Beyond image: Imagined experiences of a destination

• Main Authors: Cherifi, B. (Author), Maitland, R. (Author), Smith, A. (Author), Stevenson, N. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: John Wiley and Sons Ltd 2018
• Subjects: destination image; destination marketing; England; imagined experience; London [England]; marketing; perception; qualitative analysis; sensory; tourism market; tourist behavior; tourist destination; tourist experience; United Kingdom
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 The aim of this study is to explore the idea that people can imagine themselves in a destination and can have imagined experiences. This broadens our understanding of how people think about destinations and provides an extension of the established destination image literature and that which explores actual tourist experiences. The research involved asking 300 Czech residents who had never been to London to imagine what it would be like to visit. Their responses were examined qualitatively using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that people can imagine experiences and that these involve a range of sensations, much like “real” experiences. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.