An Analysis of Push and Pull Motivational Factors of International Tourists to Penang,Malaysia

This study identifies the travel motivations of international tourists to Penang, Malaysia, using the theory of push and pull motivations as a conceptual framework. The methodology was comprised of quantitative research based on 400 self-completed questionnaires. A principal component factor analysis was used to identify the underlying dimensions of push and pull motivational items. The results revealed three push and three pull factor dimensions. Among the identified motivation factors, Novelty and Knowledge-Seeking and Cultural and Historical Attractions were regarded as the most important push and pull factors, respectively. Based on the study’s findings, practical implications for tourism marketers are suggested and future research recommendations are provided.     

Market Segmentation of International Tourists Based on Motivation to Travel: A Case Study of Taiwan

Tourism represents a principal sector of the economy of Taiwan. Consequently, the government is currently focusing on developing the country as a major tourist destination in Asia. Thus, the primary aims of this research were to explore factors related to tourists’ motivations to visit Taiwan as well as the demographic segmentation of these foreign tourists. Using a convenience sample, 249 surveys were collected and analyzed. The results show that five push (enlightenment and reputation; unusual and affection; freedom; interpersonal communication and sharing; and family and friends relationship) and six pull factors (attitude and quality of service; cost, shopping, and tasting; diverse attraction; culture connections; sport facilities, wildlife and events; and accessibility) play important roles in the motivations of foreign tourists. Furthermore, foreign tourists can be clustered into five groups based on motivation (scenery/knowledge seekers, accessibility/expenditure seekers, relaxation/relation seekers, novelty/experience seekers, sport/service seekers) and five demographic groups (gender, age, marital status, nationality, and income). According to these results, suggestions are made as to how Taiwan could effectively develop tourism policies and marketing strategies to attract international tourists.     

Travel Motivation,Destination Image and Visitor Satisfaction of International Tourists After the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake: A Structural Modelling Approach

This study investigates the relationships between travel motivation, destination image and overall satisfaction of international tourists visiting Sichuan province after the great Wenchuan earthquake of 2008. Did the earthquake influence tourist’ motivations for visiting Sichuan either positively or negatively, and did the earthquake affect their image of the province as desirable travel destination? Survey data collected from 346 international tourists in Chengdu, the provincial capital, revealed that respondents were primarily motivated by Sichuan's traditional attractions – its scenery and the giant pandas native to the area rather than by the earthquake. Structural equation modelling revealed a statistically significant relationship between travel motivation and overall visitor satisfaction, as well as relationships between travel motivation and types of destination image. Furthermore, both positive and negative destination images seem to have an effect on overall satisfaction. This study implies that international tourists to Sichuan tend to visit for its scenery and wildlife; the 2008 earthquake has had little effect on their travel motivations and destination images; and these visitors hold positive images of the province.     

Predictors of Templestay Satisfaction: A Comparison Between Korean and International Participants

The present study aims to determine the underlying factors critical to the overall satisfaction (Templestay satisfaction) of local and foreign participants in South Korean Buddhist temple stay programs (hereafter, Templestay). A two-step multivariate procedure was performed where the data were first subjected to a factor analysis followed by structural equation model. The findings are congruent with three out of five research hypotheses. Moreover, the empirical evidence showed that there are no differences in reporting of Templestay satisfaction between Korean and international participants. Nevertheless, being with nature, self-growth, and relaxation are underlying factors that define satisfaction for Koreans. For international participants, being with nature and relaxation are significant. The study reveals that learning experience is a poor predictor of Templestay satisfaction. The practical implication of this research is that Templestay managers should focus on the factors that have the highest importance for obtaining Templestay satisfaction for both Korean and international visitors.     

穗港澳居民环城游憩行为比较研究

本文针对穗港澳居民以城市周边为目的地近距离游憩日益增长的现象,借助实地问卷调查,从比较的角度,揭示了穗港澳居民环城游憩行为存在的差异,并从政治经济制度、意识形态、经济发展水平、生活方式、价值观念等方面,分析了造成穗港澳居民环城游憩行为呈现差异的原因.     

Examining the Relationships among Motivation,Service Quality and Loyalty: The case of the National Museum of Natural Science

This study explores causal relationships between push and pull motivations, perceptions of service quality and loyalty intention, and examines the moderating role of membership status in the National Museum of Natural Science, the largest museum in Taiwan. Data were collected from 405 paid admission visitors, with a quota and systematic sampling, from two stages of pre- and post-visit corresponding with two questionnaires. The results demonstrate that push and pull motivations impact on service quality perceptions, which in turn influence museum loyalty; the effect of pull motivation on service quality perceptions in the nonmember group was stronger than in the member group; the effect of service quality perceptions on loyalty in the member group was stronger than in the nonmember group. Museum managers could tailor and advertise existing museum products and services to different types of visitors; assuring the museum's continued operation and success.     

Influence of Experiences on Memories,Satisfaction and Behavioral Intentions: A Study of Creative Tourism

To date, few empirical studies have focused on the constituents of creative tourists’ experience and its consequences. This study aims to bridge this research gap by examining the effect of creative tourists’ experience on their memories, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions. Data were collected from 296 creative tourists, selected through purposive sampling, at selected resort hotels in the Malaysian states of Terengganu and Kedah. The results show that creative-tourist experience is a second-order factor with five dimensions, namely escape and recognition, peace of mind, unique involvement, interactivity, and learning. The results of structural equation modeling show that creative tourists’ experience is a good predictor of their memories, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions. The proposed model and findings can greatly help researchers and practitioners understand the concept of creative-tourist experience and its complex relationships with their memories, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions.     

Service Fairness,Consumption Emotions,Satisfaction, and Behavioral Intentions: The Experience of Chinese Heritage Tourists

Drawing on the cognitive appraisal theory and the justice theory from the marketing and tourism literature, this study attempts to illuminate the embedded impact of tourist experience on overall satisfaction and behavioral intentions in a cognitive-affective-behavioral framework. The findings suggest that service fairness is an antecedent of consumption emotions (positive and negative) that, in turn, influence satisfaction and behavioral intentions in the context of Chinese natural heritage tourism. Notably, the results highlight the mediating role of tourists’ consumption emotions. This article concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications to heritage tourism researchers and managers.     

Analysis of Structural Equation Model for the Student Pleasure Travel Market: Motivation,Involvement, Satisfaction,and Destination Loyalty

Greater understanding of the model that plays a role in attracting certain visitor segments thus allows travel businesses to develop marketing strategies. This research analyzes an empirical model including push motivations, pull motivations, cognitive involvement, affective involvement, satisfaction, and loyalty to students' top domestic and international destinations. Results suggest push motivations are a good predictor of pull motivations, which in turn are considered a good predictor of cognitive involvement. Cognitive involvement is a good predictor of both affective involvement and satisfaction. Affective involvement is a good predictor of satisfaction. This study also confirms the significant association of satisfaction with destination loyalty. Hence, the proposed model provides a good quality of theoretical framework to positively predict travel demand toward domestic and international destinations.     

Mainland Chinese Canadian Immigrants' Leisure Satisfaction and Subjective Well-Being: Results of a Two-Year Longitudinal Study

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine whether recent Chinese Canadian immigrants' (a) leisure satisfaction, happiness, and life satisfaction changed over a two-year period and (b) if leisure satisfaction affected their subjective well-being (SWB) over this same period. Participants completed an initial, trilingual telephone questionnaire (N = 220) and then were recontacted every six months for two years. Hierarchical linear modeling indicated that leisure satisfaction decreased over the two-year period, likely because of “leisure shock,” employment of a “withdrawn” strategy, or both. The results also showed that leisure satisfaction significantly and positively affected happiness and life satisfaction. Study limitations are identified, theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and future research recommendations are outlined.     

传统旅游城市入境游客满意度评价及其期望-感知特征差异分析--以西安欧美游客为例

入境旅游是衡量一个国家或地区旅游实力和开放程度的重要指示器.本文选取西安欧美客源为研究对象,基于期望差异模型、花费-收获模型、服务绩效模型和标准模型对游客满意度做出测定和比较,并运用合图法(co-plot)分析西安欧美游客的期望和实际感知特点.结果发现:①期望差异和花费--收获模式与总体满意度显著相关,推荐率与游客满意度高度正相关,而重游意向与满意度联系不大.②根据游客期望和实际感知及两者差异值,西安旅游的相关指标分成八类,间接反映了西安旅游业发展特点.③西安欧美游客和国内游客对旅游六要素表现出不同的评价和满意度.最后提出了本文研究不足及今后研究中应弥补之处.     

Measurement and Management Issues in Customer Satisfaction Research: Review,Critique and Research Agenda: Part Two

Abstract

A two-part article was designed to review the main areas of agreement and disagreement in the debate over customer satisfaction and its measurement. The preceding article presented a synthesis of views in regard to the definition of customer satisfaction; the similarity, difference, and causality between customer satisfaction and service quality; and the use of the Expectancy-Disconfirmation Paradigm in the measurement of customer satisfaction. This second article undertakes a critical review of the debates relating to the reliability and validity of the Performance alone and the Weighted Importance-Performance models in assessing customer satisfaction. Further discussions pertaining to culture-satisfaction relationship, who should determine satisfaction (the researcher or the customer) and whether the measurement of customer satisfaction is an end in itself are presented. Finally, possible barriers that exist in the way of developing and implementing effective satisfaction improvement programmes are reviewed, and suggestions for future research are provided.     

中国旅游研究国际影响度的比较分析与提升途径

本文在引入并分析旅游研究国际影响度的概念的基础上,提出了旅游研究国际影响度的测评指标体系,并选取"在国际主流旅游学术刊物上发表的论文数量"、"出任国际旅游学术刊物编委的学者数量"、"举办国际性旅游学术会议的数量"、"出任国际性旅游研究机构专家的学者数量"、"出任国际旅游学术刊物审稿专家的学者数量"等5个指标,对中国(两岸四地)与韩国的旅游研究国际影响度现状进行了比较,分析了中国两岸四地、韩国这5个地区在旅游研究国际影响度方面的差距、差异与共同点.文章最后针对中国内地旅游研究的国际影响度现状,提出了若干提升的建议.     

The Intrinsic,Instrumental and Spiritual Values of Natural Area Visitors and the General Public: A Comparative Study

Theory suggests that tourists who hold higher levels of environmental concern are more likely to have an interest in natural places and their conservation, and be more likely to engage in activities that are environmentally sustainable. This study assessed environmental concern by measuring and comparing the intrinsic, non-use, use, spiritual and recreation values of nature-based tourists, members of a recreational conservation group and the general public. The results showed that members of each sample could be grouped into four clusters, each holding a unique combination of the values. For some clusters, spirituality and intrinsic value were positively associated, yet for others, the two values appeared to exist in different conceptual domains. One cluster placed particular importance on bequest and existence values and one cluster valued natural places mainly for recreation. The results indicated that while many people are clearly interested in natural areas, they are influenced in different ways by a range of values. The study provides information about specific values that will help to better understand visitors to natural places and assist in the management and conservation of those places.     

A Cross-Cultural/National Study of Canadian,Chinese, and Japanese University Students' Leisure Satisfaction and Subjective Well-Being

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine whether Canadian, Chinese, and Japanese university students' leisure satisfaction affected their subjective well-being (SWB) and, if so, how this process was similar and different cross-culturally/nationally. A series of stepwise multiple regressions indicated that, in general, satisfying leisure significantly and positively impacted SWB across all three cultures, but there were also differences between (a) Canada and both China and Japan in terms of aesthetic leisure satisfaction and (b) China and Japan in terms of psychological and physiological leisure satisfaction. Overall, our results suggest that while satisfying leisure significantly, positively, and substantively impacts SWB in both Western and East Asian cultural contexts, culture frequently influences which specific elements are pertinent. This cross-cultural/national study has important theoretical and practical implications for the currently Western-centric leisure literature and for the understanding of the different roles leisure plays in enhancing SWB across cultures, respectively.     

An Empirical Study of Behavioral Intentions in the Food Festival: The Case of Macau

The behavioral intentions of visitors play an important role in predicting future profits in the food festival. The purpose of this study is to identify the dimensions of festival quality and examine the interrelationships between behavioral intentions and the other constructs related to behavioral intentions as perceived by visitors to the food festival using structural equation modeling (SEM). The dimensions of festival quality are built and a multi-dimensional and hierarchical model is used as a framework to synthesize the effects of festival quality and visitor satisfaction on behavioral intentions of visitors to the Macau Food Festival (MFF). The findings of this study are based on SEM analysis of a convenience sample of 428 respondents. The findings reveal that there are four primary dimensions and 11 sub-dimensions of festival quality in the MFF.     

Understanding Medical Tourists in Korea: Cross-Cultural Perceptions of Medical Tourism among Patients from the USA,Russia, Japan,and China

A cross-cultural approach is adopted to examine factors related to perceptions of and attitudes toward medical tourism by American, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese tourists to Korea. Results from a survey with a sample of 883 tourists show that respondents' overall attitudes significantly differ across the four nations. Russian patients hold most positive attitudes, followed by Chinese and Japanese. Major perceptual factors are found to have different effects on overall attitudes among respondents. While travel-related risks are the most influential factor among Russian, Japanese, and Chinese patients, Americans are influenced mostly by health-related risks. American and Japanese attitudes are also affected by cost factor but not by convenience factor. On the other hand, convenience factor significantly affects Russian and Chinese attitudes. Additionally, post-operative risk, access to information, and availability of procedures have different effects across the four nations. Possible explanations and practical implications are discussed in conjunction with the cultural contexts of the four nations.     

A Pilot Study of Motivations,Inhibitors, and Facilitators of Association Members in Attending International Conferences

Abstract

This study examined motivation, inhibitors, and facilitators of association members in attending international conferences. A survey questionnaire was used to measure the importance of those factors in influencing the subjects during the conference attendance decision process. The study revealed that opportunities for travel to overseas destinations, outdoor recreation, business or political activities, change of pace, networking, and education were important factors which motivated the respondents in attending international conferences. Perceived risks of safety, inconvenience, and unfamiliarity with overseas destinations, distance, time, money, health problems, and possible security problems of overseas destinations inhibit people from attending conferences. The respondents considered deals on overseas travel packages, opportunities to do activities with family at overseas destinations, and costs covered by their employer as important factors that facilitate their attendance at international conferences.     

Examining the Influence of Rapport between Players and Dealers on Customer Satisfaction,Revisit Intentions,and Word-of-Mouth in the Casino Industry: The Moderating Role of Gender

This study explores the role of rapport between players and dealers in the casino industry. More specifically, based on a literature review, it was proposed that (1) rapport positively affects three outcome variables: customer satisfaction, revisit intentions, and word-of-mouth; (2) customer satisfaction has a positive influence on revisit intentions and word-of-mouth; and (3) gender plays a moderating role in this process. Based on the proposed hypotheses, a conceptual model was developed and tested using empirical data from 227 casino table players. Data analysis results showed that rapport is an important determinant of customer satisfaction, revisit intentions, and word-of-mouth. In addition, it was revealed that customer satisfaction bears a significant impact on revisit intentions and word-of-mouth. Lastly, gender has key moderating functions in the relationship between (1) rapport and customer satisfaction and (2) rapport and revisit intentions. The possible interpretations and managerial implications of these findings are provided in the last part of the article.     

A Study of Experiential Quality,Equity, Happiness,Rural Image,Experiential Satisfaction,and Behavioral Intentions for the Rural Tourism Industry in China

This study aims at examining the interrelationships among experiential quality, equity, happiness, rural image, experiential satisfaction, and behavioral intentions for the rural tourism industry in China. The data used in this study were based on a sample of 694 rural tourists staying in Sansheng Flower Town of Chengdu, indicating that the proposed model fits the data. The result of this study will assist rural tourism management in developing and implementing market-orientated service strategies to increase experiential quality and equity, and enhance the image and experiential satisfaction of rural tourists in order to generate favorable intentions to return or revisit the same rural village.