Linking Images to Information Sources: An Examination of Potential Chinese Tourists’ Multi-sensory Images of the United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

This study examines potential Chinese tourists’ multi-sensory images of the UK and their information sources. Interviews with 25 potential Chinese tourists in China reveal that visual images dominate multi-sensory images, and that autonomous sources, such as news reports and textbooks, are key information agents. The relationship between multi-sensory images and information sources is also examined, showing that organic agents are associated particularly with the tactile sense. This study enriches knowledge of multi-sensory images, and especially of information sources that shape potential tourists’ multi-sensory images. Understanding the content of multi-sensory images of the UK and their information sources may help British tourism marketers to understand existing images and identify potential marketing channels, including information sources, through which to promote the UK in China.

摘要

本文主要研究英国在潜在的中国游客心目中之多感官形象及其信息来源。作者采访了25位潜在的中国游客, 发现:视觉形象处于主导地位, 而新闻报道和教科书是关键的信息来源。基于多感官形象和信息来源之间的关系, 触觉形象与原生来源相关。本文丰富了多感官形象的研究, 尤其是塑造潜在游客多感官形象的信息源之研究。了解英国的多感官形象及其信息源, 有助于英国旅游营销人员了解现有的英国多感官形象, 并确定潜在的营销渠道, 以此在中国推广英国旅游。

KEYWORDS:

• Multi-sensory image
• information source
• united Kingdom
• chinese
• potential tourists

关键词:

• 多感官形象
• 信息来源
• 英国
• 中国人
• 潜在游客

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was funded by Huddersfield Business School, University of Huddersfield, UK;Huddersfield University [NA];

Notes on contributors

Hanqun Song

Hanqun Song is Senior Lecturer in Huddersfield Business School at University of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK. He researches on areas related to tourism and hospitality marketing (E-mail: [email protected]).