Exploring reality television and social media as mediating factors between destination identity and destination image

Abstract

Abstract Continuing trends towards location‐based reality television programmes and growth in social media usage have contributed to boundaries between various destination image formation sources becoming increasingly blurred. Through analysing comments made on online news reports and social media posts about a reality television programme set in the popular resort of Kavos on the Greek Island of Corfu, the study explores various elements of these programmes to offer original insights into destination image formation in this new media environment, thus furthering understanding that has previously been lacking in the literature about relationships between destination identity, online and social media, and destination images.