The Logic of “Viral Popularity” and the Development Path of “Sustained Popularity” in Influencer Cities

Abstract

With the advent and continued development of the internet era, influencer cities have leveraged the internet’s power for rapid marketing, resulting in a swift rise to fame and a substantial influx of attention and traffic. In the face of such “overnight wealth and fame”, the primary challenge lies in preventing the transient nature of popularity and the potential lack of long-term sustainability, while simultaneously promoting enduring prosperity and fostering the high-quality development of the cultural and tourism industry. It is argued that sustained success can be achieved by influencer cities through strategies such as creating unique and immersive tourism experiences for visitors, enhancing infrastructure, facilitating upstream and downstream linkages, empowering technological advancements, and improving accessibility.