Cognitive components of rural tourism destination images : the case of lake Plastiras, Greece
Part of : Tourismos : an international multidiciplinary journal of tourism ; Vol.4, No.4, 2009, pages 273-291
Issue:
Pages:
273-291
Section Title:
Research papers
Abstract:
This paper aims at exploring issues related to rural tourism destination image(TDI) focusing on the cognitive component. By means of empirical researchaddressing tourists visiting the Lake Plastiras area, Central Greece, factorscomprising the cognitive component of the area’s TDI were identified along withtheir effect on destination attractiveness. Furthermore, the influence of tourists’characteristics on their cognitive TDI was explored. The results indicate that: (1)the area’s TDI can be delineated in six cognitive factors; (2) the area’sattractiveness is significantly influenced by three of these factors; (3) visitors canbe classified in four clusters according to the cognitive factors; (4) tourists’clusters differ in terms of age, education and income as well as number of visitsand perception of the area’s attractiveness. Such findings point towards the needof both a new strategy for the area’s placement within the tourist market andfurther research.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
tourism destination image, attractiveness, cognitive component, rural tourism
Notes:
Περιέχει πίνακες και βιβλιογραφία
