Core Tourism Resources and Destination Image for International Tourism

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of core destination resources, namely natural resources, heritage resources and created resources on destination image, and the moderating effects of customer value and destination satisfaction. International tourists to Qatar provided the data for the study. The results show that natural resources and heritage resources are significantly related to destination image, but created sources is not. Customer value positively and negatively moderates the association of natural resources and heritage resources respectively with destination image. Destination satisfaction positively moderates the relationship between heritage resources and destination image. Focus on inimitable endowed resources rather than imitable created resources seems to be a viable strategy for promoting tourism destinations to international tourists. Managerial and theoretical implications of the study are discussed.