Quality of visitor attractions,satisfaction, benefits and behavioural intentions of visitors: verification of a model

This study is an attempt to verify a model of relations between motivation, quality of product of attraction, benefits, satisfaction and behavioural intentions of visiting people. The data for the analysis were collected from 1770 visitors in four tourist attractions of the Wielkopolska and Kujawy regions. It was noted that the effect of performance of service provider on behavioural intentions takes the route through benefits gained by the visitors. Benefits have a stronger total effect on behavioural intentions than visitors' satisfaction. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effects of perceived authenticity,information search behaviour,motivation and destination imagery on cultural behavioural intentions of tourists

This study tested a structural model which investigates the effects of perceived authenticity, motivation, information search behaviour and destination imagery on tourists' behavioural intentions to consume cultural attractions. Data were collected at selected cultural and natural heritage sites in the island of Mauritius (N?=?600). The sample was split into two data sets. Structural equation modelling and hierarchical multiple regression were employed to test the hypothesised relationships. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between perceived authenticity and cultural behavioural intentions of tourists. Destination imagery had an influence on tourists' cultural intentions. Information search behaviour was found to exert a negative influence on tourists' cultural intentions while motivation did not have any influence on the latter. Perceived authenticity was seen to exert a moderating effect on the respective relationships between motivation, information search behaviour, destination imagery and cultural behavioural intentions of tourists. The theoretical and managerial implications of the study are discussed.     

Destination image,on-site experience and behavioural intentions: path analytic validation of a marketing model on domestic tourists

Despite its contribution to the national economy, domestic tourism is one of the most neglected and under-researched forms of tourism in the literature. This study tested an integrated path model examining the interrelationships between destination image, perceived quality, satisfaction and behavioural intentions, using domestic tourists who visited Eilat, Israel. The findings support the hierarchical relationships between image, quality, satisfaction and behavioural intentions. In addition, the affective image component was found to exert a far greater impact on the overall destination image than the cognitive component. The study establishes a better understanding of domestic tourists’ destination image and behavioural intention formulation. It also provides a number of implications for destination managers targeting the voluminous domestic segment.     

Predicting tourists' behavioural intentions at the destination level

Using structural equation modelling, the formative model was tested on a sample of 703 tourists who visited six coastal destinations in Montenegro. It relies on the complex relationships between five constructs – perceived quality of a destination's offerings, tourist satisfaction, perceived equity, perceived benefits and behavioural intentions – simultaneously incorporating the emotional and rational self-regulatory mechanisms. The empirical results supported the hypothesised relationships. The group of eight tourist destination attributes affects perceived quality of a destination's offerings that positively and directly relate to perceived benefits, behavioural intentions and tourist satisfaction, whereas satisfaction is also determined by equity perceptions. Additionally, perceived quality of a destination's offerings also relates indirectly to tourist behavioural intentions, through perceived benefits and tourist satisfaction, while satisfaction also mediates the interaction between perceived equity and tourist intended behaviour. These research results contribute to a deeper understanding of which behavioural processes, and with what strength, lead to the increase in tourist loyalty at the destination level, and ultimately provide better insights into the predictors of behavioural intentions.     

Family Members and Vacation Satisfaction: Proposal of a Conceptual Framework

This study aimed to investigate the extent to which the other family members (spouse and/or child/ren) in a family influence the vacationers' overall vacation satisfaction and future behavioural intentions. As part of the study, a conceptual framework was proposed where overall vacation satisfaction mediates the relationships between spouses' and child/ren's vacation evaluations and respondents' return and recommending intentions. The methodology included self‐administered surveys of 445 families from the UK, which were completed at a Turkish resort airport in August 2007. The results indicate that the respondents' vacation satisfaction is influenced more strongly by spouses. Furthermore, the results show that respondents' return intentions are determined by their and their spouses' vacation satisfaction, whereas respondents' recommending intentions are determined by their and their child/ren's vacation satisfaction. These results bring new insights into the post‐purchase vacation behaviour for both theory and practice. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Behavioral intentions of public transit passengers—The roles of service quality,perceived value,satisfaction and involvement

Understanding the behavioral intentions of public transit passengers is important, because customer loyalty is seen as a prime determinant of long-term financial performance. This study highlights such behavioral intentions and explores the relationships between passenger behavioral intentions and the various factors that affect them. Apart from the factors recognized by past studies, such as service quality, perceived value, and satisfaction, this study addresses the importance of the involvement of public transit services in passenger behavioral intentions. By using passenger survey data from the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit (KMRT), a newly operating public transit system in Taiwan, we apply the structural equation modeling technique to analyze the conceptualized relationship model. The findings reveal that all causal relationships are statistically significant. Managerial implications are discussed.     

In-flight physical surroundings: quality,satisfaction, and traveller loyalty in the emerging low-cost flight market

The purpose of our research was to investigate the relationships among overall service quality, customer satisfaction, and behavioural intentions by considering the moderating impact of in-flight ambient conditions (air quality, temperature, odour, and noise) in the low-cost airline industry. A survey was conducted on international flights. Results of the structural equation modelling from a sample of 402 passengers indicated that quality and satisfaction are significant drivers of intentions; and satisfaction acted as a significant mediators. Additionally, supporting the moderating impact of ambience, findings from the tests for metric invariance revealed that the effect of satisfaction on intentions was stronger for the high air quality, temperature, odour, and noise groups than for the low groups; and the strength of the relationship between quality and intentions was greater in the high noise group than in the low noise group. Our results will help practitioners/researchers develop effective strategies/theories for passenger satisfaction and retention.     

The Effect of Experience Quality on Perceived Value,Satisfaction, Image and Behavioral Intention of Water Park Patrons: New versus Repeat Visitors

This study proposed a conceptual model to examine how customers' perceptions of the quality of experiences influence perceived value, water park image, customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions for first‐time and repeat customers of the water park of the tourism industry. This study finds that the quality of participants' experiences significantly affects perceived value, water park image and customer satisfaction. Moreover, perceived value and water park image exert a direct influence on customer satisfaction, and they also positively affect behavioral intentions. Finally, the impacts on customer satisfaction of experience quality and water park image significantly differ between first‐time and repeat customers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The impact of daily tour service quality on tourist satisfaction and behavioural intentions in an island context: a study on tours to Isla de la Plata,Ecuador

ABSTRACT

This study assesses the impact of daily tour service quality on tourist satisfaction and behavioural intentions in an island context. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the analysis of data collected from 195 participating in a daily tour to Isla de la Plata (Ecuador) showed that all the services examined (transportation by boat, food and beverage, tourist guide and visits) had a significant direct impact on tour satisfaction, having the transportation the highest impact. Moreover, the indirect effect of the daily tours services on behavioural intentions mediated by the satisfaction with the tour was also significant.     

A model of wine tourist behaviour: a festival approach

The study constructs a temporal model of wine tourist behaviour on the basis of the social psychologist' theory of consumer attitudes and related concepts with regard to past behaviour, satisfaction, perceived value and behavioural intentions. More importantly, this study added two dimensions to this model by proposing that satisfaction and perceived value had an impact on the attendees' intentions (i) to visit a local winery and (ii) to buy local wine products. Using a path analysis approach and data collected from the attendees at a regional wine festival, the study examined the above relationships. The results of this path analysis can be summarised as: (i) past behaviour influenced the intention to revisit and the level of perceived value, but had no effect on the level of satisfaction; (ii) perceived value strongly affected the level of satisfaction; (iii) satisfaction had a strong impact on future intentions to revisit and also an effect on intentions to visit local wineries and to buy local wine products; and (iv) perceived value affected the intentions to revisit the festival and to visit local wineries but did not influence the intentions to buy local wines. It is believed that the results of the present study will be useful to organisers of wine festivals and/or wine tourism developers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploring heterogeneity among backpackers in hostels

This study’s goal was to validate the core dimensions of hostel service quality and to test whether each dimension has a different impact on behavioural intentions across guest segments defined by age, gender and nationality. This research targeted guests staying at Lisbon hostels (N?=?313). Both covariance-based structural equation modelling (SEM) and variance-based SEM were used to meet this study’s exploratory and confirmatory objectives. The results confirm that service quality in this sector is a multidimensional construct comprising four core dimensions: quality of staff, social atmosphere, hostel tangibles and city connection. These four aspects are relevant when explaining levels of satisfaction, recommendation and revisiting intentions. Moreover, these dimensions allow the identification of differences across market segments in regards to responses to marketing outcomes, thus providing useful insights into how best to meet guests’ needs.     

Destination Attributes' Evaluation,Satisfaction and Behavioural Intentions: a Structural Modelling Approach

This study aims at developing and testing a model integrating the associations among tourists' evaluation of destinations' attributes, overall satisfaction and behavioural intentions. The analysis is based on 923 observations collected in the Central Region of Portugal, where no investigation of this nature had been conducted before, and compares results regarding domestic versus international tourists. LISREL estimates provided strong support for the model. Some idiosyncrasies specific to each sample were found. This study represents an important contribution to the body of knowledge in the area of tourism destinations' management and marketing and suggests important implications to both practitioners and researchers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigating the moderating effect of information sources on cruise tourist behaviour in a port of call

The aim of the study is to examine how destination knowledge acquired by cruisers through different information sources (online versus others) can moderate destination image formation and the relationship of image–satisfaction–behavioural intentions in a port of call. A multiple group analysis with partial least square method was carried out using data collected from a major tourism destination in Spain: Valencia. The findings revealed knowledge acquired through different information sources is a moderator of the image–satisfaction and satisfaction–behavioural intention relationships. The destination image formation is also significantly different from one group to the other. The findings of this study have a number of practical implications.     

The moderating effect of personal and situational characteristics in behavioural factors affecting ports of call

This research aims to study the moderating effects of cruise passengers’ gender, age, education, and prior experiences on a Mediterranean port of call destination image formation and the influence that image and passenger satisfaction has on future behavioural intentions. The partial least squares technique is applied to test the hypotheses developed with a sample of 492 cruise passengers. Our findings show that (1) gender, age, education, and experience have a moderating influence on the image of ports of call, on cruise passengers’ satisfaction, and on future behavioural intentions derived from cruise passengers’ satisfaction; (2) prior experience has a moderating influence on the image formation of ports of call.     

To go or stay home and watch: exploring the balance between motives and perceived constraints for major events: a case study of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

The current study offers insight into the role of motivation and constraints on behavioural intentions prior to a mega event. The Psychological Continuum Model framework was used to integrate motivation and leisure constraints theory to examine attraction towards the 2008 Olympic Games. Semi‐structured interviews (N = 47) and a questionnaire (N = 235) distributed in Australia and the USA were used to identify and measure three motivational themes: cultural learning, cultural experience and olympic event interest, and three perceived constraints: structural, interpersonal and intrapersonal. Structural Equation Modelling revealed that motives were positively related to behavioural intentions while constraints were negatively related. Analysis further revealed the interaction between motives and perceived constraints led to two different forms of behavioural intentions; intentions to travel and attend the event vs. stay home to watch the event on TV. Policy and marketing implications are discussed that illustrate the benefits of understanding both motives and perceived constraints for tourism travel. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.     

Attributes affecting the level of tourist satisfaction with and loyalty towards theatrical performance in China: Evidence from a qualitative study

This study seeks to explore attributes affecting the level of tourist satisfaction with and loyalty towards theatrical performance in China. Based on four focus group discussions with 31 participants, the study identifies 34 attributes that affect the level of tourist satisfaction with theatrical performance, and groups them into five categories: stage, performance, venue, service and tourist‐related attributes. The findings on tourist loyalty reveal that 21 of the 31 respondents would not watch the same theatrical performance alone in the future; however, they would recommend it to others. The study concludes with a discussion of the rich and insightful findings and their implications for tourism industry practitioners. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impression of Liusanjie: Effect of mood on experience and satisfaction

This paper examines the effect of mood on satisfaction derived from experiencing an iconic and immersive cultural performance in Guilin, China called Impression of Liusanjie using structural equation modeling. Mood, together with visitor expectations and performance evaluations, was found to be significantly related to satisfaction and future intentions to recommend the show to others. Satisfaction was more strongly related to experiential evaluation of the performance than with attribute evaluation. The results indicate that understanding the mood and experiential outcomes for visitors at a performance is important increasing satisfaction and word‐of‐mouth recommendations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Does travellers’ casual attribution affect pre-recovery emotions and behavioural intentions? A field study of airline travellers in Malaysia

This study examines the relationship between airline travellers' casual attribution, pre-recovery emotions, and negative behavioural intentions after a service failure and proposes a model for analysing direct effects of airline travellers' casual attribution of stability (failure frequency) and controllability (the extent to which the airline can control the failure) on negative behavioural intentions as well as its indirect effects through pre-recovery emotions. Data were gathered through a survey of airline travellers who experienced a failure in the past six months. The results indicate that both dimensions of casual attribution influenced pre-recovery emotions and negative behavioural intentions, and that pre-recovery emotions were significantly related to negative behavioural intentions. In addition, the results verify the mediating effect of pre-recovery emotions on the relationship between casual attribution and behavioural intentions. These results have important managerial implications.     

Examining How Attending Motivation and Satisfaction Affects the Loyalty for Attendees at Aboriginal Festivals

This study examined the causal relationships between motivation, satisfaction and loyalty among attendees at aboriginal festivals. A total of 789 usable questionnaires were collected from two aboriginal festivals, Amis Ilisin and Saisiyat Pas‐taai. Data analyses were performed using SPSS 15.0 and LISREL 8.70 for Windows. The analytical results indicate that motivation directly affects satisfaction and indirectly affects loyalty, whereas satisfaction directly affects attendee loyalty at aboriginal festivals. Moreover, satisfaction significantly affects the loyalty of attendees at aboriginal festivals and is an important mediating variable in the behavioral model of aboriginal festivals. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effects of tourists’ knowledge-sharing motivation on online tourist community loyalty: the moderating role of ambient stimuli

This study explores the role of tourists’ knowledge-sharing motivation in the formation of online community loyalty. More specifically, the study examines (1) the theoretical relationships between five factors influencing knowledge-sharing motivation, knowledge contributions (KNC), knowledge-sharing continuance intentions (KCI), and community promotion (COP) and (2) the moderating effects of ambient stimuli on the relationship between KNC and KCI and on that between KNC and COP. For valid respondents, a convenience sample of online travel community members was obtained using Amazon Mechanical Turk. Hence, a total of 410 responses were employed to test the research hypotheses through a structural equation modelling analysis and a series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses. The results show that four factors influencing knowledge-sharing motivation, namely altruism, expected reciprocal benefits, reputation, and trust, had positive effects on KNO. KNO had positive effects on KCI and COP, and KCI had a positive effect on COP. In addition, a positive group perception moderated the KNC–KCI and KNC–COP relationships.