A Structural Model of Leisure Constraints Negotiation in Outdoor Recreation

A conceptual model tested the leisure constraints negotiation process of outdoor recreation: motivation and the constraints to participate likely influenced by negotiation efforts. Higher motivation to participate encourages using negotiation strategies and resources to overcome constraints. Experiencing constraints was thought to trigger negotiation efforts. Drawing from social cognitive theory, negotiation-efficacy was proposed to encourage motivation, diminish the perception of constraints and promote negotiation efforts, which indirectly influenced positive participation. The model tested used data collected from a random sample of Arizona residents through hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Results support the conceptual model and suggest the constraints negotiation process is a dynamic interaction of influences promoting outdoor recreation participation.     

Propositions for testing the involvement construct in recreational and tourism contexts

Abstract

The involvement construct has been extensively studied in the consumer behavior literature. Recent conceptual and measurement breakthroughs have made examination of the construct appealing in the contexts of recreational and tourist behavior. This article suggests 15 propositions that evolve from a review of involvement‐related literature. The propositions are grouped under the following headings: measurement issues; the relationship between involvement and time; the relationship of involvement with search and purchase behavior; the relationship between involvement and promotional stimuli; and accessing the involvement variable. The propositions are intended to stimulate and guide empirical research related to involvement in recreation and tourism contexts.     

旅游行为中的性别差异研究

了解性别与旅游行为之间的关系,对于旅游产品开发与营销有很强的借鉴意义.本文以黄山市国内游客的问卷调查数据为基础,通过统计检验,分析了性别与旅游者行为之间的关系.本文所分析的旅游者行为涉及到游前、游中、游后三个阶段,研究发现:(1)女性游客比男性游客平均搜集更多的信息类型,并更倾向于搜集旅行费用、食宿状况、线路安排这三种旅游信息;(2)女性游客比男性游客更倾向于通过人际交流的方式获取旅游信息;(3)对于游览民居和购买旅游纪念品两种旅游活动,女性游客比男性游客具有更强的偏好.     

Effects of Gender Differences on Perceptions of Destination Attributes,Motivations, and Travel Values: An Examination of a Nature-Based Resort Destination

This study examines the perceptions of the potential tourist market to a nature-based resort destination from the gendered perspective. The research reveals that significant gender differences exist about the perceived importance of destination attributes and travel values when potential nature tourists consider destination choices. After controlling for demographic and travel behaviour variables, such as age, marital status, education, household income, preference of price quote and length of stay, most gender differences remain significant. In addition, more significant distinctions between men and women are demonstrated after controlling for age and income level. The study provides insights into gendered perceptions of nature-based tourism settings. Specific marketing implications are discussed in an attempt to successfully attract nature tourists and provide a high-quality nature destination experience.     

饭店职业生涯管理测量维度开发及实证研究

文章旨在开发中国饭店职业生涯管理测量维度,同时验证职业生涯管理对职业满意度的影响作用。在研究方法方面,综合运用了定性和定量两种方法,并在全国范围内收集具有代表性的数据。探索性因子分析提取了饭店职业生涯管理的3个维度,即职业考评、职业培训及职业发展;检验性因子分析证实提取的维度具有有效的信度和效度;随后,基于新开发的测量维度,文章又运用结构方程验证了饭店职业生涯管理与职业满意度的关系。结果表明,有效的职业生涯管理能提高员工的职业满意度。在3个维度中,职业考评对职业满意度的贡献率最大,其次为职业发展及职业培训。最后,文章讨论了其学术和实践贡献,以期为理论研究和实践管理提供有益借鉴。     

The Role of Physical Environment in Leisure Service Consumption: Evidence From a Ski Resort Setting

Despite the importance of physical environment in hedonic service consumption, little is known about the extent to which physical environment influences ski resort visitors’ cognition, emotion, and behaviors. This study investigated the relationships among physical environmental stimuli (i.e., layout accessibility, aesthetics, cleanliness, and other visitors), perceived quality of physical environment, excitement, and behavioral intentions in ski resort. This study also attempted to test the moderating role of enduring involvement in the formation of behavioral intentions. Results showed that cleanliness and other visitors significantly and positively influenced visitors’ perceived quality of physical environment and excitement. The results suggest that physical environment is of great importance for the ski resort business. Perceived quality was indeed a significant predictor of excitement, which, in turn, positively influenced behavioral intentions. Finally, the study found that the effect of excitement on behavioral intentions was significant across high and low enduring involvement groups.     

Testing a Structural Model of Psychological Well-Being,Leisure Negotiation,and Leisure Participation with Taiwanese College Students

A theoretically constructed model combining psychological well-being, negotiation, and participation was tested using structural equation modeling on Taiwanese college students (N = 464). The results provided partial support for the proposed model in that the autonomy and self-acceptance dimensions of psychological well-being had significant positive effects on negotiation strategies. However, contrary to predictions, the personal growth and purpose in life dimensions had significant negative effects on college students’ use of negotiation strategies. Developing a psychological profile of successful negotiation among college students using this framework may aid in predicting who will activate their negotiation efforts, and thus enhance the effectiveness of interventions for health promotion.     

Boredom in Free Time: Relationships with Personality,Affect, and Motivation for Different Gender,Racial and Ethnic Student Groups

The propensity to experience boredom in free time was investigated by exploring relationships with the individual's demographic characteristics, personality, motivational orientation, and affective style assessed through group-administered questionnaires to 999 university students. The self-as-entertainment personality attribute consistently predicted the likelihood that students would be bored, and inverse relationships with extraversion and intrinsic motivational orientation were found for all student groups. Multiple regression analyses revealed that race, ethnicity, and gender were the only significant demographic predictors of the likelihood an individual would be bored in free time. Group similarities and differences in depicting students who were prone to experience boredom in free time are described.     

The Effect of Technology Readiness on Customers' Attitudes toward Self-Service Technology and Its Adoption; The Empirical Study of U.S. Airline Self-Service Check-In Kiosks

Airline self-service check-in kiosks are increasingly becoming an option for today's passengers. This article aims to develop a model, using the technology readiness (TR) construct, to predict passenger's intentions to use a self-service check-in kiosk. Structural Equation Modeling is applied to determine the validity of the model and the hypotheses. The findings show that TR has a positive effect on attitudes toward kiosks, attitudes toward the kiosk provider, and overall intentions to use a kiosk. Interestingly, attitudes toward kiosks positively affect attitude toward the kiosk provider. Further research recommends using cross-cultural data.     

黄浦江两岸游憩空间意象比较研究

基于城市意象理论,采用网络文本分析法对黄浦江两岸游憩空间结构性意象与独特性意象进行比较研究,以推动黄浦江两岸旅游意象塑造,促进两岸协同发展。结果显示:各具特色的意象元素使黄浦江西岸形成了历史文化景观,东岸形成了现代都市景观,整体意象感知由核心区向周围衰减;意象五要素在两岸空间意象构成中的作用强度不同,标志物和区域是两岸公共主导意象要素,西岸道路要素可意象度高于东岸,共享边界黄浦江是两岸意象形成的基本参照系;文化内涵是西岸特色意象形成的基调,现代服务功能是东岸特色意象形成的关键。基于以上研究,对黄浦江两岸游憩空间意象塑造、品质提升及协同发展提出相关建议。     

Group Characteristics Influence Distribution Patterns of Off-Road Vehicle Recreation within a Complex Trail System in Southwest Idaho

Recreation on public lands is growing and is increasingly recognized as an ecosystem service providing improved health, connection to nature, and social time while also disturbing and degrading ecosystems. Human impacts must be managed, but often managers have little information about the factors that affect recreation patterns. We combined data from global positioning system receivers to record off-road vehicle (ORV) travel with a pretrip survey to determine how group characteristics, site experience, site knowledge, and motivation are associated with ORV trip patterns on public lands in southwest Idaho. Spatial and temporal extent and distribution could summarize most variation in ORV trips. Both trip distribution and extent were associated with group characteristics and site knowledge. Spatial and temporal extent was additionally associated with motivations and distribution was associated with riding experience. These findings can help land managers to identify use patterns, direct informational programs, and effect indirect management strategies.     

The Relationship Between Visitor-Based Standards of Quality and Existing Conditions in Parks and Outdoor Recreation

Abstract

Parks and related areas are increasingly adopting management-by-objectives/indicator-based frameworks to protect resources and the quality of visitor experiences. Indicator-based frameworks rely on development of indicators and standards of quality, and research has been developed to measure visitor-based standards of quality. In this research approach, visitors to parks and related areas judge the acceptability of a range of recreation-related impacts to natural/cultural resources and the quality of the visitor experience. The purpose of this paper is to explore the strength and variability of the relationship between visitor-based standards of quality and existing conditions in parks and related areas. Data were derived from studies conducted in 11 U.S. national park system units between 1995 and 2002. Results indicated that visitor-based standards of quality are generally unrelated to existing conditions. Implications of these findings are explored for research on visitor-based standards of quality and related issues, and for the management of parks and outdoor recreation.     

湖南长沙休闲产业现状分析

调查表明：湖南长沙的休闲产业可分为歌厅休闲、酒吧休闲、洗浴休闲、电视休闲、“农家乐”休闲、广场与公园休闲等七种类型。歌厅休闲始于20世纪80年代,年接待170万人次,营业收入逾亿元;上规模的酒吧20多家;足浴城17000多家,长沙已成为“脚都”;“农家乐”877家,年接待273万多人次,营业收入2亿元。居民休闲最主要的目的是愉悦身心,放松自己。95％的居民认为长沙休闲消费水平为中上,可以接受。73％的居民1周至少休闲1次。     

On the rim of inspiration: performance of AWF tourism enterprises in Botswana and Rwanda

Community-based natural resource management approaches including joint venture partnerships provide opportunities to achieve biodiversity conservation and associated tourism development. The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) conservation enterprise model aims to improve the quality of life of communities and promote positive local attitudes towards conservation, and has been used to establish conservation lodges. To date, there has been no assessment of the performance of the conservation lodges in relation to this aim. This study used two case study AWF-initiated conservation lodges in Rwanda and Botswana to assess the performance of these conservation enterprises. The study adopted one-on-one structured questionnaire interviews with lodge staff and community residents. Analysis of economic and social performance and attitudes to conservation indicates that rural communities within the vicinity of the conservation lodges are generally benefitting from the existence of the lodges and associated tourism activity although to varying degrees, as well as promoting positive conservation attitudes among the community.     

A Proposed Research Agenda for the Refinement of the High Performance Work System Construct in the U.S. Restaurant Industry

Abstract

The current research proposes a framework for the investigation and conceptualization of high performance work systems in the U.S. restaurant industry. The projected U.S. restaurant industry sales for 2006 are $511.1 billion according to the National Restaurant Association (National Restaurant Association, 2005). Because of its size and impact on the foodservice industry and the hospitality industry in general, improving the performance of the restaurant industry could help increase overall revenues and guest satisfaction in the foodservice and hospitality industry. By identifying a list of high performance work practices in the industry, a more in-depth exploration of these practices and then organizational policies can be aligned together to help improve overall performance in the U.S. restaurant industry. The current study provides theoretical background and support for the high performance work systems theory.     

An Expanded Model of the Experience/Performance Relationship in Travel Service Selling

Relevant work experience is an important factor in determining the sales performance of travel agents. Unfortunately, some individuals learn more from experience than others. Adapting consumer information processing theory to a personal selling perspective, this study suggests that a major cause of variance in the experience/performance relationship can be explained by the degree to which an agent is motivated to acquire expertise in the form of relevant knowledge and skills. The results show that motivated agents are more likely to acquire greater functional expertise, while relatively unmotivated agents are more likely to acquire greater symbolic expertise. Only functional expertise was shown to be a significant predictor of performance. Managerial implications and directions for future research are presented.     

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.     

Examining the Antecedents of Destination Loyalty in a Forest Setting

Loyalty has become a critical part of leisure research due to increasing competition in the field and the recognition of the importance of loyal visitors. To further develop loyalty research, this study looks at the issue of destination loyalty in a forest setting. It specifically focuses on revealing the formation of attitudinal, conative, and behavioral loyalty and the relationship between destination loyalty and related concepts that influence the strength of loyalty: service quality, satisfaction, and activity involvement. Six hypotheses were tested to represent the relationships among six factors. Forest recreationists who perceive high service quality tend to have high satisfaction and activity involvement that lead to destination loyalty. The findings also substantiated the conceptual framework of loyalty formation.     

A decade of injury monitoring in the New Zealand adventure tourism sector: A summary risk analysis

Adventure tourism safety has received relatively little research attention despite the level of risk inherent in many adventure activities. In New Zealand, an absence of surveillance or monitoring of injury in the adventure sector has had important implications for the management of tourist safety. A series of studies conducted by the authors between 1996 and 2006 have sought to address this knowledge gap, with the aim of identifying the extent and nature of adventure tourism injury using a range of primary and secondary data sources. The paper reports on findings from a summary risk analysis of these studies, including evidence for the scale of the adventure tourism injury problem, and ranking of degree of risk for a range of factors for safety in adventure tourism participation. A conceptual model to assist risk management in the adventure sector is presented, and implications of findings for management and the adventure sector are discussed.