Tourism hospitality management 

About: Tourism hospitality management is an academic journal published by Faculty of tourism and hospitality management. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Tourism & Hospitality industry. It has an ISSN identifier of 1330-7533. Over the lifetime, 764 publications have been published receiving 4070 citations.

Does restaurant performance meet customers' expectations? An assessment of restaurant service quality using a modified DINESERV approach.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine restaurant service quality. The aims are to: (a) assess customers’ expectations and perceptions, (b) establish the significance of difference between perceived and expected service quality, (c) identify the number of dimensions for expectations and perceptions scales of modified DINESERV model, (d) test the reliability of the applied DINESERV model. The empirical research was conducted using primary data. The questionnaire is based on Stevens et al. (1995) and Andaleeb and Conway’s (2006) research. In order to meet survey goals, descriptive, bivariate and multivariate (exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis) statistical analyses were conducted. The empirical results show that expectations scores are higher than perceptions scores, which indicate low level of service quality. Furthermore, this study identified seven factors that best explain customers’ expectations and two factors that best explain customers’ perceptions regarding restaurant service. The results of this study would help management identify the strengths and weaknesses of service quality and implement an effective strategy to meet the customers’ expectations.

Tourist adoption of mapping apps: a utaut2 perspective of smart travellers

Abstract: Purpose – Mapping apps are location based travel apps used for navigation and routing. These apps are gaining worldwide popularity because of its enormous potential. Despite of the growing popularity and utility of the mapping apps, the published literature in this area is scarce, leaving an unexplored area of research. Thus, the current study aims to identify factors affecting tourist’s intentions to use mapping apps while travelling. Design – The Extended Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) was applied as the basis of the present study Methodology – The data was collected from 284 travellers in India using a structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using Partial Least Square approach. Findings – The results indicated that the most significant antecedents of behavioral intentions are habit, facilitating conditions, performance expectancy and hedonic motivation. It was observed that the actual usage behavior was influenced by traveler’s intentions and habit to use the technology (mapping apps). However it was noted that effort expectancy, social influence and price value had no significant effects on the tourist’s intentions to use mapping apps while travelling. Originality of the research – Till date limited empirical studies have explored the adoption of mapping apps by travelers. This study is unique as it explores the adoption intentions using a relevant theoretical framework in the developing economy context wherein the use of mapping apps is still in the nascent stage. This research contributes to the literature of innovation adoption and provides an interesting perspective to companies developing location based travel mobile apps.

Segmentation of rural tourists: combining push and pull motivations

Abstract: Rural tourism is an important form of tourism in many countries, including Finland. To understand rural tourists’ behaviour and help tourism companies market their products more efficiently many scholars have segmented rural tourists in several different geographical locations. This study aims to combine segmentation approaches used in earlier studies, namely motivation and benefit segmentation, and segment online rural tourists in Finland. Data is collected in a rural tourism affiliate website and analysed using cluster analysis on tourists’ motivations. Among 727 respondents, four rural tourist segments are found: “Social travellers”, “Wellbeing travellers”, “Home region travellers” and “Family travellers”. The segments differ from each other in motivations, preferred destination attributes, travel behaviour and socio-demographic factors. Understanding these differences will provide rural tourism companies important information to successfully market their products by combining both push and pull motivations in their marketing and product development.

Tourist's motivations to travel: A theoretical perspective on the existing literature

Abstract: Purpose – Current study is an attempt to look into the various theoretical concepts/ theories that help to understand what motivates individuals, especially young people, to travel and which are the practical implications of the analysed theories. In particular, we chose Maslow’s Theory of Needs to analyse youth travel motivations. Research Design – The study draws its base from two streams of literature, one being associated with motivations and the other dealing with the question of how motivations can influence travelling patterns of an individual. The literature review was done extensively and articles published in the domain of tourist motivations and related areas were traced and reviewed. Findings – Our analysis of youth tourism centred on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and confirmed its validity as an explanation of the most important youth travellers’ motivations. The results also indicate that, due to recent technological developments affecting societies and young tourists’ behaviours – especially those of Millennials – new needs have emerged, which are discussed in detail. Research Limitations – The research has been carried out in light of the available literature and it fails to address empirical evidence. Also, the analysis of youth tourism needs to be extended to other motivation theories as those which are presented in this work.