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This paper aims to analyse the relationship between the image of a tourism product and destination brand equity in the context of Kerala's Ayurveda. The study also examined the influence of destination image (DI) and hospital brand image (HBI) and the mediating role of total experience (TEX).

The research analysed 342 primary data from Ayurvedic tourists who visited Kerala for the treatment.

Results show that product–place image (PPI) and DI significantly influence the brand equity, but the HBI is insignificant towards the brand equity. Even though HBI does not directly influence Kerala's brand equity, it has a strong relationship through TEX (mediating variable).

This study can be implemented by destination marketing organization and tourism authorities while making strategic decisions and plans for the image creation of a tourist place.

People perceive some products from a particular place as having superior quality and uniqueness. As far as a tourist destination is concerned, a “tourism product” associated with the destination will also uplift its popularity. The study has investigated the image of this “product–place” combination in medical tourism.

This study aims to investigate the reverse effect of the country of origin’s reputation on the notion of place brand.

Using a case study methodology, cases of Lagos (Nigeria) and Dubai (UAE) are examined to generate a model of place brand/branding.

Three pathways of the flow of causality between nation brand and city brand were emphasised, and problematic themes of interest to focus are recommended as a way forward for aspiring cities to create and improve their global reputation to generate increased footfalls of visitors and investors.

It is possible for cities to create effective brands irrespective of the reputation (strong or weak) of their countries of origin. The implication of the reverse relationship between nation and city brand has the potential to expand the theoretical framework of a place brand.

The study’s uniqueness is in highlighting the different relations between nation branding and city branding that could guide practitioners in actualising a successful city brand project.

This study aims to explore how tourists construct destination images in the context of dark tourism and reveals the relationships between on-site experience, destination image and behavioural intention.

The earthquake-ravaged county town of Beichuan in China was chosen as the study site. The study collected 298 viable questionnaires from tourists. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was performed to explore the relationships between the variables of on-site experience, destination image and behavioural intention.

The study identified four dimensions of dark tourism destination image (TDI) from its attribute and functional perspective. It found that “image of memorial place” and “image of educational place” were the most perceptual images and positively related with most subdimensions of on-site experience and behavioural intention. “Image of leisure place” and “image of landscapes of fear” were less perceived by tourists and negatively related with some subdimensions of on-site experience and behavioural intention.

To our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to explore the complex mechanisms of dark TDI formation with the framework of “on-site experiences–destination images–behavioural intentions”. By identifying tourists’ most and least perceptual images and their effective antecedents and consequences help to reconcile and manage the controversial and contradictory images of a dark tourism destination.

本文探讨了游客如何建构黑色旅游目的地形象, 进一步研究了游客现场体验、目的地形象、行为意愿之间的作用关系。

以汶川地震重灾区北川老县城遗址为案例地, 本研究收集了游客结构化问卷298份, 采用偏最小二乘结构方程模型（PLS-SEM）分析了游客现场体验、目的地形象和行为意愿各维度之间的作用关系。

从目的地属性和功能角度, 本文区分了黑色旅游目的地形象四个维度。研究发现“纪念地形象”和“教育地形象”是游客感知最强的两大维度, 与绝大多数游客现场体验和行为意愿的维度呈显著正向影响关系。 “休闲地形象”和“恐惧景观形象”, 游客感知较弱, 与现场体验和行为意向的一些维度呈负向影响关系。

本文首次利用“现场体验-目的地形象-行为意愿”这一研究框架, 揭示黑色旅游目的地形象的复杂生成机制。通过识别游客感知最强和最弱的形象维度, 揭示其前因与后果, 有助于调和与管理有争议和矛盾的黑色旅游目的地形象。

Este estudio explora cómo los turistas construyen la imagen del destino en el contexto del turismo oscuro, revelando las relaciones entre experiencias en el lugar, imágenes del destino e intenciones de comportamiento.

El terremoto que devastó la ciudad del condado de Beichuan en China fue elegido lugar de estudio por sus peculiaridades para el desarrollo del destino oscuro. El estudio recopiló 298 cuestionarios viables de turistas. Se planteo un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (PLS-SEM) para explorar las relaciones entre las variables de experiencias en el lugar, imágenes de destino e intenciones de comportamiento.

El estudio identificó cuatro dimensiones de la imagen del destino turístico oscuro desde su atributo y perspectiva funcional. De igual forma, se encontró que la “imagen del lugar conmemorativo” y la “imagen del lugar educativo” eran las imágenes más perceptivas y estaban relacionadas positivamente con la mayoría de los subdimensiones de las experiencias en el lugar e intenciones de comportamiento. Los turistas percibieron menos la “imagen de un lugar de ocio” y la “imagen de paisajes de miedo” y se relacionaron negativamente con algunos subdimensiones de las experiencias en el lugar e intención de comportamiento.

Hasta donde sabemos, este estudio es el primer intento de explorar el complejo mecanismo en la formación de TDIs oscuros con el marco de “experiencias en el lugar- imágenes de destino – intenciones de comportamiento”. Al identificar las imágenes más o menos perceptivas de los turistas, y sus antecedentes y consecuencias efectivos, ayuda a conciliar y gestionar las imágenes controvertidas y contradictorias de un destino turístico oscuro.

The purpose of this paper is to explore local perceptions of the process of place reimaging, and the forces that influence this process. As locals engage with a place more frequently than visitors, they are better placed to get an “insider's view” of reimaging and the forces that influence the process.

A case study method is employed in this paper. The case area is the Sullivans Cove waterfront precinct, located in the Australian City of Hobart. Between 1972 and 2006 this area underwent a process of reimaging; changing from a working port to a tourism, arts and entertainment precinct. Primary data are collected through semi‐structured interviews with representatives from local interest group. Secondary data are also collected from a range of government and non‐government sources.

The findings of this paper are twofold. First, it finds that locals are actively engaged in the process of reimaging and are broadly accepting of the reimaging process. Second, locals identified a number of forces that influenced the process of reimaging within Sullivans Cove, and that the interplay between these factors create a more multifaceted place image.

Little extant research has explored local perceptions of the reimaging process, and this paper brings new insights into this process.

This paper aims to understand how place brand managers in the US Deep South understand the brand images associated with their states and cities. The US South has its own unique identity – and the Deep South has its own differences from the rest of the country. Typically, the Deep South is seen as backwards, uneducated and the “buckle of the Bible Belt”. Given potentially negative brand associations, this research explores how destination marketing organization (DMO) managers in three Deep South states (Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama) think their places are perceived.

Miles et al.’s (2014) guidelines for qualitative content analysis are used to understand responses to open-ended questions regarding place brand associations. Surveys were sent to 104 DMO managers in each state, and 53 questionnaires were returned with usable responses. Deductive and inductive analyses were used to understand place brand associations, as well as how managers in the three states are promoting positive associations or correcting negative ones.

Managers reported both positive and negative brand associations but also detailed problems when promoting either: financial and political constraints, information sharing, and asset capitalization. Managers, then, face issues when trying to promote their cities and states, thus negatively influencing the economic and social returns on tourism investment into the region.

Not many studies examine this region of the USA when it comes to tourism-related brand associations. Usually studies focus more broadly on a Southern identity rather than specific associations DMO managers understand the state to maintain. The study also fills a gap regarding asking DMO managers how and why they do what they do. Finally, the study puts into action Gertner and Kotler’s (2004) framework for assessing corrective measures for a negative brand image.

As intricate mental constructions, destination images reflect cultural, intellectual and existential backgrounds of individuals, communities and social groups, as well as marketing strategies. In the case of Banff National Park, for example, marketing strategies have promoted a potential need for wilderness and natural environment related experiences that is expressed in western post‐industrialized societies. However, touristic development often creates places structured to fit suitable images suggested by the market and leads to the co‐existence of multiple images for a single destination. The resulting tourist landscapes very often are divorced from the original setting, atmosphere, and characteristics of the real place.

This study aims to examine the influence of perceived city brand image on emotional attachment to the city. The study also compares the effects of perceived brand image of the city on the emotional attachment to the city across two groups: local residents and visitors.

A total of 207 usable questionnaires were collected from 107 residents of the city of Bratislava, Slovakia and 100 visitors to the city. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method was used for data analysis.

This study establishes that perceived city brand image significantly influences emotional attachment to the city. The study concludes that affective city image has a greater impact on emotional attachment to the city among the residents than visitors. By contrast, the influence of cognitive city image on emotional attachment to the city does not vary across the two categories of residents and visitors to the city.

City tourism marketers should focus on improving city brand images to enhance tourists’ emotional attachment to the city to promote repeat visits among visitors.

This study contributes to improving understanding of the impact of perceived city brand image on emotional attachment to the city across the two groups, residents and visitors, using social exchange theory (SET). Furthermore, the findings come from a relatively under-researched Central and Eastern European (CEE) region.

Until now, scholars have devoted insufficient attention to theories of place reputation – at the city, region and country levels. Furthermore, the literature does suggest a theoretical link between country reputation and country-of-origin (COO). To foster an alignment between country reputation and place management, this paper aims to trace the advance of country branding and nation branding, as deriving place management recommendations from studies on country reputation. Therefore, this work is grounded on the consistent principle in the current literature – that a place must first improve itself via development and management before it can create a positive reputation via communications; it is fundamental, geographically, to work on the development initiatives towards the improvement of a place.

This is a conceptual paper based on literature search on country reputation published in the past decade (2005-2015).

The analysis indicates that nine papers have been published on country reputation since 2005, but none of them deal with principles of place management. This paper also consolidates the field’s decades-long theoretical evolution into a visual diagram. To close, it concludes by highlighting the need for theoretical and managerial advancements involving principles from place reputation and place management, which could help countries achieve sustainable prosperity.

As limitations, this conceptual paper lacks review of each country in the evolutionary timeline regarding country branding and nation branding. As another limitation, this paper focused specifically on theoretical contributions and did not address the administrative challenges implied by the sub-themes. Indeed, there is much complexity involved with aligning government policies with internal and external stakeholders.

Inspire academia, government and citizens to be engaged with the sustainable prosperity of their country through initiatives of place management and development.

The present study provides additional evidence with respect to the evolution of COO to country reputation, considering studies on nation branding and country branding, towards place management. To date, this is the first publication that offers an extensive examination of country reputation. Thus, the principal theoretical implication of this study is that place management and place reputation can be aligned to develop and improve places (cities, regions and countries) for sustainable prosperity.

This paper aims to study discursive dynamics in place marketing collaboration, which has the potential to construct common ground between stakeholders or provoke discursive struggles emerging from competing accounts.

The paper applies a discursive perspective to collaboration and uses the discursive model of the collaboration to analyze dynamics between stakeholder representatives in two regional level place marketing projects carried out in Eastern Finland in 2011-2014. An analysis of 23 interviews focuses on how stakeholders construct shared understandings of project issues and interests, and discursive struggles that emerge from competing accounts and heterogeneous spaces.

Identified issues in the projects related to the competitiveness between regions, peer pressure to carry out place marketing and a lack of budget resources for marketing for gaining visibility. Broader discourses of competitiveness and promotion provided shared discursive resources for the collaborators. An analysis of the interests of specific organizations revealed discursive struggles that relate to the spatial content of place marketing activities and also the symbolic content of the image of the region.

While the paper underlines the embeddedness of collaboration within broader discursive contexts and cultural sensitivity attached to communication, it does not cover how broader discourses constrain communicative processes or how cultural context influences them.

The paper presents an original perspective on stakeholder collaboration in place marketing projects by highlighting the discursive aspects of communication, and especially the construction of shared understandings as a central element in collaboration. This is useful for facilitating and coordinating stakeholders’ communication, which has been considered important for the success of place marketing and branding activity.

This paper aims to consider the role of demarketing in the specific context of the marketing of places, and to introduce a typology of place demarketing and related place marketing activity.

Following a review of the extant literature on place marketing and branding, place image and demarketing, the paper outlines a number of different types of place demarketing and more unusual place marketing strategies, with examples of each.

The marketing of places has grown in scale and importance, both as a practice and as an area of academic research, as places have had to become more entrepreneurial in an ever‐increasing competitive environment. Places are increasingly conceptualised as brands to be marketed, and a key emphasis of such activity is the creation of an attractive place image and/or the dilution of negative place images. This is reinforced in the academic literature. Counter to this “conventional wisdom”, this article conceptualises various types of place demarketing activity and related place marketing activities; namely “passive place demarketing”, “informational place demarketing”, “crisis place demarketing”, and also “perverse place marketing” and “dark place marketing”.

This paper provides a unique counter to the “conventional wisdom” of place marketing by introducing the concept of place demarketing and perverse and dark place marketing which more explicitly accentuate the negative, rather than accentuating the positive which is the norm in this marketing context. A typology of such activities is introduced and the implications for place brands are considered.