Title of Paper
A Unifying Framework of the Destination Identification Construct
Abstract (150 Words)
Tourists’ identification with a destination is a central topic in tourism research because of its usefulness to understand tourists’ predispositions toward destinations. However, the usability of the destination identification construct for academics and tourism managers is considerably hampered by three key shortcomings. Firstly, the current literature often makes no clear distinction between the resident’s and tourist’s perspective of destination identification. Secondly, there is no consensus on the nature and definition of destination identification. Third, the operationalization and measurement of the construct is lacking in construct validity. This study reviews extant literature on destination identification and proposes a new conceptualization and operationalization of the construct. The review leads to a novel understanding of destination identification and proposes a hierarchical destination identification framework consisting of a holistic identification construct and four drivers thereof: Self-verification, self-enhancement, life meaning and need for belonging.
A Unifying Framework of the Destination Identification Construct
Tourists’ identification with a destination is a central topic in tourism research because of its usefulness to understand tourists’ predispositions toward destinations. However, the usability of the destination identification construct for academics and tourism managers is considerably hampered by three key shortcomings. Firstly, the current literature often makes no clear distinction between the resident’s and tourist’s perspective of destination identification. Secondly, there is no consensus on the nature and definition of destination identification. Third, the operationalization and measurement of the construct is lacking in construct validity. This study reviews extant literature on destination identification and proposes a new conceptualization and operationalization of the construct. The review leads to a novel understanding of destination identification and proposes a hierarchical destination identification framework consisting of a holistic identification construct and four drivers thereof: Self-verification, self-enhancement, life meaning and need for belonging.