Destination distinctiveness: Concept, measurement, and impact on tourist satisfaction

Identifying the distinctive, unique characteristics of a destination is necessary for tourism development and management. After exploring the concept of destination distinctiveness, this article presents a standardized method for identifying unique and distinctive place-based attributes of a tourist destination, by comparing supply and demand views. Using Dalat, a mountain city in Vietnam, as a case study, this research combines qualitative and quantitative data in an identification grid that comprises natural, human, infrastructure and facility factors to reveal the most distinctive attributes of the destination, which differ depending on the segment of tourists and can explain tourists’ satisfaction and behaviors. The combination of the most distinctive attributes with a strong emotional component is important to the destination's positioning strategy.