Abstract
Research on destination brand engagement (DBE) within the tourism context has mainly focused on its outcomes rather than its antecedents. This study diverges from previous investigations to examine the impact of destination-focused drivers and a tourist-centric perspective on DBE. Specifically, the study explores how destination brand experience and destination brand authenticity (DBA) influence DBE. Results obtained from a sample of 530 tourists and tested using structural equation modeling techniques reveal that destination brand experience and DBA positively and significantly influence DBE. Finally, theoretical and significant managerial implications are discussed.
Keywords
destination brand experiencedestination brand authenticitydestination brand engagement
References
- Ahakwa, I. (2024). Enhancing teachers’ commitment: Autonomy and learning in Ghana’s basic schools. Teaching and Teacher Education, 143, 104556.Google Scholar ↗
- Ahearne, M., Bhattacharya, C. B., & Gruen, T. (2005). Antecedents and consequences of customer-company identification: expanding the role of relationship marketing. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(3), 574.Google Scholar ↗
- Amani, D. (2022). It’s mine, that’s why I speak: Destination brand psychological ownership as a mediator of the link between social media brand engagement and local residents’ voice behavior. Cogent Business & Management, 9(1), 2031432.Google Scholar ↗
- Amer, S. M., Elshimy, A. A., & Abo El Ezz, M. E. S. M. (2023). The role of brand experience on brand equity: Mediating effect of authenticity in new luxury fashion brands. Cogent Business and Management, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2285026DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Andreini, D., Pedeliento, G., Zarantonello, L., & Solerio, C. (2019). Reprint of” A renaissance of brand experience: Advancing the concept through a multi-perspective analysis”. Journal of Business Research, 96, 355–365.Google Scholar ↗
- Arya, V., Verma, H., Sethi, D., & Agarwal, R. (2019). Brand authenticity and brand attachment: How online communities built on social networking vehicles moderate the consumers’ brand attachment. IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, 8(2), 87–103.Google Scholar ↗
- Assiouras, I., Liapati, G., Kouletsis, G., & Koniordos, M. (2015). The impact of brand authenticity on brand attachment in the food industry. British Food Journal, 117(2), 538–552.Google Scholar ↗
- Barger, V., Peltier, J. W., & Schultz, D. E. (2016). Social media and consumer engagement: a review and research agenda. Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, 10(4), 268–287.Google Scholar ↗
- Barnes, S. J., Mattsson, J., & Sørensen, F. (2014). Destination brand experience and visitor behavior: Testing a scale in the tourism context. Annals of Tourism Research, 48, 121–139.Google Scholar ↗
- Bock, T. (2020). What are Variance Inflation Factors (VIFs)? https://www.displayr.com/variance-inflation-factors-vifs/Google Scholar ↗
- Brakus, J. J., Schmitt, B. H., & Zarantonello, L. (2009). Brand experience: what is it? How is it measured? Does it affect loyalty? Journal of Marketing, 73(3), 52–68.Google Scholar ↗
- Brodie, R. J., Ilic, A., Juric, B., & Hollebeek, L. (2013). Consumer engagement in a virtual brand community: An exploratory analysis. Journal of Business Research, 66(1), 105–114.Google Scholar ↗
- Bruhn, M., Schoenmüller, V., Schäfer, D., & Heinrich, D. (2012). Brand authenticity: Towards a deeper understanding of its conceptualization and measurement. Advances in Consumer Research, 40.Google Scholar ↗
- Bryce, D., Curran, R., O’Gorman, K., & Taheri, B. (2015). Visitors’ engagement and authenticity: Japanese heritage consumption. Tourism Management, 46, 571–581.Google Scholar ↗
- Cambra-Fierro, J., Melero-Polo, I., & Javier Sese, F. (2016). Can complaint-handling efforts promote customer engagement? Service Business, 10, 847–866.Google Scholar ↗
- Carroll, R., Cadet, F. T., & Kachersky, L. (2022). Authenticity attracts authenticity: The impact of brand authenticity and self-authenticity on brand loyalty. Journal of Brand Strategy, 10(4), 377–388.Google Scholar ↗
- Carvalho, A., & Fernandes, T. (2018). Understanding customer brand engagement with virtual social communities: A comprehensive model of drivers, outcomes and moderators. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 26(1–2), 23–37.Google Scholar ↗
- Chen, H., Xu, Y., Agba Tackie, E., & Ahakwa, I. (2024). Assessing the Impact of Asset-Based Community Development Approach on Rural Poverty Alleviation in Ghana: The Moderating Role of Government Policies. SAGE Open, 14(1), 21582440231226020.Google Scholar ↗
- Chen, R., Zhou, Z., Zhan, G., & Zhou, N. (2020). The impact of destination brand authenticity and destination brand self-congruence on tourist loyalty: The mediating role of destination brand engagement. Journal of Destination Marketing and Management, 15(3688), 100402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2019.100402DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Cheung, G. W., Cooper-Thomas, H. D., Lau, R. S., & Wang, L. C. (2023). Reporting reliability, convergent and discriminant validity with structural equation modeling: A review and best-practice recommendations. In Asia Pacific Journal of Management. Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-023-09871-yDOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Chin, W. W., Peterson, R. A., & Brown, S. P. (2008). Structural equation modeling in marketing: Some practical reminders. In Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice (Vol. 16, Issue 4, pp. 287–298). Routledge . https://doi.org/10.2753/MTP1069-6679160402DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Cinelli, M. D., & LeBoeuf, R. A. (2019). Keeping it real: How perceived brand authenticity affects product perceptions. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 30(1), 40–59.Google Scholar ↗
- Cohen, S. (1988). Perceived stress in a probability sample of the United States. - PsycNET. Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 31–67. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1988-98838-002Google Scholar ↗
- Eggers, F., O’Dwyer, M., Kraus, S., Vallaster, C., & Güldenberg, S. (2013). The impact of brand authenticity on brand trust and SME growth: A CEO perspective. Journal of World Business, 48(3), 340–348.Google Scholar ↗
- Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- France, C., Merrilees, B., & Miller, D. (2016). An integrated model of customer-brand engagement: Drivers and consequences. Journal of Brand Management, 23, 119–136.Google Scholar ↗
- Fritz, K., Schoenmueller, V., & Bruhn, M. (2017). Authenticity in branding–exploring antecedents and consequences of brand authenticity. European Journal of Marketing, 51(2), 324–348.Google Scholar ↗
- Guèvremont, A., & Grohmann, B. (2018). Does brand authenticity alleviate the effect of brand scandals? Journal of Brand Management, 25, 322–336.Google Scholar ↗
- Hafez, M. (2021). The impact of social media marketing activities on brand equity in the banking sector in Bangladesh: the mediating role of brand love and brand trust. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 39(7), 1353–1376.Google Scholar ↗
- Hair, J. F., Howard, M. C., & Nitzl, C. (2020). Assessing measurement model quality in PLS-SEM using confirmatory composite analysis. Journal of Business Research, 109, 101–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JBUSRES.2019.11.069DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Hair Jr, J., Hult, G. T., Ringle, C., & Sarstedt, M. (2016). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage, 374.Google Scholar ↗
- Heitmann, S. (2013). Authenticity in tourism. Research Themes for Tourism, 45–58.Google Scholar ↗
- Jiménez-Barreto, J., Rubio, N., & Campo, S. (2020). Destination brand authenticity: What an experiential simulacrum! A multigroup analysis of its antecedents and outcomes through official online platforms. Tourism Management, 77, 104022.Google Scholar ↗
- Jiménez-Barreto, J., Rubio, N., Campo, S., & Molinillo, S. (2020). Linking the online destination brand experience and brand credibility with tourists’ behavioral intentions toward a destination. Tourism Management, 79, 104101.Google Scholar ↗
- Khan, I., & Fatma, M. (2021). Online destination brand experience and authenticity: Does individualism-collectivism orientation matter? Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 20, 100597.Google Scholar ↗
- Kim, J. H. (2019). Multicollinearity and misleading statistical results. Korean Journal of Anesthesiology, 72(6), 558–569. https://doi.org/10.4097/kja.19087DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Kock, N. (2017). Common method bias: a full collinearity assessment method for PLS-SEM. Partial Least Squares Path Modeling: Basic Concepts, Methodological Issues and Applications, 245–257.Google Scholar ↗
- Koh, I. (2020). Empirical Study on Brand Authenticity Building Utilizing Product Quality. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship, 15(5), 235–243.Google Scholar ↗
- Korankye, B., Page, |, Ahakwa, I., Anaman, E. A., & Samuel, D. (2021). The influence of Personality Traits on Organizational Commitment: Evidence from GCB Bank in Ghana. Quest Journals Journal of Research in Business and Management, 9(1), 2347–3002. www.questjournals.orgGoogle Scholar ↗
- Kumar, V., Aksoy, L., Donkers, B., Venkatesan, R., Wiesel, T., & Tillmanns, S. (2010). Undervalued or overvalued customers: Capturing total customer engagement value. Journal of Service Research, 13(3), 297–310.Google Scholar ↗
- Kumar, V., & Kaushal, V. (2021). Perceived brand authenticity and social exclusion as drivers of psychological brand ownership. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 61, 102579.Google Scholar ↗
- Kumar, V., & Kaushik, A. K. (2017). Destination brand experience and visitor behavior: the mediating role of destination brand identification. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 35(5), 649–663. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2017.1401032DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Kumar, V., & Kaushik, A. K. (2020). Does experience affect engagement? Role of destination brand engagement in developing brand advocacy and revisit intentions. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 37(3), 332–346. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2020.1757562DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Kumar, V., & Kaushik, A. K. (2022). Engaging customers through brand authenticity perceptions: The moderating role of self-congruence. Journal of Business Research, 138(July 2020), 26–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.08.065DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Kumar, V., Rajan, B., Gupta, S., & Pozza, I. D. (2019). Customer engagement in service. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 47(1), 138–160. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11747-017-0565-2/METRICSDOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Kyriazos, T., & Poga, M. (2023). Dealing with multicollinearity in factor analysis: the problem, detections, and solutions. Open Journal of Statistics, 13(3), 404–424.Google Scholar ↗
- Lee, J., & Chung, L. (2020). Effects of perceived brand authenticity in health functional food consumers. British Food Journal, 122(2), 617–634.Google Scholar ↗
- Lim, W. M., Rasul, T., Kumar, S., & Ala, M. (2022). Past, present, and future of customer engagement. Journal of Business Research, 140(May 2021), 439–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.11.014DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Loebnitz, N., & Grunert, K. G. (2022). Let us be realistic: The impact of perceived brand authenticity and advertising image on consumers’ purchase intentions of food brands. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 46(1), 309–323.Google Scholar ↗
- Manthiou, A., Kang, J., Hyun, S. S., & Fu, X. X. (2018). The impact of brand authenticity on building brand love: An investigation of impression in memory and lifestyle-congruence. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 75, 38–47.Google Scholar ↗
- Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2008). Early Predictors of Job Burnout and Engagement. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(3), 498–512. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.93.3.498DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Morhart, F., Malär, L., Guèvremont, A., Girardin, F., & Grohmann, B. (2015). Brand authenticity: An integrative framework and measurement scale. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 25(2), 200–218.Google Scholar ↗
- Moro, S., & Rita, P. (2018). Brand strategies in social media in hospitality and tourism. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 30(1), 343–364.Google Scholar ↗
- Murshed, F., Dwivedi, A., & Nayeem, T. (2023). Brand authenticity building effect of brand experience and downstream effects. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 32(7), 1032–1045.Google Scholar ↗
- Odai, L. A., Yang, J., Ahakwa, I., Mohammed, S. I., & Dartey, S. (2021). Determining the Impact of Supervisory Support on Employee Engagement in the Telecommunication Sector of Ghana: The Role of Supportive Organizational Culture. SEISENSE Business Review, 1(2), 15–31. https://doi.org/10.33215/sbr.v1i2.588DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Ofori, E. K., Aram, S. A., Saalidong, B. M., Gyimah, J., Niyonzima, P., Mintah, C., & Ahakwa, I. (2023). Exploring new antecedent metrics for safety performance in Ghana’s oil and gas industry using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Resources Policy, 81(February), 103368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.103368DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Oh, H., Prado, P. H. M., Korelo, J. C., & Frizzo, F. (2019). The effect of brand authenticity on consumer–brand relationships. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 28(2), 231–241.Google Scholar ↗
- Okharedia, A. A. (2017). Promoting tourism in developing economies: Challenges and prospects. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 6(1), 1–11.Google Scholar ↗
- Osorio, M. L., Centeno, E., & Cambra-Fierro, J. (2023). An empirical examination of human brand authenticity as a driver of brand love. Journal of Business Research, 165, 114059.Google Scholar ↗
- Park, J., Hong, E., & Park, Y. (2023). Toward a new business model of retail industry: The role of brand experience and brand authenticity. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 74, 103426.Google Scholar ↗
- Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2012). Sources of method bias in social science research and recommendations on how to control it. Annual Review of Psychology, 63, 539–569. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-120710-100452DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Portal, S., Abratt, R., & Bendixen, M. (2019). The role of brand authenticity in developing brand trust. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 27(8), 714–729.Google Scholar ↗
- Rather, R. A., Hollebeek, L. D., & Islam, J. U. (2019). Tourism-based customer engagement: The construct, antecedents, and consequences. The Service Industries Journal, 39(7–8), 519–540.Google Scholar ↗
- Raza, M., Huda Abd Rani, S., & Md Isa, N. (2021). Does Brand Authenticity Bridges the Effect of Experience, Value, and Engagement on Brand Love: a Case of Fragrance Industry of Pakistan. PalArch’s Journal of Archaelogy of Egypt / Egyptology, 18(4), 6456–6474.Google Scholar ↗
- Rodrigues, C., Brandão, A., Billore, S., & Oda, T. (2023). The mediating role of perceived brand authenticity between brand experience and brand love: a cross-cultural perspective. Journal of Brand Management, 0123456789. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41262-023-00342-9DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Rodrigues, P., Pinto Borges, A., & Sousa, A. (2022). Authenticity as an antecedent of brand image in a positive emotional consumer relationship: the case of craft beer brands. EuroMed Journal of Business, 17(4), 634–651.Google Scholar ↗
- Rosado-Pinto, F., Loureiro, S. M. C., & Bilro, R. G. (2020). How Brand Authenticity and Consumer Brand Engagement Can Be Expressed in Reviews: A Text Mining Approach. Journal of Promotion Management, 26(4), 457–480. https://doi.org/10.1080/10496491.2020.1719955DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Rose, R. L., & Wood, S. L. (2005). Paradox and the consumption of authenticity through reality television. Journal of Consumer Research, 32(2), 284–296.Google Scholar ↗
- Safeer, A. A., He, Y., & Abrar, M. (2020). The influence of brand experience on brand authenticity and brand love: an empirical study from Asian consumers’ perspective. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 33(5), 1123–1138. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJML-02-2020-0123DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Saleem, M. A., Li, J., & Afzal, H. (2021). Protect for affinity? The role of destination brand engagement in forming environmentally responsible tourist behaviours. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(8), 1344–1364.Google Scholar ↗
- Singh, R., & Mehraj, N. (2018). Destination brand experience and its relationship with tourists satisfaction and intention to recommend: A conceptual model. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 7(1), 1–13.Google Scholar ↗
- So, K. K. F., King, C., & Sparks, B. (2014). Customer engagement with tourism brands: Scale development and validation. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 38(3), 304–329.Google Scholar ↗
- So, K. K. F., King, C., Sparks, B. A., & Wang, Y. (2016). The role of customer engagement in building consumer loyalty to tourism brands. Journal of Travel Research, 55(1), 64–78.Google Scholar ↗
- Södergren, J. (2021). Brand authenticity: 25 Years of research. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 45(4), 645–663.Google Scholar ↗
- Solem, B. A. A., & Pedersen, P. E. (2016). The effects of regulatory fit on customer brand engagement: an experimental study of service brand activities in social media. Journal of Marketing Management, 32(5–6), 445–468.Google Scholar ↗
- Srivastava, A., Dey, D. K., & MS, B. (2020). Drivers of brand credibility in consumer evaluation of global brands and domestic brands in an emerging market context. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 29(7), 849–861.Google Scholar ↗
- Tarigan, M. I., Lubis, A. N., Rini, E. S., & F. Sembiring, B. K. (2021). Destination Brand Experience and Authenticity. Ebic 2019, 632–636. https://doi.org/10.5220/0009328906320636DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Tran, V. D., & Nguyen, N. T. T. (2022). Investigating the relationship between brand experience, brand authenticity, brand equity, and customer satisfaction: Evidence from Vietnam. Cogent Business and Management, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2022.2084968DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- van Doorn, J., Lemon, K. N., Mittal, V., Nass, S., Pick, D., Pirner, P., & Verhoef, P. C. (2010). Customer engagement behavior: Theoretical foundations and research directions. Journal of Service Research, 13(3), 253–266. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094670510375599DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Wetzels, M., Odekerken-Schröder, G., & Van Oppen, C. (2009). Using PLS path modeling for assessing hierarchical construct models: Guidelines and empirical illustration. MIS Quarterly: Management Information Systems, 33(1), 177–196. https://doi.org/10.2307/20650284DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
- Xu, F., Bai, Y., & Li, S. (2020). Examining the antecedents of brand engagement of tourists based on the theory of value co-creation. Sustainability, 12(5), 1958.Google Scholar ↗
- Yasin, M., & Shamim, A. (2013). Brand love: Mediating role in purchase intentions and word-of-mouth. Journal of Business and Management, 7(2), 101–109.Google Scholar ↗
- Yi, X., Lin, V. S., Jin, W., & Luo, Q. (2017). The authenticity of heritage sites, tourists’ quest for existential authenticity, and destination loyalty. Journal of Travel Research, 56(8), 1032–1048.Google Scholar ↗
- Yildiz, E., & Ülker-Demirel, E. (2017). Measuring the effects of brand authenticity dimensions on word-of-mouth marketing via brand image using structural equation modeling. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 8(3), 121–130.Google Scholar ↗
- Zarantonello, L., & Schmitt, B. H. (2010). Using the brand experience scale to profile consumers and predict consumer behaviour. Journal of Brand Management, 17, 532–540.Google Scholar ↗