Effect of popular culture on tourism firms' market value: A destination brand equity perspective

Popular culture provides numerous benefits to destinations, enhancing their image, reputation, and sales. While previous research on its impact on tourism has predominantly focused on individuals’ perception and behavior toward a destination, little attention has focused on its potential spillover effect on the tourism and hospitality firms. This spillover can create destination brand-related intangible assets that positively influence firm value. Based on the customer-based brand equity theoretical framework, this study reveals that popular culture significantly affects the firm value of the tourism and hospitality industries, with notable effects observed two days after the event. Individual companies operating under the umbrella brand of a destination gain advantages from the improved brand knowledge associated with that overarching brand. The findings also highlight that the unique characteristics and nuances of popular cultural content, such as its genre, popularity scope, and celebrity effect, play a crucial role in shaping the magnitude of its impact.