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Tracing the Origins of Place Branding Research: A Bibliometric Study of Concepts in Use (1980–2018)

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  • Wenting Ma

    (Department of Multi-Actor Systems, Faculty of Technology, Policy & Management, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 5, 2628 BX Delft, The Netherlands
    Rotterdam School of Management & Erasmus School of Law, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Daan Schraven

    (Section of Infrastructure Design & Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Mark de Bruijne

    (Department of Multi-Actor Systems, Faculty of Technology, Policy & Management, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 5, 2628 BX Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Martin de Jong

    (Rotterdam School of Management & Erasmus School of Law, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China)

  • Haiyan Lu

    (Department of History and Cultural Studies, Free University of Berlin, Berlin 14195, Germany)

Abstract

Place branding is seriously studied in various academic disciplines. Its impact on strategic development plays a vital role in processes of sustainable urban transformation. Place branding originated in tourism management and over time its research focus spilled over and evolved in environmental science, urban studies and public administration. Scholars and policy makers are currently faced with a myriad of concepts in place branding research, which show considerable overlap but should be carefully distinguished from each other. To increase our understanding of this body of research, this article observes a strong pattern of the concepts in use, in their references to location types (i.e., urban, city, destination, place) and broadcasting activities (branding, marketing, promotion). It builds on this observation by collecting studies from the Scopus database by location type and broadcasting activities (LT–BA) reference pairs and systematically analysing and reviewing these from 1980 to 2018. A total of 2665 articles and reviews were identified and analysed based on (1) occurrences per reference pair, (2) co-occurrences per reference pair, and (3) co-occurrences for each reference pair with other concepts. On that basis, the origin and evolution of the research field including multiple reference pairs in use is explored and described.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenting Ma & Daan Schraven & Mark de Bruijne & Martin de Jong & Haiyan Lu, 2019. "Tracing the Origins of Place Branding Research: A Bibliometric Study of Concepts in Use (1980–2018)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:11:p:2999-:d:234862
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yauheniya Barkun & Ewa Glińska & Katarzyna Dębkowska, 2021. "Differentiation of regional attractiveness for gaining talents in the context of place branding theory," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(1), pages 78-92, March.
    2. Rojas-Lamorena, Álvaro J. & Del Barrio-García, Salvador & Alcántara-Pilar, Juan Miguel, 2022. "A review of three decades of academic research on brand equity: A bibliometric approach using co-word analysis and bibliographic coupling," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1067-1083.
    3. Assumpció Huertas & Antonio Moreno & Jordi Pascual, 2021. "Place Branding for Smart Cities and Smart Tourism Destinations: Do They Communicate Their Smartness?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Mihalis Kavaratzis, 2024. "Place branding ‘in colours bold’," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(1), pages 25-28, November.
    5. Karol Kuczera & Damian Dziembek, 2024. "Changes in the Image of Szczecin between 2013 and 2023 in Empirical Research," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special A), pages 894-910.
    6. Marek Ćwiklicki & Kamila Pilch, 2021. "Multiple case study design: the example of place marketing research," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(1), pages 50-62, March.
    7. Ewa Glińska & Wawrzyniec Rudolf, 2019. "City Brand Personality Projected by Municipalities from Central and Eastern Europe Countries—A Comparison of Facebook Usage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-22, October.
    8. WeiChung Huang & LiChung Jen, 2020. "Color Place Marketing—The Role of Atmospheric Colors on Place Product Association and Consumer Choices in Luoyang, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-20, November.
    9. Chandra Setiawan & Bryna Meivitawanli & Mary-Paz Arrieta-Paredes & Alastair M. Morrison & J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak, 2021. "Friendly Locals and Clean Streets?—Evaluating Jakarta’s Destination Brand Image," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-15, July.
    10. Fernandez-Osso Fuentes, Maria J. & Keegan, Brendan J. & Jones, Marc V. & MacIntyre, Tadhg E., 2024. "Conceptualizing digital placemaking in nature for wellbeing," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    11. Meiling Han & Martin de Jong & Minghui Jiang, 2019. "City Branding and Industrial Transformation from Manufacturing to Services: Which Pathways do Cities in Central China Follow?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-46, October.
    12. Gaia Daldanise, 2020. "From Place-Branding to Community-Branding: A Collaborative Decision-Making Process for Cultural Heritage Enhancement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-23, December.

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