Sequential choice behavior: Going on vacation and type of destination

The literature of destination choice has so far studied multi-stage decision making processes that are more representative of the general choice behavior of tourists (e.g. going on vacation, going abroad, and destination country). Alternatively, this study proposes a multi-stage decision process to the choice of tourist destination types (going on vacation, coastal character, and urban character of the destination) as these choice sets are more idiosyncratic to tourists who prefer a specific type of tourist destination (e.g. Spain with clear coastal and inland variations). In order to test this multi-stage choice process as well as the sequential order of both decisions, coastal character and urban character, the current study analyses decision processes vs. different hierarchical multi-stage processes (going on vacation and coastal character preceding urban character; and going on vacation and urban character preceding coastal character). The empirical findings support the existence of a multi-stage choice process where coastal character precedes the urban character destination choice. The main implication of these findings is that, given the limited human analytical capability, a hierarchical choice process can be useful to handle the information overload and the complexity inherent to the destination type choice.     

Exploring Family Roles in Purchasing Decisions During Vacation Planning

Abstract

Family decision making not only has been an interesting subject to consumer behavior researchers but also has served as a valuable source in shaping marketing strategies adopted by the tourism and hospitality industry. However, little research has been devoted to understanding the roles of family members in the decision-making process during vacation planning. This paper attempts to provide further understanding on the nature and the importance of family roles played in making travel purchase decisions. The authors conceptually reviewed past studies to explore different roles played by the core family members in the decision-making process and developed research propositions along with a conceptual model regarding family vacation planning. Relevant marketing implications were discussed and unique research methods were also recommended for further study.     

Information processing and touring planning theory

Tourists vary greatly in the extent to which they choose elements of their vacation prior to the commencement of the vacation. For a touring vacation, the extent to which a specific set of locations to visit has been planned prior to departure will vary between individuals. This study presents a structural model of pre-vacation decision-making for a touring vacation. The model demonstrates pre-vacation decision-making as comprising three distinct activities – information search, vacation plans, and vacation bookings – and incorporates characteristics of the vacation and characteristics of the tourist that influence the amounts and types of each of these activities undertaken.     

Dynamic in-destination decision-making: An adjustment model

The study of tourist decision-making usually focuses on destination choice, framed in terms of informational inputs into the rational decision-making processes of individuals. We report on a study of on-site tourist decision-making in the South Island of New Zealand. The framework within which decision-making is conceptualised draws on process accounts derived from work in naturalistic decision-making, and adaptive, situated and embodied cognition, and in this respect the study distinguishes itself from much previous work in this area. One hundred and forty qualitative interviews were analysed thematically to identify four dimensions of an emergent process of decision-making: (In)Flexibility; Location/timing; Social Composition; Stage of Trip. Decision-making varies on these dimensions in line with various ‘Types of Trip’ also identified from the data. This study provides support for process approaches to tourist decision-making and characterises it in terms of a continual process of socially mediated adjustment to features of the destination and overall trip evolution.     

Modeling Vacation Destination Decisions:

The purpose of this study is to develop a multiple criteria decision-making instrument to model vacation destination-choice decisions of individuals based on the factors deemed to be important for vacation destination choice decisions. The study emphasizes the importance of individual differences in making vacation destination choice decisions. Although this research effort is explanatory in nature, the results reveal that application of behavioral decision theory is possible in modeling individualsÆ vacation destination decisions.     

Holiday taking decisions – The role of spouses

Grounded in part the previous literature on household decision making and in part in the literature on tourism decision making, this paper tries to add to the literature by surveying Turkish academics with respect to spousal purchase decisions. In particular, the study assesses the decision tactics used for several consumer goods including vacation and travel and the link between decision tactics and consumer satisfaction/likelihood to produce positive word of mouth. The study findings confirm that spousal opinions matter and that compromise is a commonly used tactic, regardless of their features of durability (e.g. car, furniture) or non-durability (e.g. vacation, eating out), followed by the introduction of persuasion as the next most powerful tactic. Compromise is also positively associated with the level of consumer/tourist satisfaction with the product and the intention to recommend.     

文化休闲旅游符号的思考——以丽江大研古城和徽州古村落为例

随着恩格尔系数的平稳下降,中国家庭与休闲相关的消费在不断攀升.文章从丽江大研古城沿街店铺经营业务入手,搜索大研古城的文化休闲旅游符号,分析其形成机制:外在动力机制有休闲时代的即将到来、市场需求的拉动;内在动力机制有自然因素、文化因素和政府决策因素.对比丽江大研古城和以宏村、西递为代表的徽州古村落,探讨不同文化背景的遗产旅游地发展过程中出现的两种特征:文化休闲旅游和文化观光旅游.文章认为,在休闲时代到来之际,传统的观光旅游逐渐向休闲度假旅游转变,文化型遗产地应冷静对待,避免盲动,做出适合自身文化本底的正确选择.     

Planning the summer vacation : An Adaptable Process

This paper presents a contextualized study of vacation planning starting from a naturalistic perspective. Series of indepth interviews have been conducted during the period of a year on 25 Belgian households in order to follow their decision-making process for summer vacation. Data were analyzed and interpreted following the grounded theory approach. Findings show that vacation planning is an ongoing process, which entails a lot of adaptability and opportunism. Fantasy and emotions also play an important role in shaping vacation and destination choices. This departs from existing decision-making models that propose a (bounded) rational, problem-solving vacationer.     

Spatial-temporal response patterns of tourist flow under entrance tourist flow control scheme

This paper explores the relationship between tourists' information demand about entrance tourist flow control schemes (ETFCS) and tourists' entrance transfer decision-making behavior, using the case study of the Summer Palace, one of the most important resort destinations in Beijing, China. After discussing tourists' decision-making behavior under ETFCS information, a revealed preference and stated preference survey (N = 1742 valid observations) were created and a joint choice model of tourist's entrance transfer and diversion entrance selection was established. Results show how various ETFCS are formulated and affect tourists' decision-making behavior under different traffic congestion. Sensitivity analysis reveals that tourists' entrance transfer decision-making behavior is related to the entry time of current crowded entrance and the time saved from the diversion entrance. Hence it is possible to formulate ETFCS in terms of tourist's spatial-temporal distribution in order to anticipate the levels of tourist intensity, especially during peak periods.     

The theory of repurchase decision-making (TRD): Identifying the critical factors in the post-purchase decision-making process

A theory particularly designed to explain re-buying decision formation is lacking. This research developed and tested a theory of repurchase decision-making (TRD) that more comprehensively explains individuals’ post-purchase decision-making processes. Two studies were conducted in a full-service restaurant setting for the development of this theory. Specifically, important factors generating the repurchasing intention were identified through an exploratory qualitative approach in Study 1. In this qualitative approach, a new set of belief items and salient referents in a re-buying decision-making process were also identified. The proposed model merging the model of goal-directed behavior (MGB) with identified factors and belief constructs from Study 1 were tested in the second study. Our results demonstrated that incremental amounts of total variance in the re-buying decision were explained by the TRD. Newly integrated constructs in combination with the original variables in the MGB were found to play a critical role in the re-buying decision-making process. The implications of this study are presented and discussed.     

Hospitality accommodations and women's consensual sex

The purpose of this exploratory study was to clarify Israeli women's sexual behaviors in different tourist experiences, while relating to the variety of the hospitality accommodations. Constructivist grounded theory was implemented drawing upon 21 in-depth interviews. Sex was described as important part of women's satisfaction with their tourist experiences, sometimes even as a major motivation to go on vacation. Participants expected the role of sex to be acknowledged by the hospitality industry. Women's perceptions with respect to the social atmosphere, sense of detachment, privacy, and anonymity affected their sexual behavior. Recommendations to address women's expectations are offered.     

Family Vacation Decision Making: The Role of Woman

Most people spend their vacations with their family and decide where, how, and when with their spouses. The woman's role within the couple has become more and more influential in certain purchase decisions. This influence is strongly related to their lifestyles and values. For the tourism sector and its marketing strategy, it would be very useful to know the role that women play in vacation decisions. So, this article aims to analyze the influence of women's lifestyles and values on family vacation decisions. The information is based on 300 questionnaires addressed to married or cohabiting women. The results show differences in vacation decisions depending on the profile of the women (professional vs. traditional) and their preferences in activities.     

The Attractiveness of Portugal as a Tourist Destination: The Perspective of Czech Tour Operators

In this study we investigate the attractiveness of Portugal as a tourist destination from the perspective of Czech tour operators. Tour operators were selected as the target population because they represent an important source of information about a destination and can significantly influence the decision of potential tourists about a holiday destination. One of the important findings of this research is that weak promotion and financial demands are perceived as the main reasons why many Czech tourists do not choose Portugal as their vacation destination. An obvious obstacle in the development of Portugal as a Czech tourism destination is the lack of information about its advantages as a tourist destination. The results also show that Portugal is not considered a key destination for Czech tourists. However, in terms of its attractiveness as a tourist destination Portugal has much potential, which should be utilized in the future.     

Domestic tourism in FRG : Trends and problems

Participation on tourism of the population of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) has enormously increased. Domestic tourism, however, stagnates. The German tourist regions have to expect a significant decrease in visitors, since an increasing segment of the German holiday-makers (now two thirds) travels abroad. The German domestic tourism providers and vacation travel organizers have not yet fully realized the new trends in the travel behavior. The unfavorable trend can only be met through a continually increasing supply with vacation homes and apartments. Moreover, the various resort towns need to join regional tourism associations which are able to achieve a more effective regional marketing for smaller tourist regions. Preparations for the establishment of regional tourism associations and programs for a subsidization of regional marketing plans are imminent.     

Tourism and immigration: Comparing Alternative Approaches

Using survey data from ex-Soviet Union tourists visiting Israel and eligible for immigrant status, this article investigates alternative factors which affect the probability of a tourist making an immigration decision. The developed tourism-immigration model is based on predictors associated with push-pull migration, social capital, and tourism theories. The results of cumulative logistic regression models suggest that the probability of an immigration decision is based on a set of mutually reinforcing factors: well-established and supportive relatives at the destination along with intentions to own property and engage in business activities. Motivations are found as primary contributors to explaining and predicting a probable immigration decision.     

Tourism Brochures: Usefulness and Image

Tourist information has been shown to have an important influence on the choice of vacation destinations. This article studies brochures, their significance as image generators, and their influence on the selection of destinations. The study sought to discover which features in this medium are more relevant in image generation and destination choice using logistic regression analysis. The analysis is based on data collected from tourists in Madrid, Spain. The results establish a model of usefulness of brochures in order to propose recommendations for their design and content. Implications pertain to the development of theoretical understandings about the influence of the information sources on destination image, destination choice, and satisfying tourist needs.     

Destination Aesthetics and Aesthetic Distance in Tourism Experience

Given the paucity of scholarly attention to the aesthetic component of tourism experience, this research attempted to empirically explore the roles of destination aesthetic qualities and “aesthetic distance”, that is, the perceived difference between the aesthetic properties of a destination and those of a tourist’s home environment, in the tourist’s aesthetic judgment and vacation satisfaction. The results validated a six-factor structure of aesthetic qualities, namely locale characteristics, scope, upkeep, accord, perceived age, and shape. This research noted that when tourists evaluate their home environment more positively in terms of upkeep and scope than vacation environment, they tend to perceive a destination as less beautiful. Only aesthetic distance in scope of experiential features influences vacation satisfaction. Relevant practical implications are discussed.     

旅游者安全行为：研究源起与国内近十年研究述评

旅游者安全行为研究已成为旅游安全研究的重要领域。文章阐述了旅游者安全行为研究的理论源起,并以2001～2011年的文献为基础,对国内旅游者安全行为的研究进行了系统的梳理,从概念界定、表现特征、影响因素、安全行为管理、不同视角下的安全行为研究等方面阐述了国内旅游者安全行为的研究进展。研究归纳了国内旅游者安全行为研究表现出的理论结构,并对未来的研究方向进行了展望。     

基于旅游者偏好和知觉风险的旅游者决策模型分析

市场营销管理者对购买者决策过程的了解直接影响着营销工作的开展.本文将基于旅游者偏好和知觉风险对旅游者购买行为决策进行探讨,在构建旅游者决策模型的基础上对旅游者偏好和知觉风险进行分析,以期打开旅游者决策过程中的黑箱,为旅游产品的营销管理者提供建设性意见.     

The choice between business travel and video conferencing after COVID-19 – Insights from a choice experiment among frequent travelers

COVID-19 has accelerated the substitution of videoconferencing for business travel. However, little research exists about the decision-making behavior of business travelers considering virtual alternatives. We fill this gap by reconceptualizing the decision-making process and investigating the fundamental choice between face-to-face (FtF) and virtual communication (VC) using an adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis. We argue that the process of decision making of business travelers is distinct to that of leisure travelers, as the fundamental decision between FtF and VC occurs prior to subsequent travel decisions. We show that the purpose of the meeting, the character of the message, and the location of the meeting are the decision attributes of greatest importance. Using a novel methodology we present a holistic decision model that increases the theoretical understanding of business traveler decision-making and provide practitioners with comprehensive insights relevant to travel policy development, and executives in the business travel market with guidance with management decisions.