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Taking into account that tourism destination image has been considered one of the most influential elements on the competitiveness of tourism destinations; the main aim of this paper is to elaborate a conceptual framework depicting the influence of the tourist destination network on its emitted image. By assuming that the image of a tourism destination is nothing more than a social construction resulting from the interactions of various intervening agents, such as public administration, local institutions, tourist businesses, etc., we propose a model in order to map the effects of the relational networks of a local tourist destination on the ‘quality’ of its induced image as a type of knowledge asset, and therefore, on its competitiveness.

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This study proposes a more integrated tourist behaviour model by including the literatures of destination image and risk perception, and merges the cognitive and affective components of both literatures into a single construct. The structural relationships were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling, and findings indicate that integrated cognitive and affective evaluations directly influence overall evaluations, and that subjective knowledge directly influences destination perceptions, in a way that past travel experience does not. Theoretical and practical implications and suggestions for future research studies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have considered the relevance of films as a powerful tool to generate and disseminate destination image. However, the relationship between the perceived image of a destination and the consumption of its space remains underexplored. This study focuses on bridging this gap, taking Barcelona as a case study. Firstly, a content analysis of five international films was carried out to determine the most recurrent landmarks. Secondly, official statistics from the DMO were examined to determine visitors' consumption patterns of the city. Finally, the relationship between tourist image and visitor' consumption patterns was analysed using Pearson correlation. Findings suggest that the tourist sights most visited in the city are, in turn, the places which systematically appear in the films analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceived tourist image has been studied from different dimensions. However, destination lighting, as a dimension of the perceived tourist image, has so far been unexplored. This research letter analyses illumination of tourist sites as a dimension of the perceived night-time tourist image. Results show that lighting is a relevant issue for image perception, and is related to the image projected by some monuments and tourist attractions. Results show that age and origin are determining factors of this dimension of image perception. Some managerial and research implications are also considered and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on destination image and risk perception studies was reviewed to provide tourism researchers with a summary of the key cognitive attributes identified in both literatures. A content analysis was conducted, and the main findings revealed an overlap between the attributes assessing each concept in terms of cognition. This is due to the fact that image studies tend to describe the attributes of tourism destinations positively, whereas risk studies tend to adopt the negative version of them. Theoretical implications and suggestions for future research studies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses perceived risks in international tourism and looks at how several key indicators contribute to the individuals' perception of risk in international travel. The purpose of this article is twofold: firstly, to explore the primary risk dimensions associated with international travel; and secondly, to investigate whether sociodemographic variables and past travel experience influence perceived risks. To achieve these purposes, a scale of perceived risks was previously tested using a sample of 530 respondents. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted and a scale of five factors of perceived risks towards travelling internationally was obtained, namely: physical risk, destination risk, value-time risk, personal concerns and inconveniences. This study also revealed that perceptions of risk involved while travelling internationally vary according to personal characteristics, such as gender, age and level of education, as well as past travel experience. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism image is an element that conditions the competitiveness of tourism destinations by making them stand out in the minds of tourists. In this context, marketers of tourism destinations endeavour to create an induced image based on their identity and distinctive characteristics. A number of authors have also recognized the complexity of tourism destinations and the need for coordination and cooperation among all tourism agents, in order to supply a satisfactory tourist product and be competitive in the tourism market. Therefore, tourism agents at the destination need to develop and integrate strategic marketing plans. The aim of this paper is to determine how cities of similar cultures use their resources with the purpose of developing a distinctive induced tourism image to attract tourists and the extent of coordination and cooperation among the various tourism agents of a destination in the process of induced image creation. In order to accomplish these aims, a comparative analysis of the induced image of two cultural cities is presented, Girona (Spain) and Perpignan (France). The induced image is assessed through the content analysis of promotional brochures and the extent of cooperation with in-depth interviews of the main tourism agents of these destinations. Despite the similarities of both cities in terms of tourism resources, results show the use of different attributes to configure the induced image of each destination, as well as a different configuration of the network of tourism agents that participate in the process of induced image creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]