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Sustainable Place Branding and Visitors’ Responses: A Systematic Literature Review

Author

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  • Zanete Garanti

    (Faculty of Economics and Social Development, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia)

  • Shiva Ilkhanizadeh

    (Department of People and Organisations, Business School, Bournemouth University, Poole BH12 5BB, UK)

  • Sotiroula Liasidou

    (Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Faculty of Tourism Management, Hospitality and Entrepreneurship, Cyprus University of Technology, 9 Ampelokipon, Paphos 8027, Cyprus)

Abstract

Admittedly, tourism stakeholders become more aware of the negative impacts of tourism, and it has become increasingly important to brand and position destinations towards sustainability. The main concern is emphasizing economic, social, and environmental awareness and implementation at the destination level regarding planning and development. This paper identifies the importance of sustainable place branding as part of destination social responsibility in the current global context. The main focus is identifying visitors’ responses as part of sustainable destination marketing. The study conducts a systematic literature review by rigorously selecting 26 related articles from the 106 search results for further analysis. The study results highlight the emergence of sustainable place branding concepts in academic literature, especially after the post-pandemic period. The themes identified in the literature analysis revolve around sustainable place branding in creating unique tourism experiences and engagement that resonates with the visitors’ self-perceptions and expectations of a destination. Sustainable place branding positively impacts destination image, trust, value, and loyalty. Moreover, it can create positive visitor outcomes, such as an intention to revisit because of positive word of mouth. The article concludes with suggestions for future research, emphasizing the need to explore further sustainable place branding and its influence on visitors’ responses in the evolving landscape of global tourism.

Suggested Citation

  • Zanete Garanti & Shiva Ilkhanizadeh & Sotiroula Liasidou, 2024. "Sustainable Place Branding and Visitors’ Responses: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:8:p:3312-:d:1376282
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kuo-Yan Wang, 2022. "Sustainable Tourism Development Based upon Visitors’ Brand Trust: A Case of “100 Religious Attractions”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-30, February.
    2. Xiaoli Zhou & Chengcai Tang & Xingyang Lv & Bo Xing, 2020. "Visitor Engagement, Relationship Quality, and Environmentally Responsible Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Alok Acharya & Zillur Rahman, 2016. "Place branding research: a thematic review and future research agenda," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 13(3), pages 289-317, October.
    4. Ana Polo Peña & Dolores Frías Jamilena & Miguel Rodríguez Molina, 2013. "The effect of a destination branding strategy for rural tourism on the perceived value of the conservation of the indigenous resources of the rural tourism destination: the case of Spain," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(2), pages 129-147.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yael Ram & Shahar Shilo & Lee Gafter & Noga Collins-Kreiner, 2025. "Academic–Practical Cooperation: A Case Study of Rural Destination Image," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-17, June.
    2. Vasile Gherheș & Claudiu Coman & Anna Bucs & Nicu Gavriluță & Marian Dalban & Mihail Anton, 2025. "Sustainable Urban Branding: Insights from Rasnov’s Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-20, April.

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