The “Four Core Elements” as a Measuring Instrument: From Simplicity to Complexity in Tourist Destination

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This is an interesting study, especially from the point of view of the research method. The manuscript presents a new aspect of the analysis and measuring of the tourist destination image, worth to be investigated in current studies, however, there are some issues to be considered:

• There is no more detailed derivation (genesis) of the individual hypothesis based on the literature and the results of the previous studies – based on the more recent literature.
• In general, it seems that a better adjustment of the content to the structure of the manuscript is needed.
• Figure 1 should be presented further in the text - where the hypotheses are explained, or, if it were to stay in the Introduction part, it would need to be explained here how the hypotheses were derived. In Figure 1, there is a lack of arrow between urban environment and affective image.
• The methods should be described before presenting the results obtained from these methods.
• The title of the manuscript does not clearly present what the content of the article is about. It seems that it could be more compact and informative, e.g. "Four core elements" in measuring destination image based on cognitive dimension ..., etc.
• The points shouldn’t be used at the end of the titles (manuscript title and subtitles).

Author Response

There are some issues to be considered:

• There is no more detailed derivation (genesis) of the individual hypothesis based on the literature and the results of the previous studies – based on the more recent literature.

Thank you for the appreciation. More up-to-date references have been included that contribute greatly to explaining and justifying the assumptions raised.

• In general, it seems that a better adjustment of the content to the structure of the manuscript is needed.

In this sense, the figure showing the relationships between variables has been changed. As suggested, it has been considered more appropriate to place it after the hypothesis approach. In this way, the content is better adjusted to the structure.

• Figure 1 should be presented further in the text - where the hypotheses are explained, or, if it were to stay in the Introduction part, it would need to be explained here how the hypotheses were derived. In Figure 1, there is a lack of arrow between urban environment and affective image.

Thank you very much for your comment. We have changed figure 1 and put it after the explanation of the hypotheses. In addition, we have added the missing arrow.

• The methods should be described before presenting the results obtained from these methods.

Thank you very much for your suggestion. In the Methodology section we have described the quantitative analysis, the data collection and the analysis of the scales and then in Results we have empirically tested the model.

• The title of the manuscript does not clearly present what the content of the article is about. It seems that it could be more compact and informative, e.g. "Four core elements" in measuring destination image based on cognitive dimension ..., etc.

Thank you very much for your suggestion. We have changed the title to make it clear. The new title is:

The “Four core elements” as a measuring instrument: from simplicity to complexity in tourist destination

• The points shouldn’t be used at the end of the titles (manuscript title and subtitles).

Thank you very much for your appreciation. We have removed the points.

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Thank you for the opportunity to review this paper on Simplicity, complexity and competitiveness in tourist destination and corporate image. The author(s) have presented a good and relevant study.

The author(s) have provided a good introduction to the paper. They have set out the background to the topic. The aim is clearly presented, together with the gap in existing knowledge that this paper is aiming to address.

However, in its current form this paper needs to be improved before it is ready for publication.

My biggest concern is with the literature view that in its current form must be amended by the author(s). The literature review is very descriptive overview of some relevant literature. The author(s) need to provide a comprehensive critical discussion of the varies themes/issues relevant to the research area. It is evident that the author(s) have taken the hypotheses from the literature, which is fine. But these need to be discussed as it is not clear as to how these hypotheses reflect current literature.

The methodology section is mostly sound, however more justification and clarification on the analysis and data collection instruments is required in my view. The following papers might be of use to the author(s) to help in the discussion of the approach to this study

• McLoughlin, E; Hanrahan, J, Duddy, A (2020) “Application of the European Tourism Indicator System (ETIS) for Sustainable Destination Management. Lessons from County Clare, Ireland”. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Vol. 14(2), 273-294
• Carlisle, S; Zaki, K; Ahmed, M; Dixey, L and McLoughlin, E (2021) “The Imperative to Address Sustainability Skills Gaps in Tourism in Wales”. Sustainability 13(3), 1161

Other than these issues, I feel that this paper as the potential for publication in Economics. I do stress the importance of the issues raised in this review, and for the author(s) to build on this current paper and address the concerns highlighted in this review.

Author Response

My biggest concern is with the literature view that in its current form must be amended by the author(s). The literature review is very descriptive overview of some relevant literature. The author(s) need to provide a comprehensive critical discussion of the varies themes/issues relevant to the research area. It is evident that the author(s) have taken the hypotheses from the literature, which is fine. But these need to be discussed as it is not clear as to how these hypotheses reflect current literature.

Thank you for the appreciation. More up-to-date references have been included that contribute greatly to explaining and justifying the hypothesis raised.

All new references help to understand the hypotheses raised and justify each of them. Very recent references have been introduced that carry out similar analyses in which the cognitive and affective dimensions of the target image continue to be considered key to the competitiveness of destinations.

The methodology section is mostly sound, however more justification and clarification on the analysis and data collection instruments is required in my view. The following papers might be of use to the author(s) to help in the discussion of the approach to this study

• McLoughlin, E; Hanrahan, J, Duddy, A (2020) “Application of the European Tourism Indicator System (ETIS) for Sustainable Destination Management. Lessons from County Clare, Ireland”. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Vol. 14(2), 273-294
• Carlisle, S; Zaki, K; Ahmed, M; Dixey, L and McLoughlin, E (2021) “The Imperative to Address Sustainability Skills Gaps in Tourism in Wales”. Sustainability 13(3), 1161

Thank you very much for these papers. We have added theses papers and we have emphasized the importance of the survey for the social sciences and quantitative analysis.

Reviewer 3 Report

Hello. Good afternoon. The article is well prepared. I have some comments:

Please specify the authors.

1. «Most previous studies have examined the affective and cognitive dimension of the target image separately, as well as the influence of the cognitive dimension on the affective dimension».
2. «Numerous studies have acknowledged the importance of the destination image».
3. «Empirical research by numerous authors has shown that the image is a multidimensional phenomenon, and that the cognitive dimension influences the affective dimension».
4. «Numerous scholars have examined the factors that influence the creation of a destination image».
5. «The results of this study to a large extent confirm the findings of in this previous mentioned study: the corporate image has no direct influence on the affective dimension (H1); on the contrary, there is an indirect relationship, through the cognitive dimension of the destination im­age (Table 6, Figure 2)».

Refer to and use the following articles.

1. Xiao, X.; Fang, C.; Lin, H. Characterizing Tourism Destination Image Using Photos’ Visual Content. ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf.2020, 9, 730. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi9120730
2. Cheng, W.; Tsai, H.; Chuang, H.; Lin, P.; Ho, T. How Can Emerging Event Sustainably Develop in the Tourism Industry? From the Perspective of the S-O-R Model on a Two-Year Empirical Study. Sustainability2020, 12, 10075. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310075
3. Leković, K.; Tomić, S.; Marić, D.; Ćurčić, N.V. Cognitive Component of the Image of a Rural Tourism Destination as a Sustainable Development Potential. Sustainability2020, 12, 9413. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229413
4. Jin, M.-l.; Choi, Y.; Lee, C.-K.; Ahmad, M.S. Effects of Place Attachment and Image on Revisit Intention in an Ecotourism Destination: Using an Extended Model of Goal-Directed Behavior. Sustainability2020, 12, 7831. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187831
5. Gupta, V.; Jung, K.; Yoo, S.-C. Exploring the Power of Multimodal Features for Predicting the Popularity of Social Media Image in a Tourist Destination. Multimodal Technol. Interact.2020, 4, 64. https://doi.org/10.3390/mti4030064
6. Li, Y.; Xu, X.; Song, B.; He, H. Impact of Short Food Videos on the Tourist Destination Image—Take Chengdu as an Example. Sustainability2020, 12, 6739. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12176739
7. de las Heras-Pedrosa, C.; Millan-Celis, E.; Iglesias-Sánchez, P.P.; Jambrino-Maldonado, C. Importance of Social Media in the Image Formation of Tourist Destinations from the Stakeholders’ Perspective. Sustainability2020, 12, 4092. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104092
8. Iglesias-Sánchez, P.P.; Correia, M.B.; Jambrino-Maldonado, C.; de las Heras-Pedrosa, C. Instagram as a Co-Creation Space for Tourist Destination Image-Building: Algarve and Costa del Sol Case Studies. Sustainability2020, 12, 2793. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072793
9. Almeida-Santana, A.; Moreno-Gil, S. Perceived Sustainable Destination Image: Implications for Marketing Strategies in Europe. Sustainability2019, 11, 6466. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11226466
10. Kanwel, S.; Lingqiang, Z.; Asif, M.; Hwang, J.; Hussain, A.; Jameel, A. The Influence of Destination Image on Tourist Loyalty and Intention to Visit: Testing a Multiple Mediation Approach. Sustainability2019, 11, 6401. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11226401
11. Marine-Roig, E. Destination Image Analytics Through Traveller-Generated Content. Sustainability2019, 11, 3392. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123392
12. Park, D.; Lee, G.; Kim, W.G.; Kim, T.T. Social Network Analysis as a Valuable Tool for Understanding Tourists’ Multi-Attraction Travel Behavioral Intention to Revisit and Recommend. Sustainability2019, 11, 2497. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092497
13. Yu, C.; Hwang, Y.S. Do the Social Responsibility Efforts of the Destination Affect the Loyalty of Tourists? Sustainability2019, 11, 1998. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11071998
14. Acosta Pereira, L.; Flôres Limberger, P.; Da Silva Flores, L.C.; De Lima Pereira, M. An Empirical Investigation of Destination Branding: The Case of the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sustainability2019, 11, 90. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010090
15. Ruan, W.-Q.; Li, Y.-Q.; Liu, C.-H.S. Measuring Tourism Risk Impacts on Destination Image. Sustainability2017, 9, 1501. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9091501
16. Rojo-Ramos, J.; Vidal-Espinoza, R.; Palacios-Cartagena, R.P.; Galán-Arroyo, C.; Manzano-Redondo, F.; Gómez-Campos, R.; Adsuar, J.C. Adventure Tourism in the Spanish Population: Sociodemographic Analysis to Improve Sustainability. Sustainability2021, 13, 1706. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041706
17. Almeida-Santana, A.; Moreno-Gil, S. Perceived Sustainable Destination Image: Implications for Marketing Strategies in Europe. Sustainability2019, 11, 6466. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11226466
18. Simancas Cruz, M.; Peñarrubia Zaragoza, M.P. Analysis of the Accommodation Density in Coastal Tourism Areas of Insular Destinations from the Perspective of Overtourism. Sustainability2019, 11, 3031. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113031
19. Buffa, F. Young Tourists and Sustainability. Profiles, Attitudes, and Implications for Destination Strategies. Sustainability2015, 7, 14042-14062. https://doi.org/10.3390/su71014042
20. Kim, H.-R.; Yoon, S.-Y. How to Help Crowded Destinations: Tourist Anger vs. Sympathy and Role of Destination Social Responsibility. Sustainability2020, 12, 2358. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062358
21. Cetin, G.; Alrawadieh, Z.; Dincer, M.Z.; Istanbullu Dincer, F.; Ioannides, D. Willingness to Pay for Tourist Tax in Destinations: Empirical Evidence from Istanbul. Economies2017, 5, 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies5020021
22. Rodríguez Rangel, M.C.; Sánchez Rivero, M.; Ramajo Hernández, J. A Spatial Analysis of Intensity in Tourism Accommodation: An Application for Extremadura (Spain). Economies2020, 8, 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies8020028

Author Response

Thank you very much for the proposal. They are very interesting articles and suitable for the article. Most of the references raised have been revised, analysed and introduced (in red in the revised manuscript).