In the context of tourism, the need for destinations to create unique identities which
differentiate their brands from the competition is emphasised by Morgan and Pritchard
(1999). Similarly, Dinnie (2008) concludes that there is considerable scope for
more imaginative input into the development of nation brand identity, suggesting as
an example, the possibility of including ideological associations such as sustainability.
Pike (2009) highlights the political difficulties in doing this and calls for
in-depth case studies of the politics of destination brand decision-making. The key
issue here is the impact of internal conflicts between local authority departments and
external conflicts between stakeholder organisations and groups. Such conflicts are
seen as having the potential to inhibit the development of a common brand identity.
The problem of political conflict is reflected also in work by Hankinson (2001,
2004b) who criticises the practice of developing separate brands for individual areas
of activity within the same place rather than the development of unified place brands.
Kavaratzis and Hatch (2013) similarly argue for a better understanding of the
relationship between place identity and place brands and the balance of stakeholder
involvement in the development of brand identity and its management.