The significance of the internet in tourism marketing has been well documented by some previous studies [1] [2] [3]. While, web site features and web site promotion techniques, and programs of customer relationship management are factors that influence the effectiveness of web marketing strategies [4],including consumer-controlled and advertiser-controlled aspects [5].

Meanwhile, Web 2.0, called social media or user-generated content media, is another instrument of tourism marketing. The scholar works show that social media is also crucial in destination marketing, as it influences destination selection [6] [7] [8] [9]. Mainly, Instagram is a social media platform used by tourism agencies to create the projected image of destination by producing and sharing pictures [10] [11].

The destination promotion is primarily aimed at projecting images of the destination to potential tourists, so it becomes desirable to them [12]. Image is tourist’s idea, conception [13],and impression [12] [14] that comprise three interrelated components (cognitive, affective and conative) [15].

The image becomes an issue progressively highlighted by a researcher in tourism marketing studies. Some works demonstrate that image is vital in tourism marketing, as it affects tourist’s destination selection [15],tourist satisfaction and destination loyalty [16],the length of stay in the destination [17]. Whereas, some other studies contributed empirical shreds of evidence demonstrating that the user’s online media influence on their image formation [18] [19] [20] [21]. Likewise, other studies presented online media content created an image of destination [10] [11] [22] [23].

Whereas, “halal” tourism is a concept to refers to any product of tourism commercially created to provide hospitality services by Islamic beliefs and practices [24]. In recent years, government of several Islamic countries, including non-Islamic countries, for instance, Singapore, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia) have been developing halal destinations. It is a rational choice by considering that halal tourism is a broad market niche. As the statistic shows in 2018, 140 millions of Muslim tourists participated in tourism activities, and in 2026, the number of Muslim travellers will reach 230 million [25].

Some geographical parts of Indonesia are widely known as halal destinations among global Muslim travellers. The survey placed Indonesia as the second-best Muslim-friendly destination among some other destinations of Muslim majority countries incorporated into OIC [25]. OIC (organization of Islamic cooperation) is an international organization consisting of 57 member states being Muslim majority countries.

Besides, mainly West Sumatera is awarded as World’s best halal destination and World’s best halal culinary. In contrast, Aceh is awarded as World’s best halal cultural destination through World Halal Tourism Awards 2016 [26].

The photograph is essential in tourism marketing since it creates and communicated image [27] and promotes human value [28]. Indeed, some previous studies revealed projected images of some destinations were successfully created by photographs [11] [23] [27] [29] [30]. However, there is still minimal study examining photographs to deal with the issue of image formation within the context of halal destination promotion.

Even though, as demonstrated by previous studies, image is an essential issue in marketing tourism, since it influences on tourist’s destination selection. Indeed, Akyol & Kilinc [31] and Suradin [32] examined marketing web content to identify how halal destination is promoted. However, both studies highlighted various Islamic attributes emphasized in the selected marketing web content. Therefore, various image dimension conceptualized by scholars is still unexamined within the context of halal tourism marketing.

Government/public agencies is one element in destination marketing (branding) [33]. Additionally, the government in several countries adopt web marketing into their tourism marketing strategy [1]. This article study tried to fill this lacuna, particularly by examining how halal tourism image is projected visually by the public tourism agency through producing online photographs as their promotional materials posted on their official Instagram account. Focusing on two famous halal destinations of Indonesia (West Sumatera and Aceh), the study applied image theory developed by Fakeye & Crompton [12] to understand how each of their public agencies creates the image of both destinations.

The West Sumatera and Aceh are the provincial region of Indonesia located geographically in the Sumatera Island. Mainly, The West Sumatera is located in the centre part of Sumatera island, whereas Aceh occupies the western end of the island. Recently, both local authorities of the province have been developing their destination by the concept of halal tourism. The geographical position of those provincial regions is presented in Figure 1.

Battour & Ismail define halal as permissible practices allowed by the Islamic teachings [64]. While, in the dictionary of Leisure, Travel, and Tourism, the term of tourism is defined as the business of providing travel, accommodation, food, entertainment for tourists [65]. Accordingly, the concept of halal tourism may be viewed merely as a business that supplies various kinds of services or products, such as food, accommodation, travel, which are allowed by Islamic teachings. It is in line with what Ahmed & Akbaba said that halal tourism refers to the product of tourism created to provide hospitality services following Islamic beliefs and practices [24].

Halal tourism grows as a promising niche market, as statistic showed in 2018, 140 millions of Muslim tourists participated in tourism activities. It is forecasted that in 2026, the number of Muslim travellers will reach 230 million [25]. Seven factors were identified to encourage the growth of the global market of the halal tourism market, such as growing Muslim population, growing middle class, younger population, increasing access to travel information, increasing availability of Muslim-friendly travel services and facilities, Ramadhan travel, business travel [25].

In general, Indonesia destinations are globally-known as Muslim friendly destinations among Muslim travellers. In 2019, the Indonesia destinations ranked 2nd under those of Malaysia as the best Muslim destinations [25]. Besides, Indonesia won 12 categories of the 2016 halal tourism award held in Abudhabi. Mainly, the West Sumatra won two categories: the world’s best halal destination and World’s best halal culinary, while Aceh won the category of the World’s best halal cultural destination [26].

Recently, each local authority takes part in promoting its halal destination through web marketing. Hundreds of photographs are produced and posted on that official web. Besides, the photos are reposted on their official accounts of several social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Instagram). Their website address and official Instagram account are presented in Table 2.

The photograph is a crucial promotional material for creating and communicating destination image [27] attracting tourist and stimulating a behavioural intention [66],and improving destination image [11]. Several previous studies presented photograph in the touristic media represented the image of destination [22] [23] [29] [30] [67].

At the same time, public agency or government is an element of tourism marketing [33]. Several public agencies of tourism marketing have integrated web marketing into their branding strategy by which the county-name-com domain is used to reach the global audience [1].

The article highlighted how the image of two halal destinations in Indonesia is created by their local authorities (West Sumatera and Aceh) through which photographs were produced and posted in their official Instagram accounts. The photograph as the study data were taken manually from their official account by using a feature of the screenshot. A feature is available commonly in various electronic devices (laptop, computer desktop, smartphone, tablet). The process of taking photos on the two official websites is carried out in approximately two months, from 05 August to 30 September 2019. Therefore, any photo posted on those websites after the expiration time of data retrieval was not covered by the study.

All photos are analyzed to ascertain whether they are relevant to the issue addressed by the study. Then, each photo was registered by giving them a number and listed into a table. The amount of the selected photos derived from two official websites were presented in Table 2. Then, a visual content analysis was applied to analyze the selected photographs. Content analysis may be briefly defined as the systematic, objective, quantitative analysis of message characteristics [68]. The message as object analysis may be visual, verbal graphic, oral—indeed, any kind of meaningful visual/verbal information [69].

Notably, in the photo analysis, a classification scheme is formulated to measure the photographs [29]. He added the measurements might include the frequency with which particular subjects occur, the dominant colours and compositions, the distribution of particular poses or landscapes, and clusters of particular photographic techniques. In this case of study, the appearance of a particular subject in the photograph was measured and compared.

The six dimensions of image developed by Fakeye & Crompton (social opportunities and attraction, natural and cultural amenities, accommodation and transportation, infrastructure, food and friendly people, physical amenities and recreation activities, and nightlife and entertain) were applied to analyze how those photos create the destination image [12]. In the study, all selected photographs were coded to calculate and compare the appearance of a certain subject or attribute in the photo. Atlas.Ti, a software application for qualitative data analysis, is used for coding each photo. For a description of image dimensions and coding guidance, see Table 3.

Table 4 presents the frequency of occurrence for each dimension of the image in the photograph derived from official websites of both public agencies. Generally,

they emphasized more dimension of natural and cultural amenities (NCA) than that of social opportunity and attraction as well as other dimensions, as the total amount of appearance of some categories included into NCA are higher than those of other dimensions. Vice versa, similarly, both agencies less emphasized the dimension of accommodation and transportation (AT). Firstly, It is indicated by a few categories of AT promoted through their photograph production (Particularly Aceh only appeared two categories: boat and seaport); secondly, low rate of occurrence of those categories.

However, the differences in image categories of each dimension were highlighted by those agencies. First, for the dimension of Social opportunities and attraction, West Sumatera agency portrayed sports events prominently, such as race bikes, crossed motorbikes, horse racing. Additionally, a special event is emphasized by portraying several kinds of the festival (music concerts, photo contests). However, the last image categories were not promoted remarkably. Also, the Aceh tourism agency is more likely to picture various kinds of festivals (cooking competition, cultural festival). It was indicated by the highest amount of occurrence numbers reached by that image category. Also, sports events were pictured in Aceh; however, its occurrence number is less significant. Notably, the category of a concert is not pictured in Aceh.

Second, for the dimension of natural and cultural amenities, various categories were promoted by those official accounts, such as beach, forest, waterfall, mountain, lake, canyon, valley. Mainly West Sumatera agency more likely to picture green scenery and cultural performance since those categories occurred dominantly in its photos. Through the category of green scenery, the natural beauty of West Sumatera nature is portrayed, as if offered to users for consumption. In contrast, the category of cultural performance depicted local people wearing their traditional dress and performing local arts or dance.

Mosque building and cultural heritage are two other categories highlighted in the official account of West Sumatera agency, as Aceh webs did, mainly mosque buildings. However, especially for natural amenities, Aceh emphasized the beach. It is different from West Sumatera, which stresses more green scenery, as presented earlier.

Third, accommodation and transportation (AT) were likely not accented by those official webs, since only a few categories were pictured with the less significance of occurrence number. In the West Sumatera agency, four categories of AT were portrayed. Two of them (boat and airport) appeared (2 times), while the rest only one time (train and ship). Even in the official account of Aceh tourism, as presented earlier, only two categories were pictured (boat and seaport). Also, they appeared less significantly in the data.

Fourth, the official web of West Sumatera and Aceh emphasized similarly local food in their visual promotional materials, as one category in IFP appeared prominently in the data. Friendly people, good highways, and café are other categories promoted by the official web of west Sumatera, while the Aceh account promoted friendly people, food market, and shopping centre. Finally, several recreation activities were depicted by both official accounts, such as ride a hinging bike, hang out, surfing, however not emphasized remarkably, as their frequency of appearance was low. Meanwhile, several religious activities were portrayed, such as pilgrimage, praying at the mosque, reciting the Qur’an, and so on. Finally, some image categories depicted prominently by the two official Instagram account are presented in Figure 2 and Figure 3.

Ingold defines culture as a human capacity manifested in various forms, for instance, the artefact (material culture), ritual, belief, art, dance, and music [70]. At the same time, culture is closely related to advertising or marketing, as some various studies demonstrate that advertisings promote various cultural values [71] [72] [73]. Particularly in the tourism marketing context, a study of Mok & Defranco presents the cultural value of Chinese tourists influence on their tourism practices covering the process of travel decision making and their touristic behaviour while visiting or consuming the destination [74].

Besides, human value is embedded in the concept of the brand [75]. Empirically, work of Saji, Vij, & Kabiraj demonstrates that the tourist’ human value affect their destination purchasing [76]. The study’s findings certainly have implications for tourism marketing, as presented by the study of Taufiqqurrachman that photographs as promotional materials of Bali destination derived from several official Instagram account of tourism marketing agency promote human values [28]. Accordingly, several depictions of objects (destination, people (host

and tourist), tourism amenities/services) found in the study may represent both cultural and human value. Future research is recommended to deal with the issue in the particular context of halal tourism marketing.

Nevertheless, these study findings can be seen in the perspective of halal tourism. As conceptualized by Ahmed & Akbaba, halal tourism is produced to provide Muslim tourist needs while visiting a specific destination [24]. Also, Battour, Battor, & Bhatti confirmed that the availability of mosques is one attribute of halal tourism [77]. From this perspective, the depiction of mosque buildings in several photos is a way to fulfill the halal tourism attributes.

In the study, the religious event is a category included in the dimension of SOA since it is viewed as a social opportunity provided for tourists. By depicting these events, tourists are invited to participate and feel a different experience when interacting with other tourists in the event. In contrast, religious activities are included in the dimension of physical amenities and recreation activities. Somehow, the photo is one of the promotional materials; therefore, various religious activities pictured in specific photos may be viewed as an attraction in the form of physical activities provided for tourists to enjoy their pleasure.

Finally, in the study, the mosque building is a category included in the dimension of NCA. On the one hand, within the context of touristic image formation, the depiction of mosque building could be coded as a historical site. It is following Gearing et al. explain that this historic image site is characterized by the depiction of some elements, such as ancient ruins, religious significance, and historical prominence [50]. Indeed, these three elements are circulated in the photo when depicting several mosque buildings, as shown in Figure 4.

Additionally, the atmosphere of Muslim friendly destinations also is reinforced by depictions of Muslim fashion festivals and women in hijab (typical Muslim women dress covering their head). Mainly in the account of the Aceh tourism agency, several photos found depicting the various events of Muslim fashion festivals.

Bars and evening entertainment are other dimensions of the image destination [12]. Nighttime recreation is similar to that dimension found in the work of Gearing et al. [50]. Some categories (gambling casinos, discotheques, cinema, theatres) are attributed to that dimension by the author. However, none of the photo derived from both official tourism agency promotes these image categories. This finding is in line with El-Gohary clarifying halal tourism requires no nightclubs or nighttime entertainment [78]. Along with this, some activities closely associated with nightlife do not meet the criteria of halal tourism, such as consuming drinks containing alcohol [78],gambling games [79].

However, the contradiction finding is shown in this study. On the one hand, the Islamic atmosphere was created by describing religious events, religious practices, women in hijab, mosque buildings, including no depiction of nighttime entertainment. However, on the other hand, when both official accounts emphasize food as one of their attractions, no photo highlights the halal

aspects of the food. For instance, the halal logo accompanying the highlighted food is no depicted. Halal food is one indicator to measure the level of a Muslim-friendly destination [25]. Also, halal food availability is one of the attributes that directly impact tourist satisfaction [79].

Indeed, there are none of the photos that depict foods containing pork, alcohol, but it does not mean the foods they describe have met halal standards. Since Hanzaee & Ramezani describe the product of halal food need to fulfill two aspects: first, the product does not contain pork or its byproduct, alcohol, prohibited food ingredients of animal origin, and prepared and manufactured on clean equipment. Second, the food product has been certified as halal product shown by the halal certificate and the halal logo issued by an Islamic organization [80].

By visual content analysis toward photographs posted on two official Instagram accounts successfully identify some dimensions of the projected image of two halal destinations in Indonesia: West Sumatera and Aceh. At the same time, the study contributed to the development of destination image theory in general; and six factors of image dimension conceptualized by Fakeye & Crompton in particular [12]. Principally, halal tourism is also a tourism product created for commercial purposes like other destinations. However, Muslim tourist is the main target for the marketing of this kind of destination. Therefore, for tourism marketing, mainly through the creation of the projected-image, the marketer needs to convert various Muslim needs and attractiveness into elements of an image, such as four elements found by the study (religious event, religious activities, mosque buildings, women in hijab).

Besides, some recommendation is provided by the study. First, different audiences, time, and situation, create polysemic meanings of advertising [81] as well as a photographic image [82]. Semiotic analysis is recommended to deal with that issue since Rose argues the method of analysis provides an analytical tool uncovers the different levels of meaning communicated by a photo [83].

Second, different stakeholders (commercial and public) take part in marketing the destination. The study only covers visual materials of tourism marketing produced by public agencies of two halal destinations. Therefore, the future study needs to expand the scope of the study by covering promotional materials produced by the different agencies to gain a holistic understanding of the creation of a halal destination image. Besides, the notion of the ‘circle of representation’ conceptualized by Jenkin described that tourism organizations and tourists format images. The study provided empirical findings on the projected-image of halal destination. Therefore, future research needs to question how tourist creates the perceived-image of halal destination.

Third, various image dimensions conceptualized by some scholarly studies; however, they have been summarized by Lian & Yu into three dimensions (tourism facilities, tourism services, tourism resources] [23]. The two agencies did not cover these image dimensions proportionally since they emphasized more tourism resources dimension, for instance, natural and cultural amenities and social opportunity. At the same time, some other dimensions are not highlighted (accommodation), as no photo depicts accommodation services (hotel, apartment, villa).

This study collects photographs from the official Instagram account of West Sumatera and Aceh tourism authority to identify how they project the image of their destination as halal tourism through photograph production. Qualitative visual content analysis is adopted to explore the various dimensions of the online image, and further investigate the distribution of each dimension in the selected photographs taken from both official webs. The online images of both halal destinations are explored from five dimensions of image conceptualized by Fakeye & Crompton (social opportunity and attraction, natural and cultural amenities, accommodation and transportation, infrastructure, food, and friendly people, physical amenities and recreation activities, and nightlife and entertainment) [12].

This research figures out the similarities of images emphasized by different official webs. The official account of West Sumatera and Aceh’s authority stressed more dimensions of natural and cultural amenities than other dimensions. Besides, both of them less stressed the dimension of accommodation and transportation. However, they highlighted some categories of each dimension differently. In the dimension of NCA, green scenery and cultural performance are highlighted in the West Sumatera authority account, while beach and mosque building is accentuated in Aceh authority account. Some studies confirmed that that scenery is a factor to increase destination attractiveness [84] [85] [86] [87]. Therefore, the prominence of green scenery in the visual content of official West Sumatera account supports those previous studies. Likewise, “beach” depicted remarkably in that of official Aceh tourism account is in line with the work of Pearce [51].

Dilley theorizes culture as the dimension of destination image that covers various elements (local history, art, and architecture, remains of an earlier civilization, old buildings, castles, museums, and art galleries, illustrations of local economic life) [52]. Similarly, the importance of culture within the context of destination image formation is found by various studies: exotic local custom [51],architecture/buildings, historical sites/museums [50] [35] [30],cultural sites [85]. The study results also support the previous study findings by which some categories of the theme of culture are highlighted, such as cultural performance, mosque building, and local daily life.

Both official authority accounts also represent different categories of SOA remarkably. Sports events are the most stressed category in the account of West Sumatera, while some festival events are underlined in the account of Aceh. Gearing et al. (1974) included these two categories into the social factor of image formation [50]. These study findings are in line with Echtner & Ritchie [35] and Hu & Ritchie [85] presenting that various festival events, including sports events and competition, are elements of destination attractiveness.

Additionally, food is more underlined by both official accounts than other categories distributed in the theme of IFP. Some scholars conceptualize food as the attractiveness of destination [35] [50] [85]. In line with this, some other studies notably showed the importance of local food in tourism [88] [89]. Meanwhile, the World Wide Web (WWW) also is used for food tourism marketing (Kim, Yuan, Goh, & Antun, 2009) [90]. Therefore, the prominent depiction of various local foods in both official accounts supports those previous studies.

The author declares no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Taufiqqurrachman (2020) Formatting Online Image of “Halal” Destination through Photography. Open Journal of Business and Management, 8, 660-682. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojbm.2020.82040