Determinants of Small Pacific Island Tourism: A Vanuatu Study

The research reported in this paper sought to identify the key determinants of small island tourism in the Pacific region. In order to investigate this research problem, 185 Australian tourists were surveyed as they returned from holidaying in Vanuatu. The sample included those who had visited outer islands such as Espiritu Santo as well as those who had not ventured beyond the main island. Findings indicated that the most important influences on the decision to visit the outer islands were the climate and the reputation as a holiday destination. When rating Vanuatu as a holiday, both those who went to an outer island and those who did not rated the three main reasons as friendliness, range of restaurants and quality of accommodation, whereas the principal reasons given for not visiting an outer island were: that the outer islands were too expensive to access; most tourists wanted a “stay put” holiday; and they did not have enough time on their holiday. From the findings of this research on the determinants of small Pacific island tourism, it is suggested that further research into the applicability of these determinants be conducted in other small island environments in other regions of the world.     

物流英语课堂上教师使用委婉语的语用理据

物流英语是将英语知识与专业知识融合的产物,它有一般英语知识课堂教学的特点,还有它自身的独特之处。作为一个特殊的语言使用环境,物流英语课堂需要英语教师像在一般英语知识教学课堂上一样使用委婉语。委婉语是语言的一种情境变体,它的正确使用和交际的得体性相关,直接关系到交际的最终效果。物流英语教师从各方面按照语言使用规约来得体地使用课堂委婉交际用语,可以取得比较理想的教学效果,还可以对学生起到潜移默化的影响,使他们懂得将来在物流工作中委婉地进行交际是保证工作成功进行的一个重要条件。     

我国家族企业制度选择的动因

企业究竟选择何种企业制度,受企业内、外部诸因素的影响和制约。对于家族企业自身而言,保持这一传统的企业模式是有其内在原因的。寻找这一企业制度选择的内在动因,才能理解家族企业在当前的社会历史条件下,我国民营企业多以家族企业存在的现象,进一步使我们能够全面认识家族企业的发展方向。     

Antecedents and Consequences of Eco‐Control Deployment: Evidence from Canadian Manufacturing Firms

Environmental issues have become an important consideration for a growing number of organizations. Eco‐control may represent a valuable tool to help organizations address such issues. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the eco‐control practices adopted by Canadian organizations and to understand the antecedents and consequences of their adoption. More specifically, this study examines (i) the extent to which eco‐control practices are deployed within organizations, (ii) the factors and motivations that lead organizations to implement eco‐control practices, and (iii) the impact of adoption on firms’ managerial and operational environmental actions as well as on environmental and economic performance. Using survey data from a sample of 249 Canadian manufacturing firms, this article shows that environmental missions, environmental policies, environmental strategic planning, environmental budgets and environmental performance indicators are the most frequently adopted eco‐control practices among the investigated firms, while environmental incentives seem to be less frequently adopted. The results of this study also suggest that competitive and ethical motivations as well as size, environmental exposure and stakeholder pressure are all important factors in explaining eco‐control practice adoption by Canadian manufacturing firms. Moreover, the results of this study show that organizations that have undertaken more intensive managerial and operational environmental actions have also adopted more intensive eco‐control practices. Organizations adopting more intensive eco‐control practices perform better both environmentally and economically performance than firms adopting less intensive eco‐control practices.     

Switching up the delivery game: Understanding switching intention to retail drone delivery services

Drone delivery services have been gaining momentum in retail due to the surge in digital commerce, and retail giants are seen making significant progress in delivering parcels with minimal human intervention. However, the wider diffusion of drone delivery services requires an in-depth understanding of consumers' switching intention from traditional delivery services to drone delivery services. To address this gap, the present study aims to propose and validate an asymmetric model encompassing innovation barriers, shopping motivations, and individual differences (i.e., inertia and affinity for technology interaction) in understanding consumers’ switching intention. An online survey was conducted. The data was analyzed using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The results revealed five configurations with different combinations of causal antecedents.     

ADDING PSYCHOLOGICAL VALUE TO HERITAGE TOURISM EXPERIENCES REVISITED

In 2001 the authors explored the underlying motives and needs of visitors to a heritage site, employing a method known as the Hierarchical Value Map (HVM) technique. Drawing from a small sample of visitors to a preserved 18th century plantation via qualitative interviews, the analysis revealed that most respondents were looking for a satisfying leisure experience where pleasure and learning are complementary. Recently, as part of a PhD by Jewell, this site was revisited with the methodologies of the HVM technique and Associated Pattern Technique (APT) combined in order to conduct quantitative research on a larger sample size. Results validated the 2001 research but with some differences detected. When comparing the current study to the 2001 study, differences were found regarding the connections between attributes, consequences/benefits, and values. The main difference that occurred between the 2001 study and current study was that the end core value of “Stop Repeating Mistakes of the Past,” was not considered by either visitors to Drayton Hall or Control Group respondents as being an important end core value. The end core value for both groups was, overall, that heritage made for a satisfying experience which in itself was pleasurable.     

Mobile Commerce Competitive Advantage: A Quantitative Study of Variables that Predict M-Commerce Purchase Intentions

Seeking to fill a gap in current research on the conditions that would facilitate user acceptance of m-commerce, the present study investigated m-commerce users’ perceptions of performance and effort expectancies, social influence, and facilitating conditions of m-commerce trust and perceived risk. We also analyzed how these aspects affect m-commerce purchase intentions. To this end, a total of 165 adult American users of m-commerce were surveyed and their perceptions of performance and effort expectancies, social influence, facilitating conditions of m commerce trust and perceived risk, as well as their m-commerce purchase intentions, were measured. Performance and effort expectancies, social influence, as well as the facilitating conditions of trust in the use of m-commerce, were found to significantly predict m-commerce purchase intentions. The findings also provided further clarification of the facilitating conditions of m-commerce purchases suggesting that implicit motivations and approach oriented goals might be significantly associated with m-commerce purchase intentions.     

College Students' Perceptions and Attitudes Toward the Selection of Study Abroad Programs

The number of U.S. students who participated in study abroad programs has increased by 5% in the past decade. The main goal of this study is to understand the motivations and attitudes of students toward the selection of study abroad programs. Approximately 600 undergraduate students from a land-grant university in the Southeastern U.S. were randomly invited to participate in this study. Participants were approached at the 2 main entrances of the campus library due to its popularity, accessibility, convenient location, and diverse uses. A total of 192 usable surveys were collected in fall 2005. The survey instrument included three sections: (a) students' behaviors during their leisure trips, (b) students' perceptions toward study abroad programs and during an on-site trip, and (c) demographic profiles. Based on the results, promotional strategies for study abroad programs should highlight summer programs lasting 2 to 4 weeks. Opportunities for touring and social contact at low prices are also attractive to students. As study abroad programs become more popular among American students, the results of this study will be useful for institutions that have an interest in promoting student exchange programs. The results of this study can assist study abroad program marketers in promoting positive images of host destinations and providing better services for both receiving and generating institutions.     

Behavioural adaptation to climate change among winter alpine tourists: an analysis of tourist motivations and leisure substitutability

Understanding market responses to climate change impacts has important implications for the sustainability of Australia's winter tourism destinations. Utilising a framework incorporating push–pull tourist motivations and the theory of leisure substitutability, this study sought to explore how winter tourists in Australia will adapt to changes in snow cover in Australia's alpine regions under future climate change scenarios. The results of a questionnaire completed by 231 respondents indicated that tourist motivations were related to behavioural adaptation, and that there is a general preference among the current winter market for spatial substitution in the event of poor snow. Those motivated by recreation specialisation or snow-related attributes were likely to opt for spatial substitution, while tourists motivated by self-expression and après ski activities displayed resilience to poor snow conditions. The results demonstrate a clear division between leisure-driven tourists who valued participation in sport, and experience-driven tourists, who displayed higher resilience to reduced snow under projected climate change scenarios. These results have practical implications for winter tourism destinations, both in terms of targeting experience-driven tourists in the case of reduced snow as well as the longer term sustainability and viability of winter tourism destinations.     

Tourists' shopping experiences at street markets: Cross-country research

Considering shopping as one of the most important motivations for travel, this study focuses on tourists' shopping attitudes towards street markets while on a vacation. Specifically, this study proposes and tests a conceptual model that assesses how price consciousness and perceived utility, as critical drivers of attitudes in street markets, may influence tourist satisfaction and future intentions. As opposed to the structure of previous research, this study is also based on a cross-national comparative study conducted among foreign tourists visiting Algarve, Portugal and Bodrum, Turkey, in the summer of 2011. Study findings confirm that price and utility perceptions are the most important marketplace cues and higher level of satisfaction moderates tourists' willingness to return or recommend street markets in both destinations.