The influence of information sources on the formation of the tourist image
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25145/j.pasos.2016.14.051Keywords:
tourist image, information sources, Fragmentation, Stereotypes, Coastal destinationAbstract
Information sources are postulated as a relevant element in the process of image formation of a destination. This article aims to analyse the perceived tourist image, identifying the most outstanding elements of a tourist destination and determining the effect that the number and type of different sources of information used during the preparation phase of the trip may have. In particular, a municipality on the Costa Brava (Spain) with a sample of 594 tourists was taken as a case study. The results clearly show that both the number and type of information sources influence destination-related attributes. It was concluded that there is a certain fragmentation in the perceived image of the destination through the different types of information sources consulted, and that a lower number of information sources consulted tends to imply a more simplified and stereotyped tourist image.
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