Shaping Tourist Destinations Through Language and Visual Elements on Tourism Websites: A Tourism Discourse Perspective

  • Authors

    • Muhammad Arfin Muhammad Salim
    • Ahmad Puad Mat Som
    • . .
    2018-12-13
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.34.27387
  • Language of Tourism, Tourism Discourse, Website, Promotion, Destination.
  • Official tourism website has become an essential aspect in shaping tourist destinations. Tourism websites are an essential tool in shaping the norms and values of the destinations which travelers have to visit — however, only very few research which focused on the integration of the language element and visual element in shaping tourist destination images. Thus, this study aims to investigate how effective is the use of language and visual elements in shaping the tourist destination on the tourism websites of Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia. This research employed a discourse approach to analyze both language and visual elements. Data was collected via online documentation and semi-structured interview and analyzed using both textual and visual analysis. The use of lexical and syntactical aspects in the official tourism websites in Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia are the focus of textual analysis. Furthermore, visual elements such as modality and salience are also looked over. The findings reveal that both, textual and visual elements, complement each other as tourism discourse resources, in realizing Indonesia’s tourism destinations as attractions on official tourism websites (OTWs). 

     

  • References

    1. [1] World Travel and Tourism Council Economic Impact Singapore. http://www.wttc.org/research/economic-impact-research/country-reports/s/singapore/.

      [2] Salim, M.A.M. Discourses of tourism in the official tourism website in Southeast Asia. PhD thesis. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (2015).

      [3] Jørgensen, L.G. ‘Uniquely Singapore’: An analysis of a destination’s image and the language of tourism. Thesis. Aarhus School of Business. (2004).

      [4] Adams, K.M. The genesis of touristic imagery politics and poetics in the creation of a remote Indonesian island destination. Tourist Studies. 4(2), (2004): 115–135.

      [5] Morgan N. & Arnette P. Tourism promotion and power creating image: Creating identities. John Wiley and Sons. (1998).

      [6] Salim, M.A.M. Enhancing des tination image on tourism brochure of Barru Regency Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia: A tourism discourse perspective. Turizam (Tourism): Medunarrodni Znanstvenostrucni Casopis. 65(2), (2017): 247-257.

      [7] Salim, M.A.B., Ibrahim, N.A. & Hassan, H. Language for tourism: A review of literature. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences. 62, (2012): 136-143.

      [8] Salim, M.A.M., Ibrahim, N.A. & Hassan, H. Promoting diversity via linguistic and visual resources: An analysis of the Malaysian tourism website. LSP International. 1, (2014): 1–14.

      [9] Salim, M.A.M, Ibrahim, N.A. & Hassan, H. Authenticating the tourist destination on the official tourism website of Indonesia: A multimodal perspective. Astra Salvensis. 6(1), (2018): 333-343.

      [10] Lawa, R., Qi, S. & Buhalis, D. Progress in tourism management: A review of website evaluation in tourism research. Tourism Management. 31, (2010): 297–313.

      [11] Loda, M.D. Comparing websites: An experiment in online tourism marketing. International Journal of Business and Social Science. 2(22), (2011): 70-78.

      [12] Wan, C.S. The websites of international tourist hotels and tour wholesalers in Taiwan. Tourism Management. 23(2), (2002): 155–160.

      [13] Boyne, S., Hall, D. & Williams, F. Policy, support and promotion for food related tourism initiatives: A marketing approach to regional development. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing. 14(3/4), (2003): 131–154.

      [14] du Rand, G. E., Heath, E. & Alberts, N. The role of local and regional food in destination marketing: A South African situation analysis. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 14, no.3/4, (2003): 97–112.

      [15] Horng, J.S. & Tsai, C.T. Government websites for promoting East Asian culinary tourism: A cross-national analysis. Tourism Management. 31, (2010): 74–85.

      [16] Dann, G.M.S. The language of tourism: A sociolinguistic perspective. CAB International. (1996).

      [17] Kress, G. & Van Leeuwen, T. Reading images the grammar of visual design. Routledge. (2006).

      [18] Hallett, R. W. & Weinger, J.K. Official Tourism Websites: A Discourse Analytic Perspective. St. Nicolas House: Channel View Publication. (2010).

      [19] Triandjojo, I. Semiotika iklan mobil di media cetak Indonesia. Master thesis. Universitas Diponegoro Semarang. (2008).

      [20] McIntosh, R.W., Goeldner, C.R. & Ritchie, J.R.B. Tourism principles, practices, philosophies. John Wiley and Sons. (1995).

      [21] Palmer, C. Tourism and the symbols of identity. Tourism Management. 20, (1999): 313-321.

      [22] Dregde, D. & Jenkins, J. Tourism planning and policy. John Wiley and Sons. (2007).

      [23] Reisinger, Y. International tourism: Culture and behavior. Butterworth-Heinemann. (2009).

      [24] Urry, J. The ‘consuming’ of place. In A. Jaworski & A. Pritchard (Eds.), Discourse, Communication and Tourism. Clevedon: Channel View Publication. (2010): pp. 19-27.

      [25] Dann, G.M.S. Remodelling a changing language of tourism: From monologue to dialogue and trialogue. Pasos, Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Culture. 10(4), (2012): 56-70.

      [26] Jo´hannesson, G.T. & Huijbens, E.H. Tourism in times of crisis: Exploring the discourse of tourism development in Iceland. Current Issues in Tourism, 13(5), (2010): 419–434.

      [27] Razusova, M. The language of tourism. (2009). http://www.pulib.sk/web/kniznica/elpub/dokument/ferencik2/subor/27.pdf.

      [28] Midalia, S. Textualising gender. Interpretations. 32(1), (1999): 27-32.

      [29] Pan, S., Henry, T. & Jinson, L. Framing New Zealand: Understanding tourism TV commercials. Tourism Management, 32, (2011): 596-603.

      [30] Hvass, K.A. & Ana, M.M. The takeoff of social media in tourism. Journal of Vacation Marketing. 18, (2012): 93-103.

      [31] Grimm, K.E. & Needham, M.D. Internet promotional material and conservation volunteer tourist motivations: A case study of selecting organizations and projects. Tourism Management Perspectives. 1, (2012): 17–27.

      [32] Cousins, J.A., Evans, J. & Saddler, J. Selling conservation? Scientific legitimacy and the commodification of conservation tourism. Ecology and Society. 14(1), (2009): 1-18.

      [33] Jaworski, A. & Thurlow, C. Language and the globalizing habitus of tourism: A sociolinguistics of fleeting relationships. In N. Coupland (Ed.), The Handbook of Language and Globalization. West Sussex: Balckwell Publishing. (2010): pp. 255-286.

      [34] Najafian, M. Advertising social semiotic representation: A critical approach. International Journal of Industrial Marketing. 1(1), (2011): 63-78.

      [35] MacChannel, D. The tourist: New theory of leisure class. University of California Press. (1976).

      [36] Mocini, R. The verbal discourse of tourist brochure. Annals. 5, (2005): 153-164.

      [37] Urry, J. The tourist Gaze. Sage Publications. (2002).

      [38] Boyer, M. & Viallon, P. La communication touristique. Presses Universitaires de France. (1994).

      [39] Santosa, C.A., Belhassenb, Y. & Catona, K. Reimagining Chinatown: An analysis of tourism discourse. Tourism Management. 29, (2008): 1002–1012.

      [40] Zhang, Y. Book review: Richard W. Hallett and Judith Kaplan-Weinger Websites: A discourse analysis perspective. Discourse and Communication. 5(4), (2011): 434-436.

      [41] Thurlow, C. & Jaworski, A. Tourism discourse language and global mobility. Palgrave Macmilan. (2010).

      [42] Jaworski, A. Linguistic landscapes on postcards: Tourist mediation and the sociolinguistic communities of contact. Sociolinguistics Studies. 4(3), (2010): 569-594.

      [43] Fakharyan, M., Jalilv, M.R., Elyasi, M. & Mohammadi, M. The influence of online word of mouth communications on tourists’ attitudes toward Islamic destinations and travel intention: Evidence from Iran. African Journal of Business Management. 6(33), (2012): 9533-9542.

      [44] Suradnya, I.M. Pengembangan kurikulum pendidikan tinggi kepariwisataan sesuai dengan tuntutan wisatawan. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pengajaran IKIP Negeri Singaraja. 39(4), (2006): 906-926.

      [45] Hassan, H. Social semiotics: Realizing destination image by means of cultural representations. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity. 5(1), (2015): 149-153.

      [46] Molina, A., Gómez, M. & Martín-Consuegra, D. Tourism marketing inormation and destination image management. African Journal of Business Management. 4(5), (2010): 722-728.

      [47] Tasci, A., & Gartner, W. Destination image and its functional relationships. Journal of Travel Research, 45, (2007): 413-425.

      [48] Hassan H., Habil, H. & Nazir, M.Z. Persuasive strategies of tourism discourse. In H. Habil & H. Hassan (Eds.), New Perspectives in Language and Communication Research. Johor: UTM Press. (2010): pp. 1-9.

      [49] Pan, S., Ting, P.H. & Bau, D.Y. Perceptions of Taipei as revealed in travel blogs: A tale from two sides. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research. 19(6), (2014): 700-720.

      [50] Law, R. Internet and tourism – Part XXII: Chinatravel.net. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research. 15(4), (2010). 461-463.

      [51] Kim, D.Y., Hwang, Y.H. & Fesenmaier, D. R. Modeling tourism advertising effectiveness. Journal of Travel Research. 44, (2005): 42-49.

      [52] Kasli, M. & Avcikurt, C. An investigation to evaluate the websites of tourism departments of universities in Turkey. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education. 7(2), (2008): 77-93.

      [53] Lepp, A., Gibson, H. & Lane, C. Image and perceived risk: A study of Uganda and its official tourism website. Tourism Management. 32, (2011): 675-684.

      [54] Buhalis, D. & Law, R. Progress in information technology and tourism management: 20 years on and 10 years after the internet: The state of e-tourism research. Tourism Management. 29(4), (2008): 609–623.

      [55] Fürsich, E. & Robins M.B. Visiting Africa: Constructions of nation and identity on travel websites. Journal of Asian and African Studies. 39(1–2), (2004): 133–152.

      [56] Muylle, S., Moenaert, R. & Despontin, M. The conceptualization and empirical validation of website user satisfaction. Information and Management. 41, (2004): 543–560.

      [57] Barnes, S.J. & Vidgen, R. Interactive e-government: Evaluating the website of the UK inland revenue. International Journal of Electronic Government Research. 3(1), (2007): 19–38.

      [58] Berger, P.L. & Luckmann, T. The social construction of reality: A treatise in the sociology of knowledge. Penguin Books. (1966).

      [59] Tuchman, G. Media institutions qualitative methods in the study of news. In K. B. Jensen & N. W. Jankowski (Eds.), A Handbook of Qualitative Methodologies for Mass Communication Research. London: Routledge. (2002): pp. 93-106.

      [60] Snepenger, D., Snepenger, M., Dalbey, M. & Wessol, A. Meanings and consumption characteristics of places at a tourism destination. Journal of Travel Research. 45, (2007): 310-321.

      [61] Saraniemi, S. & Kylänen, M. Problematizing the concept of tourism destination: An analysis of different theoretical approaches. Journal of Travel Research. 50(2), (2011): 133–143.

      [62] Feighery, W. Reading tourism texts in context: A critical discourse analysis. Tourism Analysis. 11, (2006): 1-11.

      [63] Choi, S., Xinvan, Y.L. & Alastair, M.M. Destination image representation on the web: Content analysis of Macau travel related websites. Tourism Management. 28, (2007): 118-129.

      [64] Gotti, M. The language of tourism as specialized discourse. In O. Palusci & S. Francesconi (Eds.), Translating Tourism: Linguistic/Cultural Representations. Trento: Editrice Università Degli Studi di Trento. (2006): pp. 15-34.

      [65] Nigro, M.G.. Il linguaggio specialistico del turismo: Aspetti storici, teorici e traduttivi. Aracne Editrice. (2006).

      [66] Francesconi, S. English for tourism promotion: Italy in British tourism texts. Hoepli. (2007).

      [67] Hodge, R. & Kress, G. Social semiotics. Cornell University Press. (1988).

      [68] Stamou, A.G. & Paraskevopoulos, S. Images of nature by tourism and environmentalist discourses in visitors books: A critical discourse analysis of ecotourism. Discourse and Society. 15(1), (2004): 105–129.

      [69] Hassan, H. Multimodal communication of corporate website design. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Press. (2012).

      [70] Huisman, S. & Moore, K. Natural language and that of tourism. Annals of Tourism Research. 26(2), (1999): 445-449.

      [71] Cohen, E. The study of touristic images of native people: Mitigating the stereotype of a stereotype. in D.G. Pearce & R.W. Butler (Eds.), Tourisni Reseurcli: Critiques and cliallenges. London: Routledge. (1993). pp. 36-69.

      [72] Zhang, Y. Book review: Richard W. Hallett and Judith Kaplan-Weinger, Websites: A discourse analysis perspective. Discourse and Communication. 5(4), (2011): 434-436

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Arfin Muhammad Salim, M., Puad Mat Som, A., & ., . (2018). Shaping Tourist Destinations Through Language and Visual Elements on Tourism Websites: A Tourism Discourse Perspective. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(4.34), 467-472. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.34.27387