The indelible stains: Exploring destination stereotypes after crisis events

Popular perceptions of a destination could be shaped and changed by a crisis event, even if this event was at an end. However, few studies have explored the content and formation of destination stereotypes in the crisis context. This study aims to fill this gap by conducting qualitative research based on 34 interviews and 133 online posts. The results reveal four categories of destination stereotypes: unsafe, uncivilized, distanced, and victim. They are affected by seven influencing factors covering event characteristics, government management, individual cognition, psychological proximity, popular behaviors and attitudes, group relations, and information transmission. In addition, an integrative model of the formation of destination stereotypes is suggested to explain the interrelationships and synergistic effects among these influencing factors. This study offers comprehensive insights into destination stereotypes in the context of crisis events and provides implications for destination managers to suppress and weaken stereotypes through crisis management.