Travelling for Umrah: destination attributes,destination image,and post-travel intentions

This paper examines the links between cosmopolitanism, self-identity, and a desire for social interaction on perceived destination image and behavioural intentions. A model was tested using a sample of 538 Iranian visitors to Mecca for the purpose of Umrah. The result from the structural model suggests that destination attributes influence perceived destination image. Further, such tourists are likely to revisit or recommend Islamic destinations if their experience matches their perceived image of the destination. This implies that, while the religious characteristics of the destination remain important, destination managers cannot disregard the tangential, non-religious attributes of a destination which are crucial in order to satisfy more conventional tourist desires. As such, this study suggests that those managing religious travel destinations should endeavour to foster a welcoming image, where experience, interaction, and tolerance are at the forefront of the destination’s offering.     

Performance evaluation of tourism websites' information quality of four global destination brands: Beijing,Hong Kong,Shanghai, and Taipei

Some tourists only have a slight idea of where they want to go on a holiday when planning starts. Such tourists or their travel partners are likely to look for information for making a final travel decision. As the web becomes an increasingly popular information source, tourism destination websites can play a critical role in destination choice. A rubric for comparing tourism websites put forward by Dion and Woodside (2010) is used and ideas for enhancing the rubric are introduced utilizing a growing literature. Comparisons are made for the tourism websites of Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Taipei. Analysis involves considering websites' quality and usefulness. The study indicates that Hong Kong's site is best while Beijing has the most room for improvement. The paper concludes with implications of the research for website analysis. The discussion includes contributions to the value of criteria for websites found in the literature but not covered in an information-quality performance rubric.     

Elements of destination brand equity and destination familiarity regarding travel intention

In a highly competitive market, marketing staff are always looking for solutions to strengthen what can be called their destination values (unique place, services, and human resources, etc.). They do this by concentrating on vital factors which can enhance their brand equity. Nevertheless, there is a shortage of studies about how destination brand evaluations are related to visitor appraisals. Using the opinions of 531 foreign tourists visiting a destination in Vietnam and a partial least squares (PLS) approach, this study examines four elements of destination brand equity (perceived quality, loyalty, awareness, image) regarding travel intentions and the moderating effect of destination familiarity. Results revealed that brand equity is positively related to travel intentions. Additionally, destination familiarity has positive moderating effects on destination awareness and perceived quality of travel intentions. This study offers some managerial insights into the effective building of destination brand equity.     

Investigating the determinants of travel blogs influencing readers' intention to travel

The purpose of this study is to propose and examine a new research model that can capture affective, cognitive and cyber-interactive elements influencing travel blog readers' behavioural intention to travel through affecting their perceived destination image. A survey of 323 blog participants found a strong support for the model. The results indicated that travel blog participants' perceptions of destination image could be a strong predictor of their travel intention. Factors assisting in building affective images (e.g. generating empathy, experiencing appeal) as well as cognitive images (e.g. providing guides) and facilitating interpersonal interactions (e.g. social influence, cybercommunity influence) were found to be critical components significantly influencing bloggers' perceptions of destination image. Theoretical and practical implications of the results were discussed.     

Holiday Destination Image and Personality of a Greek Island During an Economic Recession Period and the Intermediate Effect of the Utilitarian and Non-Utilitarian Needs

The research aim of this article is to investigate the relationship among tourists' utilitarian needs, non-utilitarian needs, destination image, and personality of Mykonos Island. The research objectives of this article are twofold: (i) to investigate Mykonos tourists' utilitarian and non-utilitarian needs; and (ii) to examine the degree to which the destination image and personality of Mykonos affect visitors' behavior and to determine whether this influence can be strengthened. Data are collected on the basis of a structured questionnaire. The research results show that destination image and personality have a direct and positive effect on each other and on tourists' utilitarian and non-utilitarian needs. There is no study until now that investigates the notions of utilitarian and non-utilitarian needs of tourists, in terms of destination image and personality of a holiday destination, during the current economic crisis.     

Consumer information-seeking behaviour in the travel decision-making process

One popular tourism promotional medium available to tourism destination marketing organizations is destination-specific travel information packages made available to potential visitors upon request. This paper discusses the importance of the tourist-directed information package as a promotional tool. The findings of this study indicate significant differences between information-seeking tourists and non-information-seeking tourists with regard to their socio-economic and vacation travel characteristics.     

西安城市居民旅游决策行为对比研究

通过对西安市不同家庭类型旅游者的问卷调查和访谈,借助对比分析的方法从信息来源、出游动机、出游方式、出游时间和频率、目的地选择、旅游项目选择,以及限制不同家庭结构旅游者出游的影响因素等方面,研究了单身、夫妻二人、核心和延续等四种家庭结构的旅游者旅游决策行为特征及规律。分析得出,家人结伴游已成为城市居民普遍选择的出游方式,而在家庭旅游决策制定中,不同类型家庭的决策行为呈现出不同的特点。     

Exploring multisensory place experiences through cruise blog analysis

The multisensory approach to understanding consumer behavior has received increasing attention as a factor shaping individuals’ perception, attitude, and behavior. However, previous studies have scarcely investigated the role of senses on destination experiences as places of consumption. The aim of the research is to uncover tourists’ meaningful multisensory place perceptions by analyzing cruise travel blogs. The study conducted a thematic content analysis of 248 blog entries on Mediterranean port of call experiences using the text analytics software Leximancer. The results show a convergence between visual, gustatory, olfactory, and haptic impressions, while auditory perceptions are scarce and refer mainly to the presence/absence of noise. Interestingly, unlike past multisensory studies that reported haptic perceptions as the least salient sensory dimension in tourist experiences, the research identified three haptic themes associated with cutaneous, hedonic-elicited, and somatic touch. The research yields a threefold contribution: (a) It provides empirical evidence for the relevance of multisensory perceptions on tourists’ evaluation of place experiences; (b) a novel methodological approach to assessing sensory impressions is used by analyzing tourists’ freely written online narratives; and (c) the research broadens the scope of existing multisensory literature by assessing urban/coastal travel destination experiences.     

The Need for the Identification of the Constituents of a Destination's Tourist Image: A Promotion Segmentation Perspective

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to examine the dimensions of tourist image as it may affect the promotion strategy for a given tourist destination. Identification of the different constituents of a destination's tourist image may provide important information that can be used in developing focused promotional strategies in well segmented markets to promote a tourist destination. Constituents of a destination's tourist image for the state of Utah were identified using factor analysis based upon a priori assumption about the nature of constituents of a state's tourist image. Four major constituents of a destination's/state's tourist image emerged. Each dimension represents a potential source of focus for regionally promoting a given destination to various target segments.     

论旅游地形象定位法

目前国内几种有代表性的旅游地形象定位方法论,根据旅游地与旅游者之间的关系,把旅游地作为旅游消费对象分为三个层面:资源层面、功能层面、理念层面。旅游地形象定位除了要考虑旅游地与旅游者之间的关系,还有旅游地与其竞争者(其他旅游地)之间的关系;完整、有效的形象定位法是层面定位和竞争定位结合起来的层面——竞争定位法。     

From fantasy to reality: a study of pre-trip planning from the perspective of destination image attributes and temporal psychological distance

Pre-leisure trip planning is often lengthy, and its consideration shifts from fantasy to reality. Using overseas international cities as the destination, and through destination image attributes, this paper uses construal level theory and temporal psychological distance to understand the dynamics behind this shift. The shift is, by and large, as predicted by construal level theory. This study shows that tourists are consistently concerned about certain attributes as the shift unfolds. It is recognized that although tourism is dream packed, it is filled with risks and constraints. The shift also reflects tourists’ increasing needs to address practical issues and to fill their itinerary as a trip approaches. This study proposes that the destination information provision service offered by DMOs have to address the needs for tourists to ‘dream’ about a destination, allay their concerns, and help them schedule their itinerary at various phases of the pre-trip planning stage.     

Finding the crucial factors for sustainable development of rural-based tourist destinations: using Nanzhuang, Taiwan as a case study

This paper aims to reveal the factors which are crucial for the sustainable development of rural-based tourist destination. This paper is possibly one of the few studies which apply rough sets theory (RST) analysis in destination image identification. Using Nanzhuang as a case study, this paper shows that RST analysis can identify the defining image attributes or attractors of a destination. RST analysis confirms the attractors that “pull” tourists to Nanzhuang are rural-tourism-related. RST decision rules reveal how an attribute single-handedly or a handful of attributes influence overall satisfaction. It also provides useful ideas on sustainable development of the destination.     

Assessing the Effect of Personal Cultural Orientation on Brand Equity and Revisit Intention: Exploring Destination Branding in Latin America

ABSTRACT

Despite a growing body of work on destination branding, there are few studies to look at culture at the individual level and examine the potential impact of personal cultural orientation on destination brand equity. Based on Social Identity Theory, this study investigates tourists' personal cultural orientation (independent vs. interdependent) and its effect on destination brand equity (destination brand image, destination brand value, and destination brand quality) and revisit intention. All data were collected in Quepos, Costa Rica, using both person-administrated and online surveys. Results of this study reveal that personal cultural orientation impacts the destination brand image, destination brand value, and destination brand quality. In addition, the destination's brand value is positively related to the revisit intention. The theoretical and practical implications, as well as the future research directions, conclude the article.     

Exploring Foreign Tourists’ Image of Tanzania: A Factorial Analysis Approach

Abstract

In the last decade, the economy of African continent and Tanzania in particular has witnessed a business boom of the tourism sector. While the sector has continued to grow and become a dependable source of direct and indirect employment to youths in urban and rural areas, the sector has been awash with challenges. These challenges include terrorism attacks, energy crises and poor infrastructure. However, the impact of these challenges on the image of Tanzania as a tourist destination has not received the deserved attention. This study explores the perception of visitors towards Tanzania as a tourist destination after they have completed their tourist visit. This study employs factor analysis technique to explore country destination image. Questionnaires were administered to visitors at some of the tourists’ hotels and Julius Kamabarage Nyerere International Airport (as a major exit point) in the country. Frontline employees, various tourist sites and access to services emerged to be strong tourist destination image factors. This implies that the efforts of marketing tourism destination should focus on promoting all the sites the country has.     

Virtual destination image: Testing a telepresence model

Telepresence is a concept originally developed in virtual reality research. Telepresence is the feeling of being there. This paper describes how researchers can use telepresence to expand previous models of destination image formation, producing an initial model of virtual destination image formation (VDIF). The findings of this study confirm previous fundamental models of the formation of destination image. The study also suggests that, whereas previous research shows that travel information directly influences the formation of image without a mediator, telepresence can act as a mediator in online environments. The study shows that the presence of varied Web-mediated information can act as a positive influence on telepresence, and indirectly lead to a positive virtual destination image. The study was done in collaboration with Tourism Tasmania, and data from 328 respondents was used to validate the model of VDIF. The paper presents contributions to researchers as well as practical advice for developers of destination marketing websites.     

导游职业道德建设刍议

导游道德素质的高低决定导游服务质量的好坏．直接影响客人对旅行社的信任和认可与否,全面反映旅游目的地旅游业发展水平的高低,并影响旅游市场的秩序与健康发展。导游的职业道德建设是提升旅行社服务质量的生命线,是塑造旅行社信誉与品牌的根本,也是促进旅游市场有序、健康发展的关键途径。     

基于行为分析的南宁市越南旅游市场拓展研究

自2007年以来,越南已经成为广西第一大入境游客客源地,越南旅游市场已经成为广西入境旅游的重要组成部分。南宁作为广西的首府,是越南游客重要的中转站和目的地。越南游客的旅游消费行为特征将对南宁市开发越南旅游市场具有十分重要的意义。本文通过对南宁市越南游客的市场调研,在分析越南游客的行为特征基础上,提出了南宁市进一步拓展越南旅游市场的对策。     

Cultivating group-oriented travel behaviour to major events: assessing the importance of customer-perceived value,enduring event involvement and attitude towards the host destination

Abstract

Major events, such as the Olympics and Glastonbury music festival, attract tourists and result in increased consumer spending in host economies. The purpose of this study is to gain insights into the key determinants driving future intentions of travel consumers to participate in group-based travel to major events. An integrated theoretical model is empirically tested with 424 travel consumers who have had prior experience travelling in a group to a major event. The results substantiate the model showing that customer value perceptions of a past group-travel consumption experience conceptualised with multiple benefit dimensions has the largest relative effect on future intentions to engage in group-travel behaviour to major events, followed by attitude towards the host destination and enduring event involvement. The results provide managers with holistic insights into components that are used as the basis upon which group-travel consumers develop their choice behaviour which can be used to effectively cultivate more attendees to major events.     

“汶川大地震”后四川旅游目的地安全形象重塑的对策思考

2008年的"汶川大地震"对四川旅游发展的影响巨大,对一些景区几乎是毁灭性打击,对旅游服务性企业影响也非常巨大,更重要的是由于地震的相关报道,使游客对四川的旅游心理产生了重大影响,使四川作为旅游安全目的地的形象严重受损。因此,重塑四川旅游目的地安全形象,促进四川旅游的进一步发展,应采取多种措施恢复人们对四川旅游目的地安全的信心。     

The role of international tourist perceptions of brand equity and travel intention in culinary tourism

Brand equity is becoming increasingly important, and research has started to examine the brand equity of tourist destinations. However, little research has studied the inter-relationship between the dimensions of brand equity in culinary tourism. The purpose of this study is to examine the roles of the three aspects of brand equity in culinary tourism. The Sobel test in line with Baron and Kenny's procedure was used to test the hypotheses in a sample of 407 international tourists from 10 regions. The empirical evidence supports the process-oriented view and indicates that brand loyalty could mediate the effects of brand image and perceived quality on travel intention. The findings of this study contribute to the theoretical development of a conceptual model and fill the gap in the literature.