Photography and Destination Image

An Analysis of China Eastern Airline Facebook Photographs

Bibliographic Data

ID12974248
AuthorsTengfei Han (University of Waikato, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume21
Issue2
Pages364-394
Publication date2024-04-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of China Tourism Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1938-8160 • E-ISSN: 1938-8179
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/19388160.2024.2331650
OpenAlexW4394606911
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited53

The main purpose of this study is to explore the projected destination image represented by photographs emerging in social media from a potential DMO member. The official page of China Eastern Airlines on Facebook (@CEAir) was selected as a case study, in which a total of 40 photographs were collected and classified into five groups according to their themes. To identify the destination image of China, five groups of photographs were analyzed by using visual analysis, semiotic analysis, and multimodal discourse analysis. The main findings show that Chinese food, architecture, natural landscape, people, and ethnic minorities are common signs engaging in constructing the destination image of China. These photographs mainly adopted wide shots and brilliant color tones, which convey to overseas tourists that China is a great power with a long history, full of charm, and a contributor to global development. More importantly, not only landscape photography but also still life photography, candid photography, and travel photography are all considered to be modes of representation of the destination image. Different genres of photography employ Chinese culture as a special gaze to shape the destination image

Advertising · Archaeology · Art · Business · China · Destination Image · Destinations · Geography · Photography · Tourism · Visual arts · Culinary Culture and Tourism · Digital Marketing and Social Media · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research

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Open DOIOpen Access