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With increasing investments being made in brand development by destination marketing organisations (DMO) since the 1990s, including rebranding and repositioning, more research is necessary to enhance understanding of how to effectively monitor destination brand performance over time. This chapter summarises key findings from a study of brand performance of a competitive set of destinations, in their most important market, between 2003 and 2012. Brand performance was measured from the perspective of consumer perceptions, based on the concept of consumer-based brand equity (CBBE). The results indicated almost no change in perceptions of the five destinations over the 10-year period. Due to the commonality of challenges faced by DMOs worldwide, it is suggested the CBBE hierarchy provides destination marketers with a practical tool for evaluating brand performance over time; in terms of measures of effectiveness of past marketing communications, as well as indicators of future performance.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed description of the various activities and processes undertaken by a particular national tourism organization (NTO) in carrying out its goal of developing a destination brand.

A single qualitative case study is primarily employed, though the study draws on data from multiple sources of information.

The study affirms the co‐creation and stakeholder viewpoints from having modeled the branding process and outlining the complex interaction of destination‐branding activities in the country‐level context. The study provides a critical discussion of the different approaches to branding, and the adoption of branding philosophies, in the destination context.

Though this paper is based on a single country case study, it provides a strong and empirically grounded framework for identifying, in‐depth, several key destination branding processes and activities in great detail.

The co‐creation view of brands and branding is a neglected area in destination‐branding literature. Destination‐branding research, in particular, lacks grounded models that profoundly describe branding activities. This study contributes to the lack of empirically grounded knowledge of destination branding.

This chapter analyzes the attribute associations, supplied by experts, of top 10 destination brands in Spain. Using a sample of respondents that represents the domestic tourist population, the study examined how they perceive the importance of each of the attributes when selecting a holiday destination. They are rated for all the 10 brands as a whole and for each individually. Comparisons are made between each and the average of all other brands. The application of multidimensional scale method resulted in five distinct groups or competitive sets based on the similarities and disparities of tourists’ ratings of these attributes. For each, the study suggests how these sets are perceived as a whole and in comparison with each other. The chapter offers meaningful relationships between the respondents’ demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and their perceived importance of the destination brands’ attributes.

This chapter integrates brand identity and equity as a two-dimensional approach to destination branding. By incorporating the supply- and demand-side perspectives, the approach enables different destination stakeholders to be included in this process. Drawing on general branding and marketing literature, the study presents a three-part framework for building and implementing a destination brand. It illustrates consumer-based equity as consisting of the four dimensions: awareness, image, perceived quality, and loyalty. The chapter also offers a critical synthesis of destination image studies and recognizes the important research advancement from image to branding.

Despite the recent academic attention to branding, there seems to be no clear path for authorities to follow in establishing their destinations as distinctive and strategic brands. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a practical framework for destination authorities. Review of relevant literature reveals that branding in a destination context involves development and maintenance of positive image and identity using several elements such as names, logos, slogans, and color. These elements need to be distilled from destination characteristics and they can lead to strong brand equity. A comprehensive research framework with both qualitative and quantitative methods is suggested to assess these brand elements, meanings, and assets for both supply and demand sides of the market.

Mianzi can powerfully influence tourists’ behavior. Compared with product brands, destination brands are more multidimensional, consisting of intangible and tangible elements. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the relationships among the Chinese culture-related variable mianzi, destination product quality, destination service quality, destination brand value, destination brand resonance, destination brand self-congruity and destination overall brand equity.

A questionnaire survey was conducted in 2021, yielding 475 valid responses from tourists who had traveled to Hainan, China. Data was analyzed using structural equation modeling.

The results showed that mianzi plays a significant role in shopping destination brand equity, and the mianzi effect shapes tourists’ positive perceptions of destination product and service quality. Meanwhile, destination product quality and service quality enhance shopping destinations’ overall brand equity through destination brand value, brand resonance and brand self-congruity.

This study, focusing on shopping destinations, presents a novel view of brand equity. The research also uncovers influencing factors (e.g. product quality and service quality) that further enrich the destination brand equity model. Finally, findings offer valuable insights for academic research and the practical development of shopping destinations.

面子能有力地影响游客的行为。与产品品牌相比, 目的地品牌更加多维, 由无形要素和有形要素构成。因此, 本文旨在探讨与中国文化相关的变量面子、目的地产品质量、目的地服务质量、目的地品牌价值、目的地品牌共鸣、目的地品牌自我一致和目的地整体品牌资产之间的关系。

2021年对去过中国海南旅游的游客进行问卷调查, 最终获取了 475 份有效问卷。

果表明, 结果表明面子在购物目的地品牌资产中发挥着重要作用, 面子效应塑造了游客对目的地产品和服务质量的积极认知。同时, 目的地产品质量和服务质量通过目的地品牌价值、品牌共鸣和品牌自我一致提升了购物目的地的整体品牌资产。

本研究以购物目的地为重点, 提出了一种新颖的品牌资产观点。研究还发现了一些影响因素（如产品质量和服务质量）, 进一步丰富了目的地品牌资产模型。最后, 研究结果为学术研究和购物目的地的实际发展提供了宝贵的见解。

Mianzi puede influir poderosamente en el comportamiento de los turistas. En comparación con las marcas de producto, las marcas de destino son más multidimensionales y constan de elementos intangibles y tangibles. Por lo tanto, este artículo pretende explorar las relaciones entre la variable mianzi relacionada con la cultura china, la calidad del producto del destino, la calidad del servicio del destino, el valor de la marca del destino, la resonancia de la marca del destino, la autocongruencia de la marca del destino y el valor general de la marca del destino.

En 2021 se llevó a cabo una encuesta por cuestionario, que arrojó 475 respuestas válidas de turistas que habían viajado a Hainan, China. Los datos se analizaron mediante un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales.

Los resultados mostraron que el mianzi desempeña un papel significativo en el valor de marca de los destinos de compras, y que el efecto mianzi determina las percepciones positivas de los turistas sobre la calidad de los productos y servicios del destino. Por su parte, la calidad de los productos y servicios del destino mejora el valor de marca global de los destinos de compras a través del valor de marca del destino, la resonancia de la marca y la autocongruencia de la marca.

Este estudio, centrado en los destinos de compras, presenta una visión novedosa del valor de marca. La investigación también descubre factores influyentes (por ejemplo, la calidad del producto y la calidad del servicio) que enriquecen aún más el modelo de valor de marca del destino. Por último, los resultados ofrecen valiosas perspectivas para la investigación académica y el desarrollo práctico de los destinos de compras.

The chapter introduces a model of destination branding and reports a project that applied the model to examine the current image of Greece. The project was undertaken on behalf of the Greek national tourism organization by a binational consortium. Through conducting primary and secondary research on the public perception and self-portrayal of Greece, the project team found the current brand image and identity not to be in accordance with the country's reality. Indeed, although the brand image elements currently expressed are relevant, they represent only a small portion of a much larger existing offering. To that end, the team proposed new branding strategies based on the model, offering a series of recommendations on how to implement the strategies.

Destination brand personality has been considered as an emotional relationship between a branded destination and its visitors (Ekinci, 2003). Previous studies exclusively focused on the match between visitor’s personality and destination personality (Sirgy & Su, 2000; Usakli & Baloglu, 2011). However, there is a lack of investigation centered on tourism industry professionals (TIPs). This chapter is to assess the congruity between TIPs’ self-assessed personality, their perceived brand personality of Macau as a destination as well as the brand personality of their tourism/hospitality-related organizations. Findings of this study reveal that TIPs’ perceived Big Five dimensions of self, Macau, and organization tend to match with each other in certain dimensions. Neither their own nor their organizations’ Big Five dimensions “Openness” and “Conscientiousness” matches their perceived brand personality of Macau. This chapter provides empirical evidence which may suggest to Macau policy makers to further develop branding strategies through strengthening its brand personalities.

Globalization has intensified marketing pressures for tourism destinations in their operations at a national, regional, and international level. The dynamics of the twenty-first century have resulted in immense competition, causing organizations in the tourism and hospitality business to adopt new strategic management and operational marketing processes. Branding has become one of the important marketing strategies in withstanding the competitive nature of the tourism industry when offering products and services to tourists. Zimbabwe as a tourism destination has also experienced various changes due to globalization, induced by its socioeconomic and political state of affairs. In order to survive and adhere to the changing market demands, Zimbabwe as a tourism destination has also adopted branding as a marketing strategy, with the aim of holding a high-valued global market position through an extensive brand identity.

This chapter explores the concept of branding in a contemporary competitive arena of places. The multi-dimensional interpretations of places offer a variety of possibilities to better understand the true essence of destination branding. One of the common interpretations of places is through the study of their images, as destination branding requires a thorough understanding of destination image. The important foundation and relation of destination image are specified and explained. The notion of destination branding has evolved from the fields of marketing and urban studies and has become a cross-disciplinary research area. Thus, the researchers explain that destination branding as well as ‘place branding’ are dynamic concepts that are being continuously being explored in academia for the benefit of practitioners in travel and tourism. This chapter suggests that the use of brand equity is also one of the frontier areas of study in ‘place branding’ as it emphasises the need to thematise destinations (e.g. for their historical heritage, cultural value, natural attractions, etc.) and places for residence (e.g. as green cities, creative cities, smart cities, etc.).