Search results

The purpose of this article is to revisit the concepts of city singularity and identity, as well as the concept’s related topics (i.e. place identity, place attachment and place dependence). The aim is to investigate the impact of development projects on people's preferences for old and contemporary features in modern cities. The evidence for this can be seen mainly at historical sites such as Heliopolis in Cairo, Egypt.

The authors investigated how development projects affect place identity and city singularity through a three-step process. As a first step, an online questionnaire was administered to experts to assess the characteristics that shape the identity of local districts. In the second and third steps, interviews were conducted, followed by online surveys directed at Heliopolis residents and non-residents. The weight of people’s preferences was determined using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM).

The results highlighted people's preferences to consider when developing projects at historical sites. Based on these preferences, the authors’ concluded remarks provide insight into some considerations for developing projects in historic places.

The added value here is surveying people’s preferences about development projects in historical places. The physical and social components interplay contributes to city identity and singularity. Based on these preferences, this investigation offers valuable insights into enhancing historical site development.

The fundamental mission of every green city is to harmonize urban living with environmental preservation. However, a critical challenge arises when the residents of such cities do not share the same level of environmental consciousness, potentially eroding the integrity of the green city’s brand identity. Hence, this study aims to explore the factors influencing residents’ identification with green city branding and assesses how this identification subsequently affects their green citizenship behaviors.

A survey of 1,217 residents from 15 green cities across six countries was conducted and analyzed using SPSS 28.0 for descriptive statistics and PLS-SEM for measurement and structural model analysis.

The results indicate that green city-self connection, green city distinctiveness and environmental benefits significantly impact GCRI, which, in turn, significantly influences green city protection, loyalty and advocacy behaviors. However, green city social and economic benefits did not affect resident identification.

The results of this study provide valuable managerial insights for city brand managers, green city developers and governmental representatives. The study underscores the importance of considering residents as crucial internal stakeholders in the creation of a green city identity that effectively promotes sustainable urban living and an eco-friendly culture.

This study provides theoretical insights into the relationship between green identification and residents’ willingness and commitment to act as ambassadors and promote their city’s green values.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between being an inclusive city and branding oneself as such, as more cities adopt the inclusive city concept as part of their brand identity.

This paper builds theory by introducing a typology that categorizes cities based on their level of inclusion and degree of branding, supplemented by an analysis of the branding practices and identities. Integrating the literature on inclusive city and city branding, with a specific focus on the inherent conflict between their sharing and competing attributes, this research postulates that a city may choose to engage in being inclusive and branding itself as such in various ways depending on its dominant motivations of altruism or entrepreneurialism.

Four distinct types of inclusive city branding are identified: inclusion ambassadors (high inclusion and high branding); innate champions (high inclusion and low branding); façade marketers (low inclusion and high branding); and silent segregators (low inclusion and low branding). Furthermore, it underscores that inclusive city branding is shaped by the interplay of entrepreneurialism and altruism, not just a city’s inclusion. Different branding practices, such as media-generated images, narratives and events, are emphasized when entrepreneurialism is the primary motivation, whereas iconic architecture buildings, flagship projects and long-term policies are more associated with altruism.

This study develops a typology to unravel the paradoxical aspects of inclusive city branding. Examining the intersection of city branding motivations and practices enriches existing literature. Moreover, its findings offer valuable insights for cities grappling with the implementation of contentious inclusive branding strategies, thereby bridging theory with practical applications.

The increasing urbanization has prompted governments and civil society actors worldwide to explore innovative approaches to create sustainable and desirable cities. In this context, the concept of U-cities, or ubiquitous cities, has emerged as a promising model to achieve social, economic, and environmental sustainability while also contributing to the preservation of territorial identity. U-cities represent advanced urban models characterized by the seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies into the urban scenario. Alongside their potential benefits, U-cities also present challenges. The digital divide, which stems from unequal access and usage of digital technologies, can magnify existing societal disparities. Moreover, ensuring the privacy and security of citizens’ data in an era of extensive data collection and sharing poses ethical and technical dilemmas. Additionally, the delicate balance between technological advancement and the preservation of cultural identity must be addressed to avoid eroding the authenticity of urban communities. Achieving genuine sustainability requires careful consideration of these challenges and the implementation of policies that empower citizens, promote equitable access to technology, and maintain the intrinsic identity of urban landscapes.

Brand gestalt has emerged as a crucial concept in marketing and branding, denoting the holistic perception and overall impression that consumers develop about a brand. This concept gains significance as it serves to measure the overall identity of a brand. Despite its importance, both empirical and theoretical exploration of this concept remains limited, particularly in the context of place branding. The present study aims to bridge the theoretical gap surrounding the interplay between brand gestalt, tourist attitude and loyalty within the city branding domain. In particular, it aims to comprehensively explore the dimensional impact of city brand gestalt (CBG) on tourist attitude, satisfaction and loyalty.

The primary data were collected through a self-administered online questionnaire containing 35 items, developed and adapted from the literature review. A total of 314 samples of Bitung City visitors were recruited, resulting in a 79% response rate. Structural equation modeling was performed using SmartPLS 3 to validate the research hypotheses.

The findings of the study indicate that CBG has a substantial and positive influence on tourist attitudes, satisfaction and loyalty. Furthermore, it was discovered that tourist attitude and satisfaction play a partial mediating role in the relationship between CBG and tourist loyalty.

This study is a seminal contribution to understanding the link between CBG, tourist attitude, satisfaction and loyalty. It offers valuable insights for city destination management in designing strategies and interventions to foster positive tourist attitudes, increase satisfaction and sustain loyalty. In particular, it emphasizes the necessity of ongoing investments in maintaining a positive holistic brand experience (i.e., brand gestalt) that aligns with evolving expectations. The study highlights the need to develop a compelling narrative and consistent messaging tailored to the target audience's values and aspirations. Additionally, it underscores the importance of providing exceptional sensory experiences that appeal to the target audience.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is among the first to examine the role of brand gestalt in the context of city branding. Understanding the holistic interaction of the four brand gestalt elements – story, sensescape, servicescape and stakeholders – is crucial for fostering tourists' positive attitudes, satisfaction and loyalty toward urban destinations. The proposed CBG model offers a conceptual framework to guide future research in city branding.

Drawing on the literature on brand–consumer relations in an attempt to apply the concept of brand love to a city tourism destination, this paper aims to explore the antecedents and consequences of city brand love.

Based on quantitative research and cluster sampling, study data was collected from 330 international tourists who visited six Iran cities. The research model is tested using partial least square structural equation modeling.

According to the results, city brand attractiveness, city brand identification and memorable city brand experience are the antecedents of city brand love. Moreover, the city brand attractiveness, both directly and indirectly through memorable experiences and identification with the city brand, is one of the antecedents of city brand love. Finally, the results suggest that word of mouth and revisit intention are major behavioral outcomes of city brand love.

By providing a validated conceptual model that traces the antecedents and consequences of city brand love, this study attempts to answer prior calls for examination from the viewpoint of city tourism scholars.

本研究基于定量研究和整群抽样, 研究数据来自访问伊朗六个城市的330名国际游客。研究采用偏最小二乘结构方程模型对研究模型进行了检验。

借鉴品牌-消费者关系的相关文献, 本研究试图将品牌爱的概念应用于一个城市旅游目的地, 探讨城市品牌喜爱的前因和后果。

结果表明, 城市品牌吸引力、城市品牌辨识度和令人难忘的城市品牌体验是城市品牌喜爱的前因。城市品牌吸引力通过城市品牌直接或间接通过难忘体验和认同产生, 是城市喜爱的前因。最后, 研究结果表明, 口碑和重访意愿是城市品牌喜爱的主要行为结果。

通过提供一个经过验证的概念模型, 追溯城市品牌喜爱的前因后果, 本研究试图从城市旅游学者的角度回答先前检验的呼吁。

A partir de una investigación cuantitativa y muestreo por conglomerados, los datos del estudio se recogieron de 330 turistas internacionales que visitaron seis ciudades iraníes. El modelo conceptual se analizó mediante un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales de mínimos cuadrados parciales (PLS).

Basándose en la literatura sobre las relaciones entre marca y consumidor para aplicar el concepto de amor de marca a una ciudad como destino turístico, la presente investigación analiza los antecedentes y las consecuencias del amor de marca de ciudad.

Conforme a los resultados, el atractivo de la marca ciudad, la identificación con la marca ciudad y la experiencia memorable con la marca ciudad son los antecedentes del amor a la marca ciudad. Adicionalmente, el atractivo de la marca ciudad, tanto directa como indirectamente a través de las experiencias memorables y la identificación con la marca ciudad, es uno de los antecedentes del amor por la marca ciudad. Finalmente, los resultados sugieren que la comunicación boca-oído y la intención de volver a visitar la ciudad son los principales resultados comportamentales del amor de marca de ciudad.

Al proporcionar un modelo conceptual validado que analiza los antecedentes y las consecuencias del amor de marca de ciudad, este estudio trata de responder a las llamadas para su estudio desde la óptica del turismo urbano.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the role of handicraft production units within creative cultural clusters (CCCs) and their impact on urban regeneration, particularly within the historical fabric of Isfahan. It aims to identify the key factors contributing to the development of CCCs and how these clusters, in turn, influence tourism development.

The research method of this study is based on a quantitative approach, using a researcher-devised questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument. The statistical population included 227 units of handicraft makers in the historical fabric of Isfahan. The data processing and analysis were performed using SPSS software.

Statistical analysis confirms the creative industries, spatial and socio-cultural indices significantly impact tourism, with means of 14.19, 19.07 and 15.11. Clustering, cultural resources and tourism are key to CCCs growth, while innovation and cultural identity have less effect. CCCs enhance Isfahan’s historical fabric, improving urban space attractiveness and fostering social ties. Handicraft clusters around Naqsh-e Jahan square notably influence the economy and cultural identity, with shop placement reflecting the city’s character.

The originality of this research lies in its analysis of how handicraft production within CCCs contributes to urban regeneration and tourism in Isfahan, with a novel focus on the socio-cultural and economic impacts of these clusters in a historical context.

This article highlights the essential notions of reviving urban space that should adhere to the place’s characteristics and the city’s social-cultural language. It analyzes the central policies and principles that should be considered for revitalizing and sustaining urban spaces in historic city centers.

As a methodology, the article adopted a comparative methodology through an integrative framework based on reviewing a range of literature that explores the main dimensions that were discussed and argued for sustainable revitalization strategies.

The article emphasizes the essential revitalization strategies that could adopt specific frameworks according to each case, such as restructuring, creating elements of attraction and revival of the neighborhood’s center, the most important of which are preservation, renewal, rebuilding and reviving urban space through interactive architecture, in addition to identifying when the urban spaces need to implement removal, replacement or restoration as a strategy for reviving historical centers.

The paper seeks to discuss the cognitive background of the concept of reviving the urban space in historic city centers and analyze the main theories and studies that clarified society’s relationship to the design of urban places and its importance in the process of revitalization and rejuvenation.

This paper aims to examine the unique Chinese context by analyzing the city labels (e.g. smart city and eco city) used by Chinese local governments at or above the provincial capital level to represent themselves (adopted city labels) and the developmental pathways they actually pursued (adopted developmental pathways).

The authors compared the city brand choices to those anticipated based on their geographic and economic contexts (predicted city labels and developmental pathways) as well as the directives outlined in national planning documents (imposed city labels and developmental pathways). The authors identified ten main categories of city labels used to designate themselves and establish the frequency of their use based on municipal plan documents, economic and geographic data and national plan documents and policy reports, respectively.

The authors discovered that both local economic development and geographic factors, as well as top-down administrative influences, significantly impact city branding strategies in the 38 Chinese cities studied. When these models fall short in predicting adopted city labels and pathways, it is often because cities favor a service-oriented reputation over a manufacturing-focused one, and they prefer diverse, multifaceted industrial images to uniform ones.

The originality and value of this paper lie in its contribution to the academic literature on city branding by developing a predictive model for brand development at the municipal level, with explicit attention to the national-local nexus. The paper’s approach differs from existing research in the first cluster of city branding by not addressing issues of stakeholder involvement or adoption and implementation processes. Additionally, the paper’s focus on the political power dynamics at the national level and urban governance details at the municipal level provides a unique perspective on the topic. Overall, this paper provides a valuable contribution to the field of city branding by expanding the understanding of brand development and its impact on the socioeconomic environment.

This research examines the role of women in shaping sustainable urban development in Gulf cities. It focuses on heritage preservation and urban regeneration, examining projects commissioned by women in Qatar and Bahrain, which are revitalizing heritage, creating gender-sensitive public spaces and implementing sustainable development. Furthermore, it questions the role of these projects to inspire the next generation of female designers and cultural influencers, while also introducing innovative approaches to sustainable design and heritage regeneration.

Presented at the Gulf Research Meeting in Cambridge as part of a workshop entitled “Women in the GCC Socio-economic Contributions to the Urbanisation of Gulf Countries” the paper proposes the framework of SDG11 (sustainable cities and communities) and the SDG5 (equity integration of women into the workforce) to discuss the status, challenges and aspirations for integrated future urbanization of desert cultures in the GCC and to achieve the desired net-zero urbanization in deserts and drylands that are part of Gulf countries’ strategic development plans. The methodology uses case studies in Qatar and Bahrain and examines them through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals indicators (SDG 5–SDG 11). It begins by looking at the National context to examine how the SDGs 5 and 11 are being achieved, what indicators are being used and how both countries are scoring.

The preliminary research findings reveal that both Qatar and Bahrain are reporting on these SDGs that relate to Women and Urbanization, and that the two cases studies demonstrate that certain indicators on women’s empowerment and sustainability can be fulfilled and highlighted through these female led urban projects – Msheireb Downtown and the Muharraq Pearling Path. The projects also contribute to the education and training of young female architects through commissions, internships and seminars.

This is an exploratory research in an emerging field and can lead to further and deeper enquiries into how the SDGs 5 and 11 are being implemented and reported on in Gulf countries, as well as how women in leadership, urban policy and design can contribute to more sustainable, inclusive and female friendly cities, as well to gender mainstreaming in urban design.