Abstract
Destination attractiveness plays a pivotal role in shaping tourists’ expectations, decision-making, and overall satisfaction, making it a central concept in tourism research and destination management. Since the 1970s, scholarly efforts have evolved from attribute-based measurements emphasizing resources, infrastructure, and services, to consumer-centered perspectives grounded in push-pull theory and means-ends theory. Despite these advances, existing approaches often lack integration and fail to capture the complex, value-driven nature of travel behavior in today’s personalized tourism context. This article systematically reviews peer-reviewed literature on destination attractiveness measurement using qualitative content analysis of studies published between 1970 and 2024. We critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of existing approaches and identify key research gaps. Based on this analysis, we propose an integrated theoretical framework that connects intrinsic motivations (push factors) and destination attributes (pull factors) through the value-assignment processes articulated by means-ends theory. The framework clarifies how specific attributes translate into expected consequences and personal values, offering a more comprehensive understanding of attraction formation. It also provides practical guidance for policymakers and tourism managers to design strategies that align with tourists’ value systems and enhance destination competitiveness. This study contributes to the theoretical advancement of tourism research and lays the groundwork for future empirical studies that test and refine the proposed model.
Keywords: Attractiveness Measurement, Destination Attractiveness, Integrated Theoretical Framework, Means– ends Theory, Push–pull Theory