Journal of hospitality and tourism insights 

About: Journal of hospitality and tourism insights is an academic journal published by Emerald Publishing Limited. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Tourism & Computer science. It has an ISSN identifier of 2514-9792. Over the lifetime, 162 publications have been published receiving 401 citations.

Local food consumption values and attitude formation: the moderating effect of food neophilia and neophobia

Abstract: PurposeThe local food tourism in Pakistan is increasing rapidly, and it attracts scholars to determine the factors affecting local food tourists' buying choices. Particularly, the authors aim to investigate the role of food consumption values on predicting domestic tourists' attitude toward local food and its effect on the intention to try local food with the moderating effect of personality traits (neophobia and neophilia).Design/methodology/approachThe authors tested the study model on 250 completed responses from local food tourists. They collected the data from three tourism locations (Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar) in Pakistan. Their study utilizes the consumption value theory within the limits of Pakistan's local food tourism.FindingsThe empirical findings show that consumption values, such as price, emotion, interaction, epistemic value, location value and variety value, effectively explain the domestic tourists' attitude toward local food. The authors further report that food neophilia strengthens the local tourists' positive reception toward the local food. However, food neophobia weakens the direction between local tourists' attitude toward local food and the intention to try local food.Practical implicationsThis study provides insights pertaining to tourists' local food consumption values (LFCVs) to a local destination owner and marketing manager to strategically work on LFCVs that are crucial for domestic tourists to derive their intention to try local food. Practitioners should work on domestic tourists who possess food neophobia trait and enquire them for their rejection or avoidance of a particular local destination. This will enable practitioners to bring innovation and development in the local destination, which ultimately promote local food tourism.Originality/valueThis study is the first to incorporate the variety and local value in tourists' LFCVs to predict local tourists' attitude toward local food. Additionally, the authors contribute to local food tourism by empirically studying the moderating role of personality traits (food neophilia and food neophobia) to examine the direction between local tourists' attitude and intention to local food.

The effect of perceived authenticity in cultural heritage sites on tourist satisfaction: the moderating role of aesthetic experience

Abstract: PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the moderating role of aesthetic experience in the effect of authenticity on satisfaction in cultural heritage sites. At the same time, this study guides the perception of authenticity in cultural heritage sites.Design/methodology/approachUsing structural equation modelling for quantitative data analysis, empirical data were collected from tourists in a cultural heritage site.FindingsAs a result of the findings, it was determined that the objective and constructive authenticity of the tourists did not affect satisfaction, while the existential authenticity affected satisfaction. The moderating role of aesthetic experience between existential authenticity and overall satisfaction has been determined.Practical implicationsThe study suggests that aesthetic experience can be used by destination managers in tourists' perceptions of existential authenticity.Originality/valueThis study is the first to use aesthetic experience in tourists' perception of authenticity in cultural heritage sites. The findings show the importance of aesthetic experience in existential authenticity.

The effect of COVID-19 on tourists' attitudes and travel intentions: an empirical study on camping/glamping tourism in Turkey during COVID-19

Abstract: PurposeIn this study, visitors' attitudes and behavioural intentions towards camping/glamping tourism in Turkey during the pandemic were investigated using the extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB). The model has been extended to include constructs such as risk perception and risk aversion attitudes that stem from COVID-19 to predict visitors' attitudes and behavioural intentions.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected through an online questionnaire from 432 participants who have experience and interest in camping/glamping tourism in Turkey. The responses were analysed using the structural equation modelling (SEM).FindingsThe findings show that besides the basic TPB structures, other added variables also significantly affect visitors' attitudes and intentions. Moreover, it has been observed that the risk perception and risk aversion attitude derived from COVID-19 increase negative emotions in visitors and decreased behavioural intentions.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of the study are discussed for future research as well as its academic and practical implications.Originality/valueThis theoretical expansion is thought to increase the theory's predictive power in predicting visitors' behaviour during the pandemic.

The impact of anxiety levels on destination visit intention in the context of COVID-19: the mediating role of travel intention

Abstract: PurposeThis study aims to investigate the effect of tourists' anxiety levels regarding pandemic on their intention to travel and intention to destination visit as a reflection of risk perception.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a quantitative research design. Multivariate statistical methods were used because they predict cause and effect relationships. The data collection process was completed in 32 days between March 20 and April 20, 2020. Smart-PLS software was used for data analysis.FindingsAccording to the study results, the level of concern tourists have about the COVID-19 outbreak directly affected their intention to travel and indirectly affected their intention to visit destinations.Research limitations/implicationsAccording to the results of the study, people's anxiety levels about COVID-19 will negatively affect their travel behavior after the pandemic. Such results suggest that when potential travelers' pandemic-induced anxiety levels increase, their travel intention after the pandemic will decrease. In addition, there is a positive relationship between people's intention to travel and post-COVID-19 touristic visit intentions. Therefore, as people's travel intentions increase, so do their destination visit intentions. Another important theoretical implication of this research is that people's pandemic-induced anxiety levels have been shown to negatively affect their destination visit intention through the mediating variable of travel intention.Practical implicationsA multidimensional and stakeholder engagement process needs to be followed to decrease the influences of the pandemic on destinations. Destination management organizations (DMOs) can take an active role in crisis periods to encourage stakeholder participation while attracting tourism demand in the post-COVID-19 era.Originality/valueThis study is important for its topical relevance and for providing specific theoretical and practical implications concerning tourists' travel behavior.

Linking leadership styles to communication competency and work engagement: evidence from the hotel industry

Abstract: PurposeThis study examines the mediation effects of leaders' communication competency in the link between leadership styles (i.e. servant and transactional leadership) and employees' work engagement.Design/methodology/approachCross-sectional survey data from 392 employees in 33 hotels in Bangladesh were collected. To analyze the data, structural equation modeling was adopted, and partial least squares (PLS) analysis was used.FindingsResults of PLS analysis revealed that servant leaders and leaders' communication competency positively influence employees' work engagement. In boosting employees' work engagement, communication competency is an important tool for servant leadership but not for transactional leadership.Practical implicationsHoteliers and managers may want to adopt a servant leadership style and develop effective leadership communication skills to increase employees' engagement at work.Originality/valueThis study introduces communication competency as a mediating mechanism between leadership styles and work engagement in the hospitality industry.