourism industry with new obstacles. Tourism industry participants are required to implement effective promotional strategies for their respective tourist destinations to pique the interest of prospective visitors. This study used the destination picture as a mediating variable to investigate the effects of SMM and E-WOM on visit intention. In this study, 340 users of social networking sites made up the study sample. In this experiment, purposive sampling combined with a non-probability sampling approach was used. A questionnaire was used to gather information from original sources. Smart PLS was used to help in data analysis. The study's findings indicate that people's impressions of a place and their trip plans are directly influenced by SMM and E-WOM. Furthermore, a person's opinion of a location has a big impact on how likely they are to visit there. The mediation test results showed that the association between SMM, E-WOM, and visit intention is mediated by destination image.

Chaordic event co‐creation and tourism destination image: Strategic carnival shifts in the post‐pandemic era

AbstractMajor street events, such as carnivals, offer a unique opportunity for destination experience value co‐creation by participants which relates directly to the destination image. This study uses service‐dominant logic (SDL) to consider the effects of event co‐creation on destination image from the point of view of a participatory process rather than from an outcome perspective. Drawing from a sample of 400 street event participants in the Patras Carnival in Greece, it examines the complexity aspects of co‐creational experience and its influence upon the destination image of the host city. Those aspects are examined by means of fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis. The findings revealed three sufficient configurations (co‐creational involvement and satisfaction; co‐creational event image; experience‐satisfaction nexus) that could affect the destination image of the host destination. The paper contributes to the theoretical body of experiential co‐creational approaches to destination image with clear managerial implications for both event organizers and destination managers.

Impact of Islamic attributes and destination image on tourist satisfaction and revisit intentions in halal tourism: A study in Banda Aceh

This research aims to investigate how Islamic characteristics, the image of the destination, and tourists' experiences affect their intentions to return, looking specifically at their satisfaction with halal tourism in Banda Aceh. Using a survey of 100 people selected through non-random sampling, the study analyzes the data using Path Analysis and the SMART PLS version 3 software to test hypotheses. The results show that Islamic attributes, how tourists perceive the destination, and their experiences all play a role in determining their satisfaction with halal tourism in Banda Aceh. When it comes to planning another visit, the Islamic qualities of the destination and its image are important factors, while tourists' experiences and overall satisfaction don't significantly influence their decision to return. This research contributes to our understanding of what makes halal tourism in Banda Aceh appealing, especially in terms of what drives tourist satisfaction and the desire to revisit. Additionally, the study found that the influence of Islamic attributes, destination image, and tourist experiences on the desire to return, mediated by tourist satisfaction, is not significant in the context of halal tourism in Banda Aceh. These findings have implications for both academics studying tourist behavior at halal destinations in Banda Aceh and for professionals developing tourism strategies for these areas.

Cross-border destination image for sustainable tourism development in peripheral areas

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to provide an analysis of the processes involved in the construction of the perception of a cross-border sustainable tourism destination image in peripheral regions. The research presented was conducted using an empirical approach that merges qualitative and quantitative techniques. The main results of this study include the identification of the key components that contribute to the formation of the image of a sustainable cross-border tourist destination in the region encompassing Alcoutim (Portugal) and Sanlúcar de Guadiana (Spain).

Moderating Effect of Social Media in Shaping Ecotourism Loyalty: A Two-Stage-Cross-Sectional Study

This study aims to evaluate the moderating role of social media influence before and after the trip in Vietnam and Czech Republic. Primary data, gathered during time lag data surveys conducted among international tourists travelling to the Czech Republic and Vietnam, was analyzed with the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in R. The findings revealed that social media influence with higher level positively strengthened the connection between tourist motivation and the post trip destination image. Furthermore, social media had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between tourist satisfaction and ecotourism loyalty. However, there are strong differences between the destinations of developed and emerging economies. For Czech Republic, as developed economy, social media influence plays a more important role as a value-expressive mechanism at the post-trip stage whereas for the developing economy of Vietnam, social media plays a more important role as an information source before the trip. This study extends the Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT) by introducing the moderating effect of social media influence, which first time measures this moderating effect before and after the trip accounting for the dynamic nature of the destination image as an antecedent of ecotourism loyalty. Limitations, theoretical implications, and recommendations for practice and further research are addressed. JEL Classification: L83, Z30, Z39

Traveling with Perceived Risks to a “COVID-19-Shaken” Destination in the New Normal Era

This paper investigates how tourists develop adaptive perceptions in response to pandemic situations and how these perceptions influence their international travel decision-making toward a COVID-19-shaken destination in the new normal era. The survey was administered to Chinese potential international tourists and 608 questionnaires were utilized in data analysis. The results revealed the indirect effect of COVID-19 risk perception on travel intention first through cognitive image and then through affective image. Cognitive and affective images were identified as mediators of these interrelationships. The findings also showed that COVID-19 displayed varying effects on tourists with different past travel experiences. By unveiling factors influencing individuals’ travel decision-making in the new normal era, this study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the psychological and behavioral effects caused by a pandemic; delineating the underlying mechanism of the COVID-19 risk perception effect on international travel decision-making; expanding the research on destination image by clarifying the mediating roles of cognitive and affective images and their relation; providing timely and insightful implications for post-pandemic tourism recovery.

Relationship between Sports Tourism Expectation, Perceived Quality, Destination Image, and Behavior Loyalty : A Study on Duanpo Horse Racing in China

Relationship between Sports Tourism Expectation, Perceived Quality, Destination Image, and Behavior Loyalty : A Study on Duanpo Horse Racing in China