<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Although destination image is one of the most studied topics in tourism literature, little is known about how it is formed in the minds of people and how destination image evolves through destination life cycle stages. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical approach to the destination image formation process. In this conceptual paper, the co-created destination image (CoDI) approach was introduced. Co-creation and tourism area life cycle (TALC) approaches were used as the theoretical frameworks. The main elements of CoDI are interaction value, self-regulated image, and the co-creation process. Twelve CoDIs were developed for the four main stages of the TALC model—namely, exploration, development, stagnation, and decline. The CoDI approach shows that destination image formation evolves throughout the destination life cycle. Co-creation of the destination image is first introduced in this paper, which is used to explain how the image of destinations evolves.</p>
</abstract>

Although destination image is one of the most studied topics in tourism literature, little is known about how it is formed in the minds of people and how destination image evolves through destination life cycle stages. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical approach to the destination image formation process. In this conceptual paper, the co-created destination image (CoDI) approach was introduced. Co-creation and tourism area life cycle (TALC) approaches were used as the theoretical frameworks. The main elements of CoDI are interaction value, self-regulated image, and the co-creation process. Twelve CoDIs were developed for the four main stages of the TALC model—namely, exploration, development, stagnation, and decline. The CoDI approach shows that destination image formation evolves throughout the destination life cycle. Co-creation of the destination image is first introduced in this paper, which is used to explain how the image of destinations evolves.

How Does Destination Image Evolve? Introducing the Co-creation of the Destination Image Approach

European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Although destination image is one of the most studied topics in tourism literature, little is known about how it is formed in the minds of people and how...

How Does Destination Image Evolve? Introducing the Co-creation of the Destination Image Approach

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Dec 30, 2021

Page range: 11 - 21

Received: Oct 14, 2020

Accepted: Mar 15, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ejthr-2021-0002

Keywords
Destination Image, Co-creation, Self-Regulated Image, Interaction Value, Tourism Area Life Cycle

© 2021 Yıldırım Yılmaz, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How Does Destination Image Evolve? Introducing the Co-creation of the Destination Image Approach

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Dec 30, 2021

Page range: 11 - 21

Received: Oct 14, 2020

Accepted: Mar 15, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ejthr-2021-0002

KeywordsDestination Image, Co-creation, Self-Regulated Image, Interaction Value, Tourism Area Life Cycle

© 2021 Yıldırım Yılmaz, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Destination Image, Co-creation, Self-Regulated Image, Interaction Value, Tourism Area Life Cycle