This paper explores online brand advocacy (OBA) in a tourism destination context. Through Social Influence Theory lens, it the ways which residents and overseas tourists discuss Australia as on social media. By analyzing big dataset of media user-generated content (UGC), this study sought to identify key dimensions evident positively valenced UGC, see whether these varied between tourists, refl...

This study develops propositions for a benchmarking exercise involving SME and tourism destination brands. In order to reveal the role of SMEs at destinations and their role in the destination brand, the tourism production process is analysed. It is suggested to view destinations as virtual service firms (VSF) as this highlights the interdependencies between SMEs, but also allows the descriptio...

This article examines the development of Slovenian competitive identity over the past twenty years through marketing and political perspective. An inception and evolution of a destination brand is considered. The coincidence between the release of Slovenian new brand identities and decisive political steps Slovenia undertook between 1990 and 2007 is analysed in order to show a mutual interdepen...

Identifying information sources influential to travel decisions helps tourism planners strategically utilize resources to improve marketing efforts and create a strong destination image. An on-line survey (N=973) on destination brand image research was developed and implemented. The study examined image perceptions of Austria and what level of influence various information sources have on desti...