Using Landscape Drawings to Explore Destination Images

Abstract

This article is an exploratory study employing a drawing-based qualitative research method called landscape image sketching technique (LIST) to explore people’s destination images. This method involves participants sketching symbolic scenes to express their perceptions of specific objects. In contrast to previous drawing-based studies, the LIST employs a four-aspect landscape perceptual model to interpret people’s images and discern their values and interests. Using rural tourism in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, as a case study, we collected image sketches from 166 local college juniors, shedding light on their perceptions of rural destinations. The LIST proved instrumental in understanding the functional characteristics of Guangxi’s rural destinations and uncovering the psychological experiences anticipated by the respondents. The paper discusses the prospects and limitations of applying the LIST in destination image studies.

Keywords: drawing, destination image, rural tourism, landscape image sketching technique