Shopping destination competitiveness: scale development and validation

ABSTRACT

As shopping becomes ever more important to tourists, this interest increasingly drives their destination choices. That is, shopping tourists tend to consider destinations to be more attractive and competitive if they offer key shopping resources. Therefore, this study aims to develop and validate a measurement scale for shopping destination competitiveness, which can provide an identification of shopping- and destination-specific attributes and dimensions. In theoretical terms, this study contributes to the literature by integrating a model of destination competitiveness with a servicescape model and with the current Globe Shopping Index, to investigate shopping destinations at a macro-level. Five hundred and twenty-three usable samples were obtained for data analysis. The findings suggest that shopping destination competitiveness has nine key dimensions: shopping atmosphere, merchandise, store service orientation, affordability, Korean pop culture, safety climate, accessibility, government promotion, and attractiveness.     

Servicescape and shopping value: the role of negotiation intention,social orientation,and recreational identity at the Istanbul Grand Bazaar,Turkey

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the influence of negotiation intention, recreational shopper identity, and social shopping orientation on both servicescape and visitors’ overall shopping value in the Istanbul Grand Bazaar, Turkey. We developed and tested a conceptual model using a sample of 300 international visitors to the Bazaar. The results demonstrate that bargaining intention, recreational functions, and social interactions influence servicescape. This implies that, when tourists are motivated by bargain hunting, recreation, and socialisation, their attitude towards the shopping environment is more positive, which subsequently results in increased overall shopping value. Implications for managerial practice are also presented alongside suggestions for future research.     

Sense of belonging to a lesbian,gay, bisexual,and transgender event: the examination of affective bond and collective self-esteem

ABSTRACT

This study examined behavioral intentions of sexual minority attendees at an event from a sense-of-belonging perspective. Based on social identity theory, attendees’ social representations are examined via affective bond at the event level and collective self-esteem at the community level. A survey was conducted with 261 respondents from the sexual minority community at a large, annual lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) event. Findings revealed that affective bond positively impacts satisfaction and behavioral intentions. In addition, collective self-esteem also had a positive influence on behavioral intentions. Theoretical and managerial implications for event managers and destination managers are provided.     

The moderating role of nationality on destination experience

ABSTRACT

Differences in tourists’ cultural values are significant factors in their product and service choices, yet they have generally been neglected in the literature. Therefore, this study examined how tourists’ nationalities influence their perceptions of service quality, affective image perceptions, and revisiting intentions. Activities were found to be more determinant on a destination’s affective image for Russian tourists, whereas accommodation, hospitality, and language communication services had a larger effect on German tourists.     

The role of wellness spa tourism performance in building destination loyalty: the case of Thailand

ABSTRACT

Despite the considerable growth of the wellness spa tourism market, little research has examined the intricate procedure involved in travelers’ loyalty toward Thailand as a wellness spa tourism destination. This research aimed to explore such loyalty formation by investigating the relationships among performances of wellness spa tourism in Thailand, affective experiences, and overall satisfaction. A field survey methodology was used for data collection. Findings of the structural analysis revealed that product performances, affective experiences, and satisfaction were in general significantly associated, and that these variables contributed to a satisfactory prediction for destination loyalty. In addition, the adequacy of the second-order structure of the performances of Thai wellness spa tourism was demonstrated. Moreover, the relative effectiveness of satisfaction in building loyalty was identified. Both affective experiences and satisfaction were also found to have a significant mediating impact. Implications for destination researchers and practitioners are discussed.     

Experienscape: expanding the concept of servicescape with a multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary approach (invited paper for ‘luminaries’ special issue of International Journal of Hospitality Management)

Since Bitner’s (1992) introduction of the servicescape concept, many conceptual and empirical studies have been conducted. Even though a relatively solid theoretical base has been established, the nature of the concept has not been updated with contemporary views on theories explaining behavior of consumers, employees and other stakeholders. Hence, the current study scanned the literature on servicescape and relevant concepts in order to update servicescape. The review of literature resulted in a new term, experienscape that is enhanced with the organizational culture of hospitality and the inclusion of employees, as both internal customers and service providers, as well as other stakeholders. For a comprehensive understanding of experienscape, a multidisciplinary approach is proposed by integrating views and theories from marketing, human resource management, organizational behavior, psychology, social psychology, communication, architecture, environmental design, and other related fields.     

Mediating the Effects of Natural Disasters on Travel Intention

SUMMARY

Emotional correlates of affective reactions towards a natural disaster and their influence on future travel intention to seaside destinations were explored using the PAD (Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance) Emotion Model. The results from a structural equation modeling process support the proposition that a natural disaster influences significantly the affective responses to the emotional states of pleasure, arousal and dominance. The PAD affect changes in return impact to varying degrees the intentions of a traveler to visit a seaside destination. The pleasure domain is found to exert the strongest impact on intention. Practical implications for tourism recovery are elaborated.     

The impact of the servicescape on the desire to stay in convention and exhibition centers: The case of Macao

This study examines the important role of the servicescape in relation to customers’ cognitive (beliefs about servicescape quality), affective (affect and satisfaction) and behavioral responses (desire to stay) in the context of convention and exhibition centers in Macao. Unlike previous servicescape studies, we include two personal customer characteristics, namely perceived sacrifice and value-for-money considerations, as potential moderators of the relationship between customers’ satisfaction and the desire to stay. Overall, our results suggest that servicescape elements positively influence customers’ perceived quality of the service, their affect, customer satisfaction and desire to stay. Furthermore, this study reveals that value-for-money considerations enhance the positive impact customer satisfaction has on customers’ desire to stay in convention centers and that customers’ perceived level of sacrifice has a direct effect on their desire to stay. Theoretical and managerial implications are also presented.     

旅游企业社会责任对目的地形象及游客忠诚的影响研究

在旅游市场竞争日趋激烈的背景下,由旅游企业经营所引发的社会责任问题受到广泛关注,但学界关于旅游企业社会责任的影响研究还不够系统和深入.文章将旅游企业社会责任划分为6个方面,将目的地形象划分为认知形象和情感形象两个方面,并构建了旅游企业社会责任对目的地形象及游客忠诚的影响模型.实证研究表明,旅游企业社会责任在目的地形象及游客忠诚形成中发挥非常重要的作用,其中,经济责任、环境责任、游客责任、员工责任和法律责任对认知形象有正向影响,游客责任、员工责任和慈善责任对情感形象有正向影响;认知形象和情感形象不仅对游客忠诚产生直接影响,而且通过游客满意对游客忠诚产生间接作用.相比认知形象,情感形象对游客满意和忠诚的影响作用更大.     

STHRSCAPE: Developing and validating a collaborative economy based short-term hospitality rental servicescape scale

This study develops a culture-specific servicescape measurement scale for collaborative economy based short-term hospitality rentals (STHRs) from a Chinese customer perspective, as some of the servicescape measures developed from a Western consumer perspective may not be applicable to Chinese consumers due to cultural differences. Dimensions of the servicescape of collaborative economy based STHRs (STHRSCAPE) were identified after text analytics of a total of 31,584 reviews for 6313 SHTRs. These dimensions were tested on Chinese STHRs customers using three sets of data. The findings revealed that the STHRSCAPE scale has two main dimensions, namely, the physical servicescape and the social servicescape. The physical servicescape dimension has 12 subdimensions, while the social servicescape dimension has four subdimensions. The STHRSCAPE scale developed in this study is expected to help hosts and marketers on both international and local STHR platforms to better understand the key aspects of physical and social servicescape dimensions that are valued by Chinese consumers.     

Social media influencers as endorsers to promote travel destinations: an application of self-congruence theory to the Chinese Generation Y

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of online social networks has given rise to the emergence of social media influencers (SMIs), so-called “Internet celebrities”. Celebrity endorsement, which can be an effective marketing strategy, is also popular in the tourism field. This study uses self-congruity theory, which originally refers to the congruence between consumers and brands or products, to the congruence between endorsers and potential tourists to evaluate endorsement effectiveness. Results indicate that SMI endorser–consumer congruence positively contributes to visit intentions toward the endorsed destinations as does endorser–destination congruence. Tourism marketers are advised to use SMIs when the destination images and target markets align.     

Stopover destination image – perceptions of Dubai,United Arab Emirates,among French and Australian travellers

ABSTRACT

This study reports a rare investigation into the phenomenon of stopovers during long-haul international travel. Although destination image has been one of the most popular topics in the tourism literature, there has been a lack of attention by researchers regarding the context of stopover destination image for long-haul international air travellers. Indeed most studies have measured destination image without explicitly stating any travel context. A mixed methods approach in two geographically distant markets yielded externally valid findings. This study commenced with a qualitative stage in two countries to elicit attributes deemed salient to individuals when considering an international stopover. Attributes elicited from the two samples were triangulated with the most common themes reported in the destination image literature. A set of 29 attributes was then tested in two online surveys involving 777 consumers in Australia and France. The study highlights the value of engaging with consumers in a qualitative stage, to design a context-specific destination image questionnaire. By using this approach, 12 potentially determinant attributes of stopover destination attractiveness were identified, eight of which have not been commonly used in destination image studies, and one of which represents a new destination image attribute in the literature.     

Linking Travel Motivation,Tourist Self-Image and Destination Brand Personality

Abstract

Despite a growing body of work on destination branding, there has been little investigation of whether or not tourists attribute brand personality characteristics to tourism destinations and whether or not an emotional connection exists based on tourists' perceived self-image and the ‘brand personality’ of destinations. The aim of this study is to explore the links among four key constructs proposed for the destination branding and choice processtourist needs, destination brand personality, self-congruity, and intentions to visit and satisfaction with a visit. The results indicate that where tourists can make an association between a destination and a destination brand personality, and where this association is consistent with their desired holiday experience, a high level of congruity will exist between the tourists' self-image and their perceptions of the destination. In turn this self-congruity was related to satisfaction with a visit to the destination but not to intention to travel to the destination.     

Share the Gaze: representation of destination image on the Chinese social platform WeChat Moments

ABSTRACT

This paper explores photos and texts posted by tourists on the Chinese social media networking site WeChat Moments, which is an important complementary data source when examining the representation of the destination image. The research applies Aggregated Maps and Social Semantic Networks to analyze the graphic and textual image of the tourist destination Zhangjiajie on WeChat Moments, as well as the relationship between the two forms. The findings are: (1) photos construct an image of the destination as a mountain area with natural scenery and artificial landscapes; (2) texts reflected a multilayer image with a core and subset; (3) photos and texts echoed each other and their differences contributed to an interactive interpretation. The similarities and differences between photos and texts stimulate a discussion about the internal logic of representation.     

Perceived similarity in third places: Understanding the effect of place attachment

Based on the sociological notion of homophily, this research explores the extent to which similarity in the social servicescape is a significant predictor of attitudes and repurchase intention under varying levels of attachment in the restaurant industry. Results indicate that the effects of perceived similarity in the social servicescape on both attitudes and behavior are affected by the level of attachment to restaurant; however, the effects are not the same when perceptions of the other customer are distinguished from perceptions of the employees. The results of these findings are considered in terms of their implications for both theory and practice.     

Ties that bind tourists: embedding destination motivators to destination attachment: a study in the context of Kumbh Fair,India

ABSTRACT

Despite the deep cultural value and strong appeal to global tourists, the Kumbh Fair has not been explored much by researchers. This is even though the Kumbh Fair is crafting the tourism of India, thereby leading to its overall socio-economic development. This study aims to examine the determinants of tourist motivation, such as ads awareness, destination image and online-communities, which provoke tourists to have attachment with the destination more closely. The study found the tourists’ attitude as a complementary mediation and spiritual stimuli as a mediating moderator are positively impacting on the significant relationship of destination motivators and destination attachment.     

Community in a recreational setting

Abstract

The loss of community and of traditional communal ties characteristic of modern industrial society has caused many people to search for alternative sources of social identification and solidarity. Recreational sites may afford some people opportunities for constructing communities on the basis of common interests. As part of an ongoing investigation, data have been gathered over several years to discover whether elements of community can be found in a marina's social system; evidence is being sought through examination of patterns of social interaction, the system of social ranking, and ties of affection that characterize the marina's social network. Data reveal a social organization at the marina comprising subgroups with complex interaction patterns, affective ties, and communal solidarity. It appears, therefore, that at this recreational site the structure and dynamics of an alternative form of community have been constructed by boaters.     

A Path Analytic Model of Visitation Intention Involving Information Sources,Socio-Psychological Motivations,and Destination Image

Abstract

This study develops and tests a model to examine the organization of informational, motivational, and mental constructs on visitation intention in a path analytic framework. The findings indicated that variety (amount) and type of information sources used and socio-psychological travel motivations determine travelers' perceptual/cognitive evaluations that, in turn, form their affection (feelings) about tourist destinations. A traveler's intent to visit, then, is determined by a combination of perceptual/cognitive and affective evaluations, information sources used, and travel motivations. However, destination image (cognition and affect) appeared to mediate the relationship between visitation intention and stimuli (information sources) and consumer factors (socio-psychological travel motivations). Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed and future research areas are suggested to better understand travelers' destination selection process.     

Linking servicescape and customer engagement: An investigation in the hotel context

Servicescape and customer engagement are important concepts in the hospitality literature, but scant research pays attention to their relationship. To fill the gap, the present study proposes a “servicescape–value–engagement” framework to examine the effects of servicescape elements on different components of customer engagement by addressing functional and wellness values as mediators. Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the data surveyed from 619 hotel customers in China. Findings indicate that substantive and communicative servicescapes have positive effects on customers’ cognitive, affective, and behavioral engagements. Wellness value mediates all of these effects whereas functional value only mediates the effects on customers’ affective and behavioral engagements. Through the establishment of the framework, the present study theoretically broadens current knowledge on the servicescape-driven responses and the antecedents of customer engagement. Practically, the findings prompt hotels to effectively design and deliver servicescape elements to improve customer engagement and value perceptions.     

How friendly destination websites are for mobiles? A study of destination marketing organizations in the Asia Pacific region

ABSTRACT

The core objectives of this exploratory study are (1) to examine the friendliness of destination websites for mobiles and (2) to profile the features available in different versions of mobile destination websites. Through employing the device emulator testing approach to analyze websites of top destinations in the Asia Pacific region, this study finds that destination marketing organizations in the Asia Pacific region have been optimizing their official websites for mobiles over the past few years. A responsive web design approach is predominantly used by the analyzed destination, and more features are founded to be available in “fully mobile-friendly websites.”