Showing papers in "Journal of Travel Research in 2014"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors adopt the elaboration likelihood model to identify what influences travelers to adopt information from online reviews in their decision making, and find that high-involvement travelers adopt both central (information quality) and peripheral (product ranking) factors.
Abstract: Online reviews (ORs) are continuing to foster a renewed spread of word-of-mouth in the travel industry. Travelers are increasingly using ORs to inform them about accommodations and other tourism-related products. As such, it is important to improve our understanding of the behavioral consequences of e-word-of-mouth. In this article, we adopt the elaboration likelihood model to identify what influences travelers to adopt information from ORs in their decision making. We measure the influence of six dimensions of information quality that are part of the central route and two dimensions that are associated with the peripheral route of persuasion. The results of this study reveal that product ranking, information accuracy, information value-added, information relevance, and information timeliness are strong predictors of travelers’ adoption of information from ORs on accommodations. These results imply that high-involvement travelers adopt both central (information quality) and peripheral (product ranking) ro...
654 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the constructs of time, ancestry, landscape, and community were identified as determinants for the sense of place by inhabitants of the Chatham Islands of New Zealand.
Abstract: Given that brand meanings are socially constructed and culturally dependent, we advocate that a destination branding strategy should begin by understanding what constitutes sense of place as experienced by local residents. The constructs of time, ancestry, landscape, and community were identified as determinants for the sense of place by inhabitants of the Chatham Islands of New Zealand. These constructs comprise meanings that influence the habitus and define sense of place. This article contributes to our understanding of place by providing a sense of place model to support scholarship in destination and place branding. Destination branding activity ought to be significantly influenced by an in-depth appreciation of the sense of place for those whose place it is. Our emergent model emphasizes the importance of understanding sense of place and positioning the people of the place at the centre of a branding strategy for the development of an effective destination brand.
341 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the effects of interaction between political instability and terrorism on tourism development using panel data from 139 countries for the period 1999-2009 and found that terrorist attacks increase tourism demand for those low-to moderate-political-risk countries and that countries that experience high levels of political risk witness significant reductions in their tourism businesses.
Abstract: Looking at the current political turmoil across the globe, this study aims to analyze the effects of interaction between political instability and terrorism on tourism development using panel data from 139 countries for the period 1999–2009. The study measures the extent to which a country’s political conflicts and terrorism can negatively impact its tourism industry. The results reveal that the effect of political instability on tourism is far more severe than the effects of one-off terrorist attacks. Surprisingly, the findings suggest that terrorist attacks increase tourism demand for those low- to moderate-political-risk countries. However, countries that experience high levels of political risk witness significant reductions in their tourism businesses. In addition, political volatility and terrorism together can cause serious damage to the tourism industry.
293 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a cross-cultural validity of the memorable tourism experience scale (MTES), a recently developed measurement scale designed to assess individuals' memorable tourism experiences (MTEs), was established.
Abstract: The present study seeks to establish the cross-cultural validity of the memorable tourism experience scale (MTES), a recently developed measurement scale designed to assess individuals’ memorable tourism experiences (MTEs). Since the psychometric properties of the MTES have only been examined within a sample of American college students, the aim of this study was to replicate the previous psychometric findings using a sample of Taiwanese respondents. The data confirmed the validity of the previously established seven dimensions of MTES in the Taiwanese sample. Thus, the findings of the study suggest that MTES can generally be utilized to assess individuals’ MTEs in cross-cultural settings.
290 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide a theoretical framework for the practice of experience design in tourism, drawing from a comprehensive review of literature from different disciplines relevant to tourism as a design context.
Abstract: This article aims at providing a theoretical framework for the practice of experience design in tourism drawing from a comprehensive review of literature from different disciplines relevant to tourism as a design context. Three fundamentals in tourism experience design are suggested: human-centeredness, iterative designing process, and a holistic experience concept as an outcome of designing. These call for four approaches to experience design in tourism: naturalistic inquiries and empathic design to target experience narratives, participatory design involving tourists at every stage of designing, integrative design research that include explorative, generative, and evaluative research as essential parts of designing, and the orientation of concepts and theories from multiple disciplines as applied to tourism contexts. Finally, tourism experience concept is elaborated into meta-concept, representing the value propositions of tourism destinations, and operational concept that allows for the orchestration o...
261 citations
TL;DR: Results show a significant improvement in the error reduction of ARMAX models, compared with their ARMA counterparts, for short-run forecasts of room nights sold by incorporating web traffic data as an explanatory variable, demonstrating the significant value of website traffic data in predicting demand for hotel rooms at a destination, and potentially even local businesses’ future revenue and performance.
Abstract: This study uses the web traffic volume data of a destination marketing organization (DMO) to predict hotel demand for the destination. The results show a significant improvement in the error reduction of ARMAX models, compared with their ARMA counterparts, for short-run forecasts of room nights sold by incorporating web traffic data as an explanatory variable.These empirical results demonstrate the significant value of website traffic data in predicting demand for hotel rooms at a destination, and potentially even local businesses’ future revenue and performance. The implications for future research on using big data for forecasting hotel demand is also discussed.
193 citations
TL;DR: This paper investigated the relationship among tourists' risk perceptions and various types of their prior knowledge, namely subjective knowledge, objective knowledge, prior visitation, and past international travel experience, and found that subjective knowledge appeared to have the strongest influence on tourist risk perceptions.
Abstract: To date, limited research has investigated the effects of tourist prior knowledge as a multidimensional construct on their perceived risk. This research is one of the first studies to investigate the relationships among tourists’ risk perceptions and various types of their prior knowledge, namely subjective knowledge, objective knowledge, prior visitation, and past international travel experience. The research also investigates the nature of the relationship between tourist prior knowledge, risk perceptions, and their subsequent information search behavior. Using structural equation modeling, the results reveal that while objective knowledge did not significantly reduce or increase the risk associated with traveling to the Middle East, subjective knowledge appeared to have the strongest influence on tourist risk perceptions. The results of this study further suggest that while various dimensions of perceived risk may elicit the use of different information sources, prior knowledge also plays a role alongs...
174 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an integrative conceptual framework of destinations is developed by systematically identifying and then synthesizing the key elements of five major sets of concepts used to depict and analyze destinations: industrial districts, clusters, networks, systems, and social constructs.
Abstract: Destinations are a fundamental focus of much tourism research. How we conceptualize and frame destinations is critical not only for the research that we do but also for practical matters such as destination management and marketing. To date, however, work on the conceptual and theoretical foundations of destinations has been fragmented, incomplete, and without much general sense of direction. Through a wide-ranging review, this paper seeks to develop an integrative conceptual framework of destinations by systematically identifying and then synthesizing the key elements of five major sets of concepts used to depict and analyze destinations: industrial districts, clusters, networks, systems, and social constructs. A set of recurring elements is identified, grouped under three major dimensions—geographic, mode of production, and dynamic—and presented in an initial integrative framework. Issues of extending and operationalizing the framework are outlined and the implications for destination management discussed.
167 citations
TL;DR: Under all simulated data circumstances, a sample size of 70 times the number of variables proves to be adequate and will provide guidance to data analysts in academia and industry who wish to conduct reliable and valid segmentation studies.
Abstract: Data analysts in industry and academia make heavy use of market segmentation analysis to develop tourism knowledge and select commercially attractive target segments. Within academic research alone, approximately 5% of published articles use market segmentation. However, the validity of data-driven market segmentation analyses depends on having available a sample of adequate size. Moreover, no guidance exists for determining what an adequate sample size is. In the present simulation study using artificial data of known structure, the impact of the difficulty of the segmentation task on the required sample size is analyzed in dependence of the number of variables in the segmentation base. Under all simulated data circumstances, a sample size of 70 times the number of variables proves to be adequate. This finding is of substantial practical importance because it will provide guidance to data analysts in academia and industry who wish to conduct reliable and valid segmentation studies.
154 citations
TL;DR: This study identifies the main problems of destination management and attempts to explain the reason for the many failures and shortcomings in practice, and presents its applicability to the case of the currently ongoing reform of the destination management organizations (DMOs) in Switzerland.
Abstract: This study challenges the way the research community has approached issues and implemented concepts in the field of destination management. In contrast to previous contributions that deliver a particular framework, this study aims to literally deframe the construct of the destination. To this end, we propose an alternative and dynamic viewpoint for researchers and practitioners that might have evolved decades ago, if the research community had not tried to constrain or reduce the phenomenon of the destination to a comprehensive and inherently static system. We identify the main problems of destination management and attempt to explain the reason for the many failures and shortcomings in practice. Building on an alternative concept, we present its applicability to the case of the currently ongoing reform of the destination management organizations (DMOs) in Switzerland. The study has a conceptual character, although its practical relevance has been proved over the past two years.
115 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, sustainable tourism is contextualized as an evolving synthesis arising from the need for the capitalist-based mass tourism thesis and the ethics-based alternative tourism antithesis to amalgamate because of internal contradictions that limit their contribution to development.
Abstract: Using resolution-based dialectics, sustainable tourism is contextualized as an evolving synthesis arising from the need for the capitalist-based mass tourism thesis and the ethics-based alternative tourism antithesis to amalgamate because of internal contradictions that limit their contribution to development. That this synthesis is skewed to mass tourism is accounted for by the four alternative tourism contradictions of unrealistic and unrealized expectations, functional incompleteness, the growth implications of success, and nonreciprocal accommodation. Mass tourism, faced with a prime contradiction of self-destruction, is experiencing limited paradigm nudge characterized by the opportunistic adoption of practices that complement the dominant capitalist paradigm. Opportunities for expanding the ethical bridgehead in mass tourism created by adherence to corporate social responsibility policies derive from the integration of alternative tourism products within mass tourism destinations and itineraries, ac...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provided a theoretical understanding and empirical examination of the psychological responses of tourists attending a mega-event hosted in a tourism destination, and found that tourists' overall attitude and behavioral intentions toward the destination were positively and significantly affected by the destination image.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to provide a theoretical understanding and empirical examination of the psychological responses of tourists attending a mega-event hosted in a tourism destination. A conceptual framework—the event–destination image transfer model—was developed from an extensive literature review and related theoretical discussion. A survey was conducted in Shanghai during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo to test the model. The findings show that the event image directly and positively affected the destination image, providing empirical support for the image transfer theory. Tourists’ psychological responses—their overall attitude and behavioral intentions toward the destination—were positively and significantly affected by the destination image. However, the direct effect of the event image on tourists’ overall attitude toward the destination was statistically non-significant due to the mediation effect of the destination image.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore future eDestination marketing from Australian tourism stakeholder network perspectives, and demonstrate the value of a futures stakeholder networks method compared to traditional government approaches by critically analyzing outcomes of both.
Abstract: Tourism destinations are difficult to manage because of the complex relationships of their diverse public and private stakeholders. At the same time, strategic marketing efforts are important for destinations to foster positive consequences of tourism, particularly given the range of opportunities and challenges created by the emergence of social media that destinations can use advantageously. This article aims to explore future eDestination marketing from Australian tourism stakeholder network perspectives. Workshops were convened in July 2012 in Melbourne, Australia, for select stakeholders invited to contribute to the futures national tourism technology strategy. They presented a stakeholder network approach to futures strategy development that aims to contribute to that used in recent national tourism plans and strategies for Australia developed by the government. Building on theories of stakeholder networks and futures, the article demonstrates the value of a futures stakeholder network method compared to traditional government approaches by critically analyzing outcomes of both.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focused on measuring the short-term impact of a recent incidence, the 2010 BP Gulf oil spill, using a systems perspective, drawing from two datasets measuring the performance of the hotel and vacation rental industries, a major part of the accommodation industry.
Abstract: Tourism as one of the most economically important industries is also one of the most vulnerable to crises and disasters. This study is focused on measuring the short-term impact of a recent incidence, the 2010 BP Gulf oil spill, using a systems perspective. Drawing from two datasets measuring the performance of the hotel and vacation rental industries, a major part of the accommodation industry, this study reveals the complex changes that occurred across a region that experienced this man-made disaster. The data clearly shows the complexity of the impact, generating both winners and losers on an industry and geographic basis. In addition, the results underscore the difficulties in determining damages at the macro level that in this case has resulted to date in US$13.5 billion of out of court settlements paid by BP to settle business owner claims. Practical implications and future research avenues are highlighted including the availability of secondary data sources.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the dynamic nature of tourist destination image and the influence of tourists' overall satisfaction on image modification and found that tourists' satisfaction was statistically related to the extent of destination image modification.
Abstract: The objective of this study is to examine the dynamic nature of tourist destination image and the influence of tourists’ overall satisfaction on image modification. The empirical data were collected in Seoul, a major tourism destination in South Korea. A total of 520 usable survey data were analyzed using paired t-test and analysis of variance. The results supported the proposed research hypotheses: (1) there were statistically significant differences with respect to all image dimensions between their pretrip and posttrip images at the α = .01 level, and (2) tourists’ satisfaction was statistically related to the extent of destination image modification. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed based on the study findings, and recommendations for future research were presented.
TL;DR: The authors suggest a three-level typology, based on field research in Europe and Australia, and informed by Rogers's innovation diffusion model; the concept of liminality and its role in the search for tacit knowledge through weak network ties; and the need to ask ultimate (why) rather than proximate (what, how) questions.
Abstract: Innovation has become a buzzword, regularly cited to convey any improvement made, regardless of the extent of newness. Tourism innovation has historically been viewed as either incremental or radical, a binary developed within manufacturing. However, given that incremental improvements are the norm in the tourism sector and that radical innovation is an abnormality, the binary is not representative of tourism innovation. We suggest a three-level typology, based on field research in Europe and Australia, and informed by Rogers’s innovation diffusion model; the concept of liminality and its role in the search for tacit knowledge through weak network ties; and the need to ask ultimate (why) rather than proximate (what, how) questions. Since the term innovation is overused, we introduce three alternate concepts: the “artist,” who is comparable to the innovator; the “artisan,” who represents early innovation adopters; and the “painter,” who epitomizes the early and late majority.
TL;DR: The authors presented the first international comparative analysis of attitudes toward climate change and discretionary air travel, providing insights into areas of convergence and divergence across three European societies (Norway, the United Kingdom, and Germany).
Abstract: The “flyers’ dilemma” describes the tension that now exists between the personal benefits of tourism and the climate concerns associated with high levels of personal aeromobility. This article presents the first international comparative analysis of attitudes toward climate change and discretionary air travel, providing insights into areas of convergence and divergence across three European societies—Norway, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Employing a critical interpretive approach and drawing upon 48 in-depth semistructured interviews, we document evidence of widespread neglect of the flyers’ dilemma. Our comparative analysis confirms that although current discretionary air travel practices are deeply embedded and resistant to change, attitudes toward the climate crisis and barriers to behavior change offer points of important contrast between different societies. Efforts to reformulate excessive discretionary air travel in response to accelerating global climate change must accommodate the unique issue...
TL;DR: In this article, several extrinsic and intrinsic variables, from different theoretical approaches, have been integrated with the object of building an explanatory model for residents' attitude toward tourism development, which is applied to a destination not yet overcrowded but with a high, and increasing, seasonality.
Abstract: In this study several extrinsic and intrinsic variables, from different theoretical approaches, have been integrated with the object of building an explanatory model for residents’ attitude toward tourism development. This model is applied to a destination not yet overcrowded but with a high, and increasing, seasonality. Its most notable contribution is in its findings regarding the influence of seasonality on the residents’ attitudes and in the factors impacting on it. These findings show that, in the low season, the effects of tourism, and tourists themselves, are perceived more favorably, leading to a more positive attitude toward further tourism development. Two hypotheses in the proposed model reveal a disparate seasonal behavior: only in the high season does the perception of the level of tourism development determine the net perception of the effects of tourism, and residents’ community attachment exerts a direct and negative influence on their attitude toward tourism.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the domestic travel motivations of 632 Australian Baby Boomer, Generation X, and Generation Y travelers to uncover each generational cohort's travel mindset and found that the travel decision-making process is similar across cohorts, but model comparisons reveal generational differences.
Abstract: An understanding of generational shifts in tourist behavior facilitates the effective prediction and accommodation of future tourism trends. Such predictions are important if the Asia-Pacific region is to reach its tourism potential. This study investigates the domestic travel motivations of 632 Australian Baby Boomer, Generation X, and Generation Y travelers to uncover each generational cohort’s travel mindset. Specifically, it considers how the sociohistorical environment when its members “came of age” during adolescence (i.e., thus creating a generation), create a unique lifelong perspective that influences both current and future tourist behavior. Although the survey results show that the travel decision-making process is similar across cohorts, model comparisons reveal generational differences. This study advances the theoretical understanding of the implications of generational perspectives on future travel behavior and provides foresight into demand factors that will drive future travel growth in t...
TL;DR: This article examined residents' preferences for agricultural landscape features when engaging in agritourism activities by addressing two objectives: (1) to identify the features of agricultural landscapes that are more appealing to current and potential agritorists and (2) to compare those perceptions across respondents from different genders, agritourship experience, and agricultural attachment.
Abstract: This study examines residents’ preferences for agricultural landscape features when engaging in agritourism activities by addressing two objectives: (1) to identify the features of agricultural landscapes that are more appealing to current and potential agritourists and (2) to compare those perceptions across respondents from different genders, agritourism experience, and agricultural attachment. Data were collected through an online survey conducted among three nonrandom panels of residents from Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Texas (250 per state). Results showed that respondents liked most landscape features commonly found in an agritourism farm, especially natural and cultural ones. Among these, the most preferred features they would like to see are wildlife, water resources, historic elements, and farm animals, suggesting that these can serve as farm pull attractions. Multivariate analyses of variance showed significant differences in landscape preferences across gender, levels of agritourism experience,...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the structure and effects of intercultural interactions between international tourists and local residents, and developed the variables affecting intercultural relationships, the process and outcomes of interactions and any resultant attitude changes.
Abstract: This study examines the structure and effects of intercultural interactions between international tourists and local residents. It develops the variables affecting intercultural relationships, the process and outcomes of interactions, and any resultant attitude changes. An integrated model of intercultural interactions was derived from the shared themes, meanings, and patterns that shaped the participants’ tourism experiences. The model is composed of the structures and the effects of the intercultural interactions. These interactions, through reflective, comparative, and comprehensive experiences, impact international tourists’ attitude toward the local people and their culture. This study overcomes the limitations of the existing contact model by presenting a new approach on intercultural interactions and establishing the developed grounded theory derived from the intercultural interactions in the tourism field.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper developed a scale to measure backpackers' personal development using 30 measurement items to construct a survey instrument, which was then administered to collect data from a sample of 397 Chinese backpackers.
Abstract: Backpacking travel has become a global trend among young people. Despite the importance of personal development among the youth, research has rarely probed the construct of backpackers’ personal development (BPD). The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to measure backpackers’ personal development. The study developed 30 measurement items to construct a survey instrument. The instrument was then administered to collect data from a sample of 397 Chinese backpackers. Following a rigorous process of scale development, a five-dimension (Capability, Emotion, Worldview, Skill, and Self-consciousness) personal development model was identified. A refined scale consisting of 16 measurement items was finally derived meeting both reliability and validity requirements.
TL;DR: The authors empirically assessed the mediating effects of the impact of the perceived image of celebrity endorsers on tourists' intentions to visit, using celebrity-endorsed print advertisements for travel destinations.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to empirically assess the mediating effects of the impact of the perceived image of celebrity endorsers on tourists’ intentions to visit, using celebrity-endorsed print advertisements for travel destinations. The results indicate that celebrity endorsers have a significant impact on people’s attitudes and visit intentions, thus verifying the mediating effects of this variable. The study also provides clues to what extent celebrity-endorsed advertisements differ from nonendorsed advertisements and explores such differences in terms of destination match-up between native and nonnative celebrity-endorsed advertisements.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the relationship among destination competitiveness and its predictors, including the economy, natural environment, and infrastructure and found that the economy has a positive, indirect impact on tourism competitiveness mediated through the infrastructure and the environment.
Abstract: Growth in tourism has resulted in escalating competition among destinations. Understanding destination competitiveness and its determinant factors is thus critical to tourism researchers and policy makers. Using partial least squares path modeling (PLSPM) on a cross-sectional sample of 154 countries, this study examines relationships among destination competitiveness and its predictors, including the economy, natural environment, and infrastructure. Results indicate that the economy has a positive, indirect impact on tourism competitiveness mediated through the infrastructure and the environment; moreover, infrastructure and environment have a direct, positive impact on tourism competitiveness. PLSPM was also used to compute composite scores for overall destination competitiveness, thus assigning rankings to the 154 countries assessed. This study contributes to extant theories on destination competitiveness, presenting important implications for policymakers on how to strengthen destination competitivenes...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors assess the changing distribution of domestic tourism in South Korea between 1989 and 2011, and relate these changes to the national tourism policies put in place during those years, finding that while domestic tourism activity became less concentrated at the macro level during the study period, at a finer scale it is clear that this deconcentration is still occurring in a clustered manner.
Abstract: The implementation of national tourism policy is manifested in the development of destinations and in patterns of tourism activity. Based on Brenner’s notions of spatial rescaling and spatial selectivity, this study assesses the changing distribution of domestic tourism in South Korea between 1989 and 2011, and relates these changes to the national tourism policies put in place during those years. Spatial statistical techniques including Moran’s global I statistic and local indicators of spatial association are employed. Findings suggest that while domestic tourism activity became less concentrated at the macro level during the study period, at a finer scale it is clear that this deconcentration is nevertheless occurring in a clustered manner. Thus, while the traditional emphasis on Seoul and the southeast appears to have declined, the distribution of tourism’s benefits is still uneven. Observations with regards to future tourism policy and concomitant spatial patterns of development and activity are prov...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the relationship among transaction cost advantage, preview, trust, satisfaction, and repurchase intention within online tourism group buying environments, and found that the high-EL group showed stronger relationships between preview and satisfaction and between satisfaction and return intention than low-EL groups.
Abstract: Online group buying has become increasingly prevalent, and people frequently shop on group buying (GB) sites. This study examines the relationships among transaction cost advantage, preview, trust, satisfaction, and repurchase intention within online tourism GB environments. To investigate differences in the constructs between the high and low emotional loyalty (EL) groups, this study draws on the moderating role of EL. The results reveal that transaction cost advantage, preview, and trust significantly and positively affect satisfaction, which, in turn, influences repurchase intention. The high-EL group shows stronger relationships between preview and satisfaction and between satisfaction and repurchase intention than the low-EL group. The low-EL group shows stronger relationships between transaction cost advantage and satisfaction and between trust and satisfaction than the high-EL group. The findings have implications for tourism academics and the tourism industry.
TL;DR: In this article, a mixed method approach was adopted to explore both the consumers' perspective, via focus-group interviews, and that of tourism affiliate practitioners via an online questionnaire, and the main findings suggest that there is a distinction between pivotal determinants of trust and trust-enhancing factors.
Abstract: Affiliate marketing is a prominent, contemporary type of performance-based Internet marketing whereby a company compensates affiliates for each customer referred through the affiliate’s marketing efforts. It is regarded as one of the most promising customer acquisition tools in eTourism. The present study aims to identify the key variables affecting consumer trust in tourism-related affiliate websites. A mixed method approach was adopted to explore both the consumers’ perspective, via focus-group interviews, and that of tourism affiliate practitioners via an online questionnaire. The main findings suggest that there is a distinction between pivotal determinants of trust and trust-enhancing factors. It is suggested that affiliates need to expose their competence and integrity to consumers. Affiliates that feature integrated booking engines need to reduce consumer’s uncertainty by structural assurances and by providing background information on their websites.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify the most prominent challenges to global tourism through 2020 and understand their nature, drivers, and effects, and propose a strategic road map for global tourism in a complex and dynamic world.
Abstract: Tourism is a complex system within a dynamic framework that is exposed to rapid and challenging developments. The existing tourism research does not fully address the nature of the global, intertwined challenges that may affect and shape the worldwide tourism system in the future with respect to both the industry and society. This article contributes to eliminating this knowledge gap using an exploratory Delphi survey that seeks to identify the most prominent challenges to global tourism through 2020 and to understand their nature, drivers, and effects. The five proposed meta-challenges demonstrate the complexity of the interrelations and interdependencies affecting the future of the global tourism system. These meta-challenges may also be regarded as constituting a strategic road map for global tourism in a complex and dynamic world.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored whether various distance trips and age stereotypes affect tourists' perceptions of tour leaders' roles and identified the moderating effects regarding tour leader age stereotype, age in-group bias, and the respondents' age on the perceived roles played by tour leaders.
Abstract: This study explores whether various distance trips and age stereotypes affect tourists’ perceptions of tour leaders’ roles. This research also identifies the moderating effects regarding tour leader age stereotype, age in-group bias, and the respondents’ age on the perceived roles played by tour leaders. A total of 447 subjects participated in the study with a 2 (role-play scenarios: short-distance trip vs. long-distance trip) × 2 (appearances of the tour leader: middle-aged vs. young) between-subjects factorial design. The results showed that the respondents’ perceived roles of a middle-aged appearance tour leader were better than some young appearance counterparts’ components under short- and long-distance conditions. Furthermore, the tour leader age stereotype and age in-group bias could influence respondents’ perceptions of care and interactional and communicative dimensions. In addition, respondents’ age could affect the perceptions of some components of the tour leaders under short- and long-distanc...
TL;DR: In this paper, the utility of psychological commitment for segmenting festival visitors was examined and the results demonstrated that the more committed visitors were to the festival, the higher their overall satisfaction was with the festival experience, and the more likely they were to exhibit loyalty intentions toward the festival.
Abstract: Despite the popularity of festivals and events across destinations, many have failed because of tight budgets and a lack of marketing knowledge. Accordingly, this study aims to assist festival organizers understand more about their target audience. The present study examined the utility of psychological commitment for segmenting festival visitors. We first profiled festival visitors based on their commitment levels and then investigated whether the segments differ in their sociodemographic characteristics, satisfaction, and loyalty. The results demonstrated the presence of three segments, each of which displayed meaningful and significant variation in the intensity of their festival commitment. The groups differed in age, education, and past experience. We also observed that the more committed visitors were to the festival, the higher their overall satisfaction was with the festival experience, and the more likely they were to exhibit loyalty intentions toward the festival. Based on these findings, practi...