Traveling with pets: Constraints,negotiation, and learned helplessness

Pets have become increasingly important companions for modern families in daily life and during vacations. Yet traveling with pets involves various uncertainties and constraints that can inhibit tourists' participation. Drawing upon the constraint-negotiation model, this two-step, mixed-methods study examines how these constraints may influence pet owners' travel intentions and how such barriers can be overcome. A qualitative investigation was first conducted based on online user-generated content from 71 Chinese bloggers. Thematic analysis informed the development of an extended constraint-negotiation framework featuring learned helplessness. The extended model was then tested using survey data from 615 Chinese pet owners. Findings suggest that while perceived constraints can inhibit traveling with pets through increased learned helplessness, negotiation can reduce helplessness and encourage pet owners’ tourism participation. Implications and limitations are also discussed.     

Short video marketing and travel intentions: The interplay between visual perspective,visual content,and narration appeal

Social media short videos represent a powerful tool for tourism destination promotion. However, little research has investigated their effect on tourist travel intentions. Drawing on the construal level theory and the elaboration likelihood model, this study investigates the interactive effects between visual and verbal framing of promotional tourism short video on travel intention through two scenario-based experiments. Study 1 examined the interaction effect between visual perspective and visual content. The results indicated that the match between first-person (versus third-person) perspective and activity-centric (versus site-centric) content fosters higher travel intention through enhancing imagery fluency. Study 2 further examined the moderating role of narration message appeal and revealed that first-person perspective with activity-centric content leads to higher travel intention when paired with rational (versus emotional) narration messages, with affect intensity playing a significant mediating role. These findings contribute to knowledge on short video marketing and provide valuable insights for tourism marketers.     

When online reviews meet virtual reality: Effects on consumer hotel booking

This study examines the direct and interaction effects of online reviews (quality and quantity) and virtual reality on consumer hotel booking. Data were collected from two 2 × 2 experimental studies. The results show a direct effect of both online review and virtual reality's application on behavioral intention, and the influence of online reviews on behavioral intention was weakened when virtual reality was applied. Moreover, online reviews and virtual reality had a significant combined effect on behavioral intention, with greater strength than that of online reviews alone. The findings provide insights for travel and tourism managers to enhance marketing communication effects by proper use of virtual reality to complement online reviews.     

Risk Perception and Buying Behavior: An Examination of Some Relationships in the Context of Cruise Tourism in Jamaica

Cruise tourism continues to grow substantially, even as many other forms of travel stagnate. In this era of increasing worldwide violence against tourists, safety, security, and risk abatement are becoming principal components in travelers' decision-making processes. This work examines the issue of perceived risk and safety and what impact these perceptions have on shopping behavior. The research takes place in Jamaica, a country with a reputation for aggressive vendors. Findings indicate that those visitors who traveled with others spent more time shopping and purchased more. Additionally, it was found that first time visitors express higher levels of discomfort with their surroundings than did repeat visitors, thus inhibiting purchase behavior. Finally, it was found that levels of perceived risk and security did have an impact on a traveler's intention to return to Jamaica.     

Affective learning in short-term educational travel abroad: An exploratory mixed-method study

Employing an exploratory mixed-method approach, this research explores young adults' affective learning outcomes derived from their short-term educational travel abroad experiences. Different from previous travel research mostly focusing on the educational benefits of cognitive knowledge and technical skills, the current research highlights the prominent effect of educational travel on young adults' personal growth and attitudinal/emotional development by investigating the understudied domain of affective learning and how it manifests among college students having short-term study abroad experiences. Through a systematic review and a follow-up survey-based comparison study, five salient affective learning variables were identified—perspectives on global interdependence, intercultural attitudes, openness to diversity and challenge, environmental attitudes, and general self-efficacy. Furthermore, this research found that travelers’ lower-order affective learning shows significant progress after the short-term educational overseas travel. This study contributes to a niche topic in tourism research and provides implications to promote educational travel as an effective transformative learning approach.     

网络游戏与旅游互动的初步研究

网络游戏为人们提供了一个遨游虚拟世界与在虚拟世界中互动游戏的媒介；旅游则提供了一个游历现实世界的平台。后现代社会以体验为中心的经济和文化时代的到来，使得网络游戏与旅游的互动具有可能性，虚拟现实技术发展为网络游戏与旅游的互动带来可行性。网络游戏与旅游的互动为网络游戏和旅游的发展扩展了空间。     

Brand personality of tourist destinations: An application of self-congruity theory

The purpose of this research was to investigate the perceived destination personality of Las Vegas and to examine the relationships among destination personality, self-congruity, and tourist’s behavioral intentions. A convenience sample of 382 visitors to Las Vegas was surveyed, and 368 usable questionnaires were analyzed. The findings of the study indicate that tourists ascribe personality characteristics to destinations and that the perceived destination personality of Las Vegas is five dimensional: vibrancy, sophistication, competence, contemporary, and sincerity. These dimensions have a positive influence on tourists’ intention to return and intention to recommend. The study also supports the self-congruity theory within the context of tourism destinations, indicating that both actual congruity and ideal congruity have a positive impact on behavioral intentions. The study concludes that self-congruity is a partial mediator on the relationship between destination personality and tourist’s behavioral intentions. The practical and theoretical implications are discussed within the contexts of destination branding and the self-congruity theory.     

Examination of the adoption of augmented reality: a VAM approach

ABSTRACT

Despite the growing importance and popularity of augmented reality (AR) technologies in hospitality and tourism, little research to identify the degree of user adoption, particularly in the business travel sector, has been conducted. Based on a questionnaire administered to 161 stakeholders attending two international conferences in Hong Kong, user experiences and adoption intention were examined and analyzed through structural equation modeling. Adoption was explored using a value-based adoption model. AR adoption is affected by its perceived value to which the benefits of usefulness and enjoyment contribute, along with newly identified components of technicality and captivating inputs.     

The Effect of Length of Stay on Travelers' Perceived Satisfaction with Service Quality

SUMMARY

Consumer satisfaction related to service quality during the vacation experience is of paramount importance to the travel and tourism industry. This study tests empirically the effects the number of nights spent on a vacation have on the levels of satisfaction recent travelers report for three service aspects of the travel destination: perceived satisfaction with tourism service providers; perceived “freedom from defects” of tourism services; and perceived reasonableness of the cost of tourism services. Differentiation in satisfaction scores between “short-term visitors” (i.e., those who stayed from one to six nights) and “long-term visitors” (i.e., those who stayed seven or more nights) were examined. Significant differences between the two groups of visitors were present for (1) perceived satisfaction with industry professionals delivering the service experience at the travel destination, (2) perceived satisfaction with “freedom from defects” of the actual services at the destination, and (3) perceived reasonableness of the cost of services at the travel destination. Suggestions for how tourism industry professionals can make use of this information are presented.     

Understanding why: Push-factors that drive rural tourism amongst senior travellers

This research examined the push-motives driving domestic rural tourism amongst senior travellers. An understanding of this is essential to stimulate rural tourism and to redistribute visitors from high volume destinations to other locations. Applying the push-pull framework, an online survey of Australians aged over 50 was conducted. Participants were asked where they went and what motivated their trip. Based on the trip pattern followed, two rural trip segments were identified - those who preferred the east-coast (Eastern Staters), and those who did not have a geographic preference but travelled to remote destinations (Aussie Roundabouts). Rural travel was found to be driven by three motives, however, their influence differed based on the trip pattern. Eastern Staters were pushed to relax and escape, and experience novelty and adventure. Aussie Roundabouts travelled for a romantic getaway.     

Second-home owners' intention to purchase nature-based tourism activity products – A Norwegian case study

Tourism is acknowledged to be an important business sector in rural areas. This paper argues that second-home owners constitute an important market segment for businesses that offer nature-based tourism activities. Previous research has shown that a number of factors influence tourist behaviour. This study examined how motivation and demographic variables affect second-home owners' intention to purchase three different types of activity products: learning, adventure, and hunting products. We found substantial variations in the purchase intentions for these products among second-home owners. These intentions were influenced by push and pull motivations, age, income and educational level. Second-home owners with a high intention of purchasing nature-based tourism activity products tend to be young, high-income, and socially oriented risk takers. Businesses offering nature-based tourism activity products should use a combination of demographic and psychographic variables when they segment the second-home market.     

Influences of travel constraints on the people with disabilities’ intention to travel: An application of Seligman’s helplessness theory

Changes to legal and social environments have contributed to the expansion of the disabled tourism market. However, despite this growth, within tourism there is a distinct lack of research of this niche market, and in particular of the barriers which impede or prevent those with disabilities from participating in tourism. This study addresses this lacuna by exploring the relationships between three inter-related concepts, these being: (1) travel constraints including its three sub-dimensions, these being intrinsic, environmental, and interactive; (ii) learned helplessness; and, (iii) intention to travel. This is attempted through a structured survey targeted at a sample of disabled Korean travelers (N = 301). The results revealed that the three sub-dimensions of constraints exerted no significant influence (p < .05) on travel intentions, though two of the three dimensions (intrinsic and environmental) were found to be statistically significantly associated with learned helplessness. This latter variable, in turn provided a statistically significant negative influence (p < .05) on intention to travel. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed, and some avenues for future research are highlighted.     

Can craft beverages shape a destination’s image? A cognitive intervention to measure pisco-related resources on conative image

Assessing potential tourists' perceptions is vital to build a destination image and brand capable to attract new and repeated visitors. The increasing popularity of craft beverage tourism in recent years is incentivizing destinations to (re)design their offerings and (re)brand their image based on their craft beverages. This study investigated how the image of an emerging craft beverage tourism destination (Ica, Peru) is formed among potential tourists by inducing cognitive image (knowledge presented through picture-text dyads) of Ica's iconic resources, staple craft beverage (pisco), and resources associated with its production. Additionally, it measured the impact of local resources' characteristics, affective image, and personal characteristics on conative image (interest to visit and willingness to recommend) at different intervention stages. Results indicate that pisco-related resources are powerful enough to motivate travel, and that the characteristics of a mix of resources should be combined with beverage-specific information when developing branding strategies for craft beverage tourism destinations.     

Social contact theory and attitude change through tourism: Researching Chinese visitors to North Korea

Drawing on 34 interviews with Chinese visitors to North Korea, this paper adopts the social contact theory to examine their attitude change through tourism. The paper first examines how Chinese tourists imagine North Korea as a tourism destination prior to their visits. Then the paper focuses on both the regulated and agentive dimensions involved in their travel, asking how individual Chinese tourist negotiates with the externally imposed restrictions to obtain more tourist-host contact. Third, it identifies both positive and negative post-trip attitude changes. In doing so, the paper creates a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of tourism conducted between China and North Korea which are perceived as “friendly” neighbors with conflicts. Apart from offering empirical and policy implications, this paper extends the use of intergroup social contact theory by focusing on a destination with restrictions on tourist-host contact.     

Understanding travel tracking mobile application usage: An integration of self determination theory and UTAUT2

By integrating the Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan 1985) and a modified version of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) framework (Venkatesh et al., 2012), this study aimed to investigate factors affecting travelers' intention to share their travel-related information on travel tracking mobile applications (TTMA). The proposed model was tested via structural equation modeling by using data collected from 305 mobile app users. The results revealed that effort expectancy, hedonic motivation, social benefits, self-image had a positive impact; and location privacy concern had a negative impact on users' intention to post travel-related information on TTMAs. The findings of the current study contribute to the literature in the context of technology acceptance in general, and TTMA acceptance in the travel and tourism industries in particular. The study results also provide practical implications, especially for entrepreneurs and tourism-related technology companies.     

Geography's Changing Role in Tourism Marketing

Summary

This paper describes key travel traits of non-resident visitors to British Columbia's wine tourism destinations. It identifies Genera-list and Immersionist as being important segments of this market that merit particular attention in future destination management planning and marketing initiatives. It uses an importance-performance analysis framework to determine the key areas for management activity that need to be addressed in order to meet the travel product needs of each of these segments. The paper concludes by recommending a range of strategic initiatives that should be used by the wine industry and its tourism partners to elevate the appeal of BC wine destinations in the international marketplace. While specific to the     

Where are the enslaved?: TripAdvisor and the narrative landscapes of southern plantation museums

ABSTRACT

This study examines two southern Louisiana plantation museums: Laura and Oak Alley, using a framework that stresses the narrative power and politics of these heritage sites. Located a mile from each other along the Mississippi River, they present two similar yet different narratives of the antebellum American South. Laura places more emphasis on the enslaved who inhabited the plantation than does Oak Alley, whose narrative centers upon the opulence of the plantation home – that is, ‘the big house'. This study explores what visitors take away from their plantation tours. Specifically, it examines their thoughts about how the enslaved are represented at these two museums. The study's data come from visitors’ comments posted on the travel website TripAdvisor. The object of the study is to gain a greater understanding of what visitors learn about the history of the enslaved on these tours and how they participate, along with site managers, in the narrative construction of the plantation and negotiating the divide between tourism as amusement and tourism as memorial.     

Challenges in Mobile Business Solutions for Tourist Destinations—The Trial Case of St. Moritz

SUMMARY

Mobile business applications in tourism have been developed in the last years for various platforms and services. However, most of the applications have been tested in lab-like conditions. The article describes the trial case of St. Moritz, Switzerland. With the help of the Destination-Pilot acceptability, usability, and market potential for mobile information services have been tested in a real environment situation. The trial involves numerous visitors and tourist enterprises. The paper presents opportunities and limitations to so called mobile travel recommender systems. Strong emphasis is put on the methodical and technical challenges in the set up trial phase as well as on potential business models for exploitation.     

An Educational Game for Tourism and Hospitality Education

ABSTRACT

This paper presents an educational game where players act as travel agents to learn how a travel agency functions. They are provided with an uncertain environment in which they make strategic decisions aimed at maximizing their agency's wealth. Players are expected to make managerial decisions while experiencing how market structures and strategic decision-making can affect commerce within a simulated tourism and hospitality industry. The auction game offers students hands-on experience that assists them in understanding the functioning of markets in all aspects of business. Students are also given an opportunity to interact with team-players, to compete against other students, and to develop an appreciation of the pressures facing travel agencies.     

Pacific Area Tourism: A Guide to Key Sources of Tourism Statistics

Abstract

During the period 1988 to 1995 Korean outbound travel increased by 526% to 3,818,740 in 1995. The rapidity of this increase has caught many destinations unprepared. One such example is Australia which has only recently recognised the potential of Korean tourism. Australia's tourism industry has yet to recognise that Korean tourists have expectations that differ from those of other Asian visitors and as a result has failed to provide a product that lives up to the promotional images of Australia contained in tourism marketing campaigns. Issues such as cuisine, language difficulties and poor itineraries are identified as major problems. This article will examine the problems Australia faces in developing a range of services and products suitable for Korean tourists.