Thailand's Destination Image through the Eyes of Its Citizens

This study investigates images of Thailand from the perspectives of Thai residents. The study was conducted at domestic and international tourist destinations in Southern Thailand, and 352 respondents participated in the study. The majority of respondents were females, 18–34 years old, and single. Residents from both destinations ranked natural beauty as Thailand's most important image. A significant difference was found in residents' perceptions of images of Thailand. These included activities and topics such as hiking and sightseeing, variety of food, spas and massages, night life, entertainment, night clubs and bars, relaxing and calm setting, a good place for a family to visit, and signs in other languages.     

Relationship between customer complaint behavior and demographic characteristics: A study of hotel restaurants' patrons

This study documented customer complaint behavior in hotel restaurants in Deadwood, USA, and examined the relationship between complaint behavior and demographic characteristics. The sample consisted of 250 hotel restaurant customers. It was found that the hotel restaurant customers tended to complain privately rather than taking public actions. Older, well-educated, customers with higher incomes tended to take private action to complain about their dissatisfaction more than younger, less educated customers with lower incomes. Based on results of the study, implications were suggested for industry practitioners to diminish the negative impact of complaint on hotel restaurants.     

International Tourist Satisfaction and Destination Loyalty: Bangkok,Thailand

This study compares first-time and repeat international tourists regarding their satisfaction and destination loyalty with their visit(s) to Bangkok. The data were collected from 254 international tourists. The results revealed that they were most satisfied with beautiful architectural buildings and historical sites, shopping opportunities and cultural sightseeing. Friends and families were their preferred information sources. Vacationing in Bangkok was the main purpose of their trip and taxies were their main means of transportation. First-time and repeat visitors differed in their views of Bangkok as being an amazing place, the hospitality of residents and beautiful smiles, and the quality of goods/services. For repeat tourists, professionals and students differed in their views of safety and security. Both groups would revisit Bangkok and recommend Bangkok to others.     

The Festival in My Hometown: The Relationships Among Performance Quality,Satisfaction, and Behavioral Intentions

Despite the high volume of research on festivals in Western cultures and the incredible growth of festivals over recent decades, little empirical research has been conducted on festivals in Thailand, many of which have existed more than 100 years. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the motivations that drive people to attend the Tenth Month Merit-Making Festival (TMMF) in Nakhon Si Thammarat, a province in southern Thailand, what they thought of products and services provided at the festival, what their level of satisfaction was, and whether or not they would recommend the festival to others or attend it again in the future. There were 324 respondents participating in the study. Friend—family togetherness, festival novelty, excitement, and escape were the leading motivations for attending the festival. Respondents were most satisfied with arts and crafts, entertainment, ticket price, displays and exhibitions, and the festival's duration. The activity–culture factor was the best performer. Those who were satisfied with the festival would encourage others to attend the festival, but they might not attend again in the future themselves.