User-generated content’s influence on tourist destination image: a generational perspective

Purpose This study aims to examine the moderating role of generational identity in the relationship between user-generated content (UGC) and tourist destination image. It seeks to unveil the differential impact of UGC on the cognitive and affective dimensions of tourist destination image across generational cohorts: Generation Z, Millennials and Generation X. Design/methodology/approach This study has an experimental design. It used online surveys to gather data from 317 participants recruited through social media channels. Participants were presented with both positive and negative UGC, and their responses were measured using cognitive and affective scales. Findings This study reveals that UGC significantly affects both the cognitive and affective dimensions of the destination image. However, the impact on the cognitive aspect is moderated by generational differences, with distinct variations observed across Generation Z, Millennials and Generation X. No significant generational moderation was found for the affective dimension, indicating a universal influence of UGC on emotional perceptions of destinations. Practical implications The findings suggest that marketers should tailor their communication strategies to the generational characteristics of their target audience, especially concerning the cognitive aspects of destination marketing. However, for affective appeals, a uniform strategy could be applied across generations, simplifying the approach for emotional marketing content. Originality/value This research contributes to the extant literature by highlighting the importance of generational segmentation in the strategic marketing of tourism destinations. It extends the discourse to generational analysis, providing a more granular understanding of the interactions between tourists and UGC.