Interpretive structural modeling of quality factors in both medical and hospitality services in the medical tourism industry

This study aims to theoretically integrate quality factors of both medical and hospitality services in medical tourism. Medical tourism comprises both medicine and tourism. Although the core product in medical tourism is medical treatment, attractive hospitality and travel options are also essential. Despite the dual nature of medical tourism, the two aspects of this concept have not been integrated in a unique framework. This study attempts to fill this gap using interpretive structural modeling (ISM). According to ISM, although factors of medical services and hospitality services are independent from each other, these factors have vital impacts on perceived value, satisfaction, and loyalty.     

To go or not to go: travel constraints and attractiveness of travel affecting outbound Chinese tourists to Japan

The fast growth of the Chinese economy has transformed Chinese outbound tourism into one of the major players in the tourism industry worldwide. However, Chinese outbound tourists may still encounter travel constraints in some countries, such as Japan, which has had a close and complicated relationship in history with China. This study adopted the qualitative approach by applying focus group and in-depth interviews to investigate and triangulate the travel barriers affecting Chinese outbound travel to Japan. The findings indicated that domestic nationalist sentiment played a key constraining role in influencing Chinese outbound travel decision-making, followed by current political factors, while quality products and service, as well as social environment encouraged tourists to travel. This research also found that visitors and non-visitors have perception differences in terms of travel barriers and attractiveness of travel.     

A theoretical framework of electronic word-of-mouth against the backdrop of social networking websites

This study proposed and tested a theoretical framework that explains electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) against the backdrop of social networking websites (SNWs), which have gained substantial popularity among travelers. In particular, a United States (US) nationwide online survey was conducted and nine hypotheses were tested. The findings suggest that willingness to share knowledge and switching costs are positively related to eWOM communication. In addition, customer value (utilitarian) has positive relationships with willingness to share knowledge, perceived security, and switching cost, while customer value (hedonic) has positive relationships with willingness to share knowledge and switching costs. Last but not least, the findings indicate that perceived security does negatively impact eWOM. In light of the major findings, the article sets forth strategic implications for travel-related social networking websites.     

A preliminary examination of the relationship between consumer attitude towards space travel and the development of innovative space tourism technology

With increasing global competition in service sectors, innovative technologies have radically changed the tourism industry, and to be successful innovative products/services must have clear, significant points of difference that are related to needs in the market place. Furthermore, changes in consumer perceptions that emanate from an innovation are central to its effective product and service design. Although for most of us space travel is still a faraway dream, it is in fact a future probability that will increasingly attract travellers who seek new vacation experiences, and as a result, sustain academic interest. Thus, in initiating space tourism for the purposes of recreation, leisure and knowledge enhancement, a preliminary estimation of potential global demand characteristics that are specific to consumer innovators for space travel needs to be undertaken prior to promotion of research and development. In this context, this paper investigates both consumer attitudes towards space travel by analysing the components of motivated consumer innovativeness and the interest that potential consumers have in developing space tourism technology innovations within Taiwan. Consumer innovativeness is complex and comprised four innovativeness types, namely, social, functional, hedonic and cognitive. As product/service innovation development has been relatively unexplored in the mature industry of tourism, many business managers would welcome an understanding of which vacation travellers are most likely to be the earliest buyers of such an exciting new product. With data collected from a sample of 354 Taiwanese, this research uses mediated regression to examine the influence of the four types of consumer innovativeness on consumer's attitudes and acceptance of a space tourism technology innovation, and the mediating role perceived novelty plays in the relationship. The findings indicate that only hedonic and social innovativeness are associated with improved consumer attitude and that novelty partially mediates the relationship for those two types of consumer innovativeness. The implications for theory and practice are discussed. Limitations and directions for future research are also addressed.     

The role of perceived behavioural control in the constraint-negotiation process: the case of solo travel

This study extends the leisure constraint-effects-mitigation model to the perceived behavioural control (PBC)- constraint-negotiation model by adding PBC. Three competing models were tested to determine which model best fits the data. Results suggested that PBC mediates the relationship between motivation and negotiation, and there is a direct path from motivation to participation. Findings contribute to deepening and broadening the theory of leisure constraint negotiation because the new variable was successfully added to the original model and the model was extended to new settings (i.e. solo travel and non-Western).     

技术性贸易壁垒与中国高技术产品出口——基于扩展贸易引力模型的经验分析

本文基于扩展的贸易引力模型,使用2000~2015 年中国同22 个贸易伙伴国的面板数据,并引入和技术性贸易壁垒以及高技术产品密切相关的知识产权保护这一变量,实证考察进口国TBT 对中国高技术产品出口的影响。结果表明：（1）进口国实施 TBT 或进行知识产权保护均会抑制中国高技术产品的出口,但抑制作用并不显著;（2）若进口国将TBT 和知识产权保护相结合形成更为隐蔽的技术性贸易壁垒,将会显著抑制中国高技术产品的出口;（3）中国高技术产品出口呈现行业差异,其中医药制造业受到的抑制效应最大;（4）由于技术模仿和产品同质化现象的存在,中国高技术产品出口会在中高收入国家遭遇更为严重的TBT,对出口的抑制效应会更大。中国应将知识产权保护政策作为应对进口国TBT的一种补充,在保证高技术产品贸易健康发展的同时推动出口产业向中高端发展。     

历史街区型购物场所顾客满意度研究——广州状元坊案例

尽管顾客满意度研究在相关领域已是一个研究颇久的话题,但在历史街区相关研究中鲜有涉及.本研究结合历史街区型商业街(广州状元坊)的特点,对ACSI(美国顾客满意度指数)模型加以引中和改进,构建新的适合商业街的顾客满意度评价体系,并通过问卷数据收集,采用李克特量表法,定量化地对状元坊的顾客满意度进行了实证研究.研究结论显示,顾客对状元坊的总体满意度一般;环境质量感知普遍较差,商品价格和商品种类满意度较高;学生是状元坊的主要消费群体;而区位优势、特有消费群体与准确的市场定位对状元坊顾客重游率具有决定作用.研究对拓展国内目前还比较薄弱的历史街区型商业街满意度研究有积极意义,研究结论可为商业街可持续发展提供指导作用.     

对外汉语专业课程改革刍议

课程改革是对外汉语专业建设的一个重要方面,是决定学科发展和人才培齐规格的关键因素.目前,对外汉语专业课程设置欠合理,课程特色不够鲜明.因此应首先从学科定位入手,积极优化课程设置,同时教学内容应突出对比和比较的原则,以彰显对外汉语专业的特色,提高人才培养的核心竞争力.     

英汉习语中西文化差异探源

习语是一个国家的语言和文化的结晶。通过对英汉习语语言特征、文化差异的对比和分析,全面地了解英汉言语风格和文化差异,深刻地了解认识英汉民族文化内涵,将对中西文化交流起到积极地促进作用。     

从语言游戏视角看中国英语的共核性和区域性

"语言游戏"是维特根斯坦后期哲学的一个核心概念。"中国英语"语用变体具有共核性和区域性。"中国英语"可以认为是在应用英语进行国际交往时,它的使用者对英语语言规则与词汇的使用,发生了语用变体,这种语用变体是由中国人的生活形式使然。