TOURIST DESTINATION ATTRACTIVENESS

Ivanka Vassenska
PhD Candidate Economics of Tourism

Academic Advisor
Mariya Stankova
Associate Professor, PhD in Tourism

Tourism Department
Faculty of Economics
South-West University Neofit Rilski
Blagoevgrad
 The Images and We
An image (from Latin: imago) is an artifact that depicts or records visual perception, for
example a two-dimensional picture, that has a similar appearance to some subject
usually a physical object or a person, thus providing a depiction of it.

We first recognize images at the age of 7 months and afterwards we do develop all our
conative abilities.

Destination images are important since they permit tourists to generate a set of
expectations about a place before that place is actually experienced (Metelka 1981)
Source: After Croy and Kearsley 2002
Figure 1 A Model of Tourists Image Formation and Role as the Basis to the
Satisfying Experience.
 Tourism Destination
A local tourism destination is a physical space in which a tourist spends at least one overnight. It
includes tourism products such as support and additional services, attractions and tourist resources,
facilities and facilitators. It has physical and administrative boundaries defining its management,
and images and perceptions defining its market competitiveness. Local destinations incorporate
various stakeholders often including a host community, and can nest and network to form larger
destinations. Destinations could be on any scale, from a whole continent (e.g. Europe), country (e.g.
Bulgaria), a region (such as the Spanish Costas) or island (e.g. Santorini), to a village, town or city, or
a self-contained centre (e.g. Center Parc or Disneyland).
 Attractiveness
Without the attractiveness, tourism does not exist and there could be little or no
need for tourist facilities and services. It is only when people are attracted to a
destination that facilities and services follow (Ferrario 1979).
 Attractiveness attributes
consist of all those
elements of a nonhome
place that draw
discretionary travelers
away from their homes.
include not only the
historical sites, amusement
parks, and spectacular
scenery, but also the
services and facilities
which cater to the everyday
needs of tourists (Lew
1987)
Gearing, Swart, and Var
(1974): (1) natural
factors, (2) social factors,
(3) historical factors, (4)
recreational and
shopping facilities, and
(5) infrastructure, food,
and shelter.
Coshall (2000)images
reflect the individuals
perceptions of the
characteristics of
 Methods
Determine haw tourists For connecting theory with
make decisions practice
Game theory is a study of The Progression of
strategic decision making. Economic Value. Source:
Specifically, it is "the study Pine and Gilmore, 1998.
of mathematical models of
conflict and cooperation
between intelligent rational
decision-makers.
 Preserve natural resources attractive
Build strong brand image
Improving authenticy of tourist experience
Enhance destinations competitiveness and sustainable
development
Diversify destination product and consumers
Establish positive image using unique and common
cultural resources
Under skies darkened by thick clouds, they pour out into the streets, clanging with
the sound of giant bells. Soon they will enter the houses of the villagers by force
if they should so choose. Their faces are a terrifying mix of snapping jaws, twisted
horns, and large, unblinking eyes. They are clad in animal skins and furs, or other
thick materials, and the bells whose clanking din fills the air dangle from their
belts.
These monsters do not speak, but rather walk and dance their way through ancient
rites while armed with various weapons. And the rituals stretch back millennia to a
time when pagan gods were worshiped and evil spirits were considered serious
menace.
Descent from a common pagan proto-religion - Proto Indo European, Thracian,
Slavic, etc . each masquerade variation has its own local manifestation.
 LIFE, death and rebirth: the eternal cycle has been central to human cultures since
time immemorial.
Rituals enacted in midwinter ensured the return of the sun in springtime to breathe
life back into the barren soil and bring fertility to the land so that its inhabitants may
reap a plentiful harvest.
 As cultures have become more industrialised and moved away from a direct
connection with the land and the cycles of nature, and science and technology
have replaced a reliance on magic and ritual to control the unpredictable forces of
nature, so these traditional rituals have been lost in most areas.
However, in some rural areas, our cultural heritage is being kept alive.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!