Visitation of tourism attractions and tourist expenditure patterns ‐ repeat versus first‐time visitors

Marketing wisdom suggests that it is less expensive to reattract previous customers than to acquire new ones. Yet, few tourism destinations are actively trying to understand their current visitors in order to more effectively market to them. The present study analyzes international repeat and first‐time visitors to Rotorua, New Zealand, in order to gain insights into their respective visitation patterns of tourist attractions in the area, as well as their trip and expenditure patterns. The results of this study indicate that there are significant differences with regards to trip characteristics, and it offers a few insightful differences with respect to the attractions frequented.     

Impact of airport green atmospherics on mental health value,image, and loyalty among visitors and workers

Nature‐based solutions (NBS) are becoming increasingly crucial as NBS brings diverse health‐related benefits to travelers and workers in the tourism business sector. This research explored the influence of green atmospherics as NBS on airport occupants' mental health value, image, and loyalty generation processes. A quantitative approach with a field survey method was employed. A structural equation modeling and metric invariance test were used as data analysis technique. Our empirical result revealed that green atmospherics as NBS significantly improve the occupants' mental health value and image of the airport, and these variables contribute to their loyalty enhancement for the airport. The effect of green spaces and natural surroundings on loyalty was maximized through mental health value and image. In addition, the linkages from natural surroundings to mental health value and image were stronger in the visitor group whereas the mental health value—loyalty relation was stronger in the worker group.     

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Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between nonrespondent, self selection bias on mail return surveys from two visitor groups in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The authors suggest that engagement in a specific recreation activity at a specific location may be a significant criterion for defining a population as homogeneous. This is important because a homogeneous population is less susceptible to nonrespondent bias in mail return surveys. A brief contact instrument was given to individuals as they left the Sugarlands Visitor Center and as they entered the Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail. Upon completing the contact survey, participants were asked to complete and return, by mail, a detailed visitation questionnaire. The contact survey was recoded to reflect “returned”; and “not returned”; the mailed survey. A chi‐square analysis was used to determine if there was an association between respondents’ returning or not returning the mailed survey and their responses to the brief contact instrument. No significant association was found. Based upon these and other findings, the authors suggest that determinations of nonrespondent bias should be made before detailed follow‐up mail survey procedures are initiated.     

Visitor attendance motivations at consumer travel exhibitions

This study identifies the major motivations of visitors for attending consumer travel exhibitions and segments visitors based on their motivations. The findings suggest that visitors to consumer travel exhibitions have multiple motivations: acquiring purchase information, being attracted by the theme, or being encouraged to visit by media coverage. Half of the visitors perceived travel fairs to be an important distribution channel through which they could get special deals on travel to desirable destinations (or at least sourcing information on travel). It seems likely that consumer travel show attendance may be closely linked with the individual leisure desires of the visitor. The study suggests two clusters: 1) Shopper cluster whose major motivation is purchasing and 2) Total Visitors whose motivation is to undertake an ongoing information search and attend seminars to maintain their awareness of new trends with the tourism industry.     

How different are first-time attendees from repeat attendees in convention evaluation?

This study aimed to identify any distinction between first-time and repeat convention attendees based on their perspectives of convention quality dimensions, multidimensional value, and behavioral intentions. The findings showed that accessibility and extra convention opportunities were not found to affect multidimensional value from first-timers and repeaters. First-timers valued professional education the most, followed by social networking and site environment in evaluating multidimensional value. Repeaters relied on social networking more than on education in assessing value. Site environment positively contributed to multidimensional value for first-timers but not for repeaters. Multidimensional value affected behavioral intentions more positively for repeaters than for first-timers. These findings will enable convention organizers to better understand the distinctions between the two groups and thus gain insight into how to attract first-timers and turn them into repeaters.     

基于游客视角的桂林旅游景区解说系统评价

随着自助游的发展,游客对旅游解说系统的需求也提出了更高的要求。为了更好地发展桂林旅游,有必要了解游客对桂林旅游景区的解说系统的评价。经过为期一个月的数据调查与收集,采用问卷调查等方法对2007年5月在桂林旅游景区游客进行调查,并用SPSS法进行数据分析与评价。经研究得出,桂林旅游景区解说系统处于亟待改善的状况。     

Changes in the distribution of house prices over time: Structural characteristics,neighborhood, or coefficients?

Quantile hedonic house price function estimates imply that appreciation rates were higher between 1995 and 2005 for high-priced homes in Chicago. Decompositions of temporal changes in the house price distribution suggest that the types of homes sold and their location do not account for the change in the price distribution. Rather, higher appreciation rates for high-priced homes are explained by differences in the quantile regression coefficients over time.     

Marketing visitor attractions: a segmentation study

This research revisits issues related to the travel behaviours of first‐time versus repeat visitors to a destination, with a special focus on the impact that the repeat visitor segment has upon the paid‐attraction sector. Healthy attractions are critically important to the success of a destination, but as this research notes, attractions have difficulty drawing guests in a repeat visitors‐dominated market. Implications that should be of value to marketers and attraction management in any maturing tourism destination are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of U.S. theme park selection and international implications

ABSTRACT

Theme parks face stiff competition in local and international markets. Theme parks tend to create competitive advantages in the market by investing in different factors which influence visitors’ selection of a theme park. Theme parks attract visitors from all nationalities. The purpose of this study was to explore six influencing factors on U.S. theme park visitors’ choice that can be applicable in different geographic positioning parks. A choice-based conjoint (CBC) model was designed with respective levels for six considered influencing factors: type of park, price, distance from accommodation, children friendly, and online reviews. The findings revealed that online reviews were the most important relative factor followed closely by price and type of theme park. The other factors shared a lower relative importance. CBC analysis results generated the best and the worst profile for theme parks, which can serve as a guide theme park managers as they invest and plan strategically for success. Results of this study of U.S. parks but as theme parks are targeted toward similar populations the results could have implications internationally.     

Temporary population estimates of mass tourism destinations: The case of Benidorm

Benidorm (Spain) is a large-scale tourism destination on the Mediterranean coast, and its temporary population can be divided into users of regulated tourist accommodation and unregistered visitors, as occurs in other destinations. The number of these different types of unregistered temporary inhabitants should be estimated separately to gauge more accurate population figures in tourist destinations which are subject to seasonality. Indicators such as drinking water consumption or solid waste generation are used to estimate the number of unregistered visitors. The results reveal that the average total population of Benidorm at least doubles the registered resident population. Additionally, a population density index has been calculated to assess urban sustainability. The methodology adopted can be applied to other case studies in order to estimate total populations, which is vital for the adequate provision of public services.