Satisfaction With All-Inclusive Tourism Resorts: The Effects of Satisfaction With Destination and Destination Loyalty

Despite the fact that all-inclusive package holidays play a major role in the tourism developments of sun and sea destinations, relatively little research has been done within the hospitality literature to investigate the relationships between satisfaction with all-inclusive, destination satisfaction and loyalty to a destination. Moreover, the measurement of satisfaction with all-inclusive resorts is lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine relationships between satisfaction with all-inclusive resorts, satisfaction with destination, and destination loyalty, in order to understand the generation of tourist satisfaction with all-inclusive resorts. Based the previous theoretical and empirical evidence in the related literature, a questionnaire survey was conducted during summer 2008 at Antalya, a major sun and sea tourism destination of Turkey. The data were analyzed using several statistical techniques. The results suggested that there were significant relationships between satisfaction with all-inclusive resorts, satisfaction with destination and destination loyalty. It is also noteworthy that an all-inclusive package tour is the most popular traveling mode for tourists visiting Antalya.     

Tackling food waste in all-inclusive resort hotels

Food waste remains a serious environmental and economic concern within the hospitality and tourism industry. This study therefore investigates how managers, chefs, and employees in all-inclusive hotels view the impact of food waste and extant waste reduction processes in their workplaces. It explores (1) why and how food waste occurs, (2) employees’ perceptions of the reasons behind food waste, and (3) how it can be reduced in all-inclusive hotels. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were undertaken with 33 individuals working in all-inclusive hotels in Turkey. The findings indicate that guest behaviors, preferences, and attitudes are perceived as the primary stimulants of food waste. The findings also suggest that guests’ cultural backgrounds influence their eating behaviors, further contributing to the volume of waste generated. As such, this study provides a nascent exploration of employee perceptions of the reasons behind food waste, and how best to reduce it, in the all-inclusive resort hotel context.     

The holiday practices of seniors and their implications for social tourism: A Wallonian perspective

With an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of age-related constraints, social tourism providers and policy-makers face significant challenges in providing holidays for seniors. Based on a large database from a research project in Wallonia (Belgium) implemented from 2015 till 2018, the study identifies the different types of holiday arrangements and activities associated with the benefits of holidays, largely in terms of wellbeing. It then examines whether they are age-related or not, and if so how, and how they can inform social tourism policies that target seniors. Data from the sample of 4144 respondents show a variety of age-related significant associations, with thresholds at retirement and after the age of 70. The study examines these associations in the context of various social theories of ageing and sets out the implications for social tourism policy-makers and providers.     

Fueling Green Dining Intention: The Self-Completion Theory Perspective

This study aims to examine how self-identity of consumers influences intention to pay a premium to consume green food. Moreover, this research investigates the relationship between recollection of past dining experience and intention to consume green food. The self-completion theory (SCT) is to explain the compensatory effects of the preference to consume green food. Exposure to environmental information demonstrates the effects of priming. Two experiments were conducted to illustrate the effects of priming and recollection of past behavior that harmed the environment of consumers. The results show that after mere exposure to information on green dining, participants preferred to consume green food (priming effects). Similar results were obtained from the experiment where participants were asked to recall their past behaviors that harmed the environment. Asking individuals to recall past behavior proved to be an effective way to motivate patrons of green dining to find a moral equilibrium (compensation effects).     

Dimensionality of ethnic food fine dining experience: An application of semantic network analysis

This study attempts to find the underlying dimensionality in online reviews of fine-dining ethnic food restaurant experiences in Hong Kong. This research adopted semantic network analysis with Clauset–Newman–Moore clustering. Consequently, diverse and specific dimensionality was explored in this research, including ambiance, service, food, drinks, desserts, view, location, occasions, reputation and price. The content of the reviews on five types of ethnic restaurants was different in some dimensions. Marketers of fine-dining ethnic restaurants can select a particular focus when they promote their restaurants, develop menu plan and train staff members. This study implies that the quality dimensions of traditional restaurants may not accurately represent the factual dimensions, thereby resulting in implications for developing a new index of restaurant quality.     

Comparing differences in the spatiotemporal patterns between resident tourists and non-resident tourists using hotel check-in registers

Previous research studied the spatiotemporal patterns in different visitor segments but lacks evidence of the segmentation of resident tourists and non-resident tourists in multi-city travel. To fill this gap, this study conducts a big data study using hotel check-in registers. The exploratory data analysis visualizes the spatiotemporal patterns and the differences between resident tourists and non-resident tourists. Then, the spatiotemporal patterns are measured by the length of stay and the number of visited cities. The regression shows that both the length of stay and the number of visited cities of non-resident tourists are higher than those of resident tourists. Moreover, non-resident tourists reduce their length of stay and their number of visited cities more than resident tourists on three-day holidays, while they increase their number of visited cities less than resident tourists on seven-day holidays. This study has significant implications for understanding spatiotemporal patterns and visitors' segmentations.     

Congregate meal sites participants: Can they manage their diets?

Many individuals attending congregate meal sites have chronic conditions that can be impacted by their diet. This study found that congregate meal site participants visit meal sites primarily for social purposes but consume meals while they satisfy their social agenda. Also, individuals that suffer from diabetes, cancer, and heart disease were not aware of what foods were beneficial in prevention and/or maintenance. Specifically, individuals with diabetes, cancer, and heart disease were not able to determine any better than those without those conditions which food types were recommended by nutrition experts, nor which food types were more beneficial in the maintenance or prevention of their conditions.     

The absence of childhood in tourism studies

The meaning of holidays for children and the role of the holiday in constructed subjectivities are largely absent in academic writings. Using the social constructionist research method of memory-work, this study examines memories of childhood holidays of Australian women and girls. It concludes that shared, fun, physical activities are common positive memories of childhood holidays across the generations. At the same time, women’s recollection of the imperative to behave responsibly and appropriately constrained their freedom. The paper addresses the implications of the findings for women and girls and questions whether the findings can be explained through cultural shifts in gender relations, the refashioning of experiences over time through memory and narration, or the context in which the memories are produced.     

Assessing sustainable food behaviours of national park visitors: domestic/on vocation linkages,and their implications for park policies

This study compares the “at-home” and “while travelling” sustainable food practices of national park visitors in the US Intermountain West through an in-person survey. Results show that tourist's sustainable food practices do not carry over into their national park experience. Specifically, they shop for and consume fewer local foods and participate in fewer food-related activities when travelling, such as farmers' market and local farm visits. When divided into groups of low, medium and high sustainable food practices at home, the medium and high-level groups exhibited a significant reduction in sustainable food practices while travelling. This likely stems from poor promotion of local foods and food related events, lack of linkages between the tourism and food industries, as well as limited recognition of local food labelling schemes and interest in local culture by visitors. These results imply that local foods and culinary experiences do not currently play an essential role in national park experiences in the US Intermountain West. It raises important questions. Is there a link between sustainability practices at home and when on vacation? Should national park managements widen their environmental remits by becoming involved in local food production and promotional practices?     

Package mountaineer tourists holidaying in the French Alps: An evaluation of key influences encouraging their participation

This study investigates the key influences that encourage mountaineer tourists, classified as a type of adventure tourist, to participate in package mountaineering holidays. There is limited understanding of why tourists take package adventure holidays, yet the demand for such holidays has grown dramatically in recent years. The author conducted in-depth interviews with mountaineer tourists either during or at the end of their package mountaineering holiday in the Chamonix region of the French Alps. Interview findings provide an insight into package mountaineer tourists. Firstly, mountaineering was an important part of respondents’ lifestyles. Secondly, contrary to previous research on experienced mountaineers, respondents did not consider risk as an important motive and they did not view themselves as risk takers. Thirdly, skills development and experience were key motives encouraging package mountaineering holiday participation. Fourthly, a major concern for respondents was to have a safe mountaineering experience in which the mountaineering organisation and the guide played a key role.     

Families at leisure outdoors: well-being through adventure

ABSTRACT

This study investigates families who choose to co-participate in outdoor adventure holidays, and explores how they benefit from these shared experiences. In so doing, it seeks to determine the role of adventure tourism in developing and enhancing family well-being (FWB). Hyper-modern family life for many is powered by technological hardware, each room in the house replete with on-line pleasures, distractions and identities. In response to this dystopia, some families opt to take adventure holidays together. However, scholarship concerning collective experiences of adventurous leisure, in this case as families, is limited. Using a qualitative whole family approach, 15 (adventure tourist) families were interviewed, totalling 62 interviewees (29 adults and 33 children under 18 years old), in their home environments. Four key themes related to FWB emerged. First, families extended their active lifestyles to adventure holidays and repeatedly mentioned the health and fitness benefits gained from these experiences. Second, adventure holidays facilitated unmediated time together for families. Third, parents harboured ideals of positive personal development for their children in these adventure settings. Fourth, making memories during adventure holidays, and recollecting these post-trip, were integral to family bonding. Further research should consider non-traditional families, and various socio-economic and cultural groups in this context.     

Social tourism and self-efficacy: Exploring links between tourism participation,job-seeking and unemployment

Social tourism is assumed to provide important psychological benefits for economically and socially disadvantaged populations. This study examines empirically whether these individual benefits are associated with socioeconomic benefits to society by focusing on unemployed individuals. Psychological benefits are addressed in terms of self-efficacy, and socioeconomic benefits, in terms of job-search behaviour. Findings from mixed-methods data reveal that holidays create enabling environments, which bring about positive changes in participants’ self-efficacy, contributing to positive effects on their job-search behaviour. Positive effects are also identified with regard to behaviours towards alternative paths to employment, such as volunteering. Given that these behavioural changes comprise major determinants of reemployment, it is suggested that social tourism may hold potential for incorporation into existing unemployment policies.     

Food tourist segmentation: Attitude,behavioral intentions and travel planning behavior based on food involvement and motivation

This study assessed attitudes, intentions, and travel planning behavior for potential food tourists. Using two-step cluster analysis, respondents were segmented into three groups based on food involvement and motivation. These clusters had high, moderate, and low food involvement and motivation levels, respectively. Findings suggest moderate motivation and involvement food tourists are the largest group, but high motivation and involvement food tourists should be pursued by practitioners. They have the most positive attitudes and strongest intentions to consume local cuisine. Further, high motivation and involvement food tourists are most likely to select a destination based on the availability of food-related activities.     

Effects of power and individual-level cultural orientation on preferences for volunteer tourism

This study examined whether individual-level cultural orientation and psychological feelings of power interact to influence preference for volunteer or self-indulgent holiday packages. Results from a study involving 466 participants revealed that intentions to purchase a holiday package were greater among those who had been primed to feel powerful, supporting the notion that power increases an individual's tendency to take action. Nevertheless, the holiday packages that powerful participants chose varied as a function of their individual-level cultural orientation. Specifically, when primed to feel powerful, vertical individualists exhibited a distinct preference for a self-indulgent holiday package whereas horizontal collectivists preferred a volunteer holiday package. These findings indicate that preference for volunteer or self-indulgent holidays arises from the confluence of individual-level cultural orientation (which shapes goal meaning) and power (which influences goal pursuit).     

Tourists’ consumption and perceptions of red heritage

Although tourism suppliers project the positive changes visits wrought upon tourists, the latter do not mindlessly consume the information they receive. A research gap exists in understanding how tourists consume political heritage and read the embedded nationalistic discourses from an emic perspective. This paper adopts the framework of social situation analysis to explore how tourists consume and perceive Chinese communist heritage and how those visits can impact their attitudes towards and support for the CCP. The results suggest that tourists were driven by a variety of motives, participated in various activities, and had split opinions about the effectiveness of “red tourism” in enhancing their nationalism. Comparisons of people’s motivations and perceptions between activity-based clusters were conducted. Managerial implications are discussed.     

Development and validation of a multidimensional tourist’s local food consumption value (TLFCV) scale

This study is to test whether consumption value theory can be applied to food tourism in a tourism destination. Despite its importance, few studies have explored the types of local food consumption value that tourists obtain in a destination. This study sought to develop and validate a scale of local food consumption value from a tourist perspective. As a result, a seven-factor structure was generated. The overall construct demonstrated satisfactory levels of reliability and validity. The value on their satisfaction with tasting local food, positive post-purchase intention, and food destination image varied by cultural region. Future research is expected to benefit from using the validated measurement to understand the unexplored aspects of tourists’ local food consumption.     

Young tourists visiting strip clubs and paying for sex

Little is known about young adults’ use of strip clubs and prostitution during their holidays abroad. This study examined this issue with a sample of 1125 Danish tourists between the ages of 16 and 34, and sought data about the frequency with which they paid for sex and attended strip clubs while they were on holiday. The tourists were surveyed at a Bulgarian airport before their return trip home. The incidence of strip-club patronage during holiday was 48% for men and 8% for women. Of the men, 12.5% reported paying for sex during their holiday. Among the men paying for sex, 47% reported having done it for the first time. Among the men who attended strip clubs, 32% reported having done it for the first time. Strip-club patronage and paying for sex were both associated with higher levels of drinking, use of Viagra^®, and with having done the same thing before the holiday. Paying for sex was uniquely associated with non-use of condoms with one or more sexual partners. The results of this study can be interpreted as part of a wider culture of commodified debauchery, which predominates many nightlife resorts.     

The influence of dance music on the UK youth tourism market

Today's young people are influenced by a variety of factors when considering a holiday. During the late 1980s and 1990s we have witnessed a rise in recreational drug use and the move in music taste towards repetitive rhythms of re-mix DJs creating their music from synthesized tunes on records and CDs. The ‘Big Name’ DJs such as Sasha, Pete Tong, Danny Rampling, etc. are superstars within today's youth culture and receive wages to match their status. During the past 5–10 years, we have also witnessed a move towards young people taking holidays to pursue their interest in Dance Music and to follow their favourite DJ to wherever in Europe, or the world, they may be playing. Often the established night-clubs within countries will seek to attract these DJs, but sometimes special holidays are packaged by tour operators with a distinct Dance Music theme, highlighting famous ‘superclubs’ such as Cream and Ministry of Sound. Radio stations are also becoming involved, especially London's well known Dance Music station ‘Kiss FM’ who, in conjunction with a tour operator, offer a distinct Dance Music tourism experience.