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1 – 10 of over 21000Dimitrios Stylidis and Barbora Cherifi
This paper aims to explore the characteristics (i.e. complex, specific) of destination image as perceived by visitors and non-visitors to a tourist place.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the characteristics (i.e. complex, specific) of destination image as perceived by visitors and non-visitors to a tourist place.
Design/methodology/approach
Overall, 42 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Czech and Greek visitors and non-visitors to London, the UK. From the 21 interviews in each country, 11 conducted with visitors and 10 with non-visitors to London.
Findings
A number of characteristics of the image of London were identified that differed across visitors and non-visitors, irrespective of respondents’ nationality, including accuracy, specificity, completeness and complexity.
Research limitations/implications
The characteristics of image of different types of destinations (i.e. rural, seaside resorts) need to be assessed in the future, as this paper focused on a well-known urban destination.
Practical implications
This paper provides support for effective and innovative solutions to place marketing and branding of tourist destinations. For example, greater complexity and more specific images should be used to attract the repeating visitors market.
Originality/value
The paper’s originality lies in providing a better understanding of the characteristics of destination image, as perceived by visitors and non-visitors to a tourist place.
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Jitu Saikia, Pranjal Protim Buragohain and Hari K. Choudhury
This study investigates the relationships of visitors’ recreational experiences and their future behavior for the wildlife destinations of Assam, a North-Eastern state of India.
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the relationships of visitors’ recreational experiences and their future behavior for the wildlife destinations of Assam, a North-Eastern state of India.
Design/methodology/approach
Recreational experiences have been measured through the visitors’ perceptions on various destination characteristics. The future behavior of the visitors is measured by considering two indicators in the forms of revisit and recommendation to others. Primary data, collected from two wildlife destinations have been analyzed by using structural equation modeling technique.
Findings
The empirical results have revealed the influence of destination characteristics on visitors’ future behavior, where perceptions mediate the relationship.
Practical implications
The findings suggest the adoption of policies to create positive perceptions on destination attributes and product oriented promotional strategies toward making wildlife destinations more competitive. The study also provides implications for tourism literature by suggesting an integrative approach for better understanding of tourists’ future behavior.
Originality/value
The study is based on primary data collected from two wildlife destinations of Assam. The investigation will help to adopt policies to make wildlife destinations more competitive.
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The purpose of this paper is to identify young cultural visitors’ perceptions towards culture and cultural heritage destinations.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify young cultural visitors’ perceptions towards culture and cultural heritage destinations.
Design/methodology/approach
This study, based on a survey conducted in the archaeological site of Delphi in Greece, examines young cultural visitors’ perceptions by identifying their perceived importance for a series of destination attributes.
Findings
Findings reveal the important characteristics of cultural heritage sites for young travelers. Emphasis needs to be given on the following four influential factors of a cultural heritage site: organization and facilities, learning and experience, operation and accessibility, and place and promotion.
Research limitations/implications
Tourism authorities ought to focus upon young people and understand their needs in order to attract them to cultural destinations providing positive experience/s. This study is a unique attempt to analyze the perceptions of young people in cultural destinations and is limited to only one cultural heritage site, Delphi. Further, research in other sites examining younger ages and their differences would provide significant information about this unexplored market in cultural sites.
Originality/value
This paper examines that misconception about culture concerning only older age‐groups needs a new way of thinking that takes into consideration young visitors as important cultural visitors. By ignoring their importance, opportunities to maximize value from the sites as well as to operate them in a more sustainable manner are lost. Knowing exactly the perceptions of young people for culture gives insights into their present and future behavior in cultural heritage destinations.
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Anita Zehrer, Frieda Raich, Hubert Siller and Franz Tschiderer
Co-operation activities play a central role for the development of a tourism destination, and require a co-operative approach among numerous different actors to manage and market…
Abstract
Purpose
Co-operation activities play a central role for the development of a tourism destination, and require a co-operative approach among numerous different actors to manage and market a tourism destination. This paper aims to describe the characteristics of leadership networks in tourism destinations and their impact on destination development.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper discusses network relationships of destination leaders, as in their collectivity, leaders shape and influence the destination's core services, strategic orientation and innovation capability. The research is based on the examination of relevant literature and a quantitative survey conducted in five selected tourism destinations in the Tirol, Austria.
Findings
The article discusses leadership networks in community-structured destinations, providing insights into its organizational structure and dynamic behaviour. Moreover, the paper illustrates the network characteristics and its influence on the development of the tourism destination. Thus, implications for destination management can be derived.
Originality/value
Discussions on leadership have usually been limited to firms and have not yet fully embraced the network and destination level. The originality of the paper is to provide insights in destination leadership and networking activities of leaders within destinations by means of a quantitative approach and thus adds to the growing body of literature on the functionalities of destination leadership networks, their structures and mechanisms.
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Ivana Šagovnović and Sanja Kovačić
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of tourists’ sociodemographic characteristics on their perception of destination personality and emotional experience on…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of tourists’ sociodemographic characteristics on their perception of destination personality and emotional experience on the example of the city break tourism destination.
Design/methodology/approach
To examine this relationship, survey research was conducted on a sample of 203 national and international tourists who visited Novi Sad, the second-largest city in Serbia.
Findings
Research results confirmed the role of travelers’ sociodemographic variables in shaping their emotional experience and destination personality perception. The findings pointed out significant divergences in the perception of emotional experience in the case of respondents’ education level, previous visits to the city and travel companion. On the other hand, the analysis showed that repeat visitors significantly differed from first-time visitors regarding destination personality perception. In addition, differences in both destination personality and emotional experience assessment were found between national and international city break travelers.
Originality/value
The current study is first to focus on the role of travelers’ sociodemographic variables in simultaneous modeling of their perception of destination personality and emotional experience within the city break destination context. Besides, results revealed some new influencing factors of both destination personality and emotional experience perception, thus contributing to the existing tourism literature. In addition, this paper offers useful practical implications for city break marketers to adapt promotional activities, more effectively present the desired brand personality of the city to different sociodemographic categories of tourists and sustain repeat tourists’ perception of Positive surprise.
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Investigates the images and preferences for six long‐haul “exotic” tourist destinations among a small random sample of prospective Finnish customers. Looks at the promotional…
Abstract
Investigates the images and preferences for six long‐haul “exotic” tourist destinations among a small random sample of prospective Finnish customers. Looks at the promotional problem and suggests further steps for continued research.
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Mamoun N. Akroush, Luai E. Jraisat, Dina J. Kurdieh, Ruba N. AL-Faouri and Laila T. Qatu
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between tourism service quality and destination loyalty through investigating the mediation effect of destination image in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between tourism service quality and destination loyalty through investigating the mediation effect of destination image in the Dead Sea tourism destination, Jordan, from international tourists perspectives. The paper also investigates the tourism service quality dimensions from international tourists’ viewpoints.
Design/methodology/approach
A structured and self-administered survey was used targeting international tourists who were visiting the Dead Sea tourism destination, Jordan. The authors delivered 300 questionnaires to international tourists from which 237 were retained and valid for the analysis. A series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to assess the research constructs dimensions, unidimensionality, validity and composite reliability. Structural path analysis was also used to test the hypothesised relationships of the research model.
Findings
The empirical findings indicate that tourism service quality is, in fact, a four-dimensional (4D) construct as opposed to five as proposed by the original hypothesised model. The 4D model consists of four facets: assurance-responsiveness, tangible facilities-empathy, reliability and reliability-quality of directions. Also, the results indicate that brand image loaded onto two dimensions named as “physical environment” and “people characteristics”. The structural findings indicate that the four dimensions of tourism service quality have positively and significantly affected destination image. Further, brand image has positively and significantly affected destination loyalty. Finally, destination image fully mediates the relationship between tourism service quality and destination loyalty.
Research limitations/implications
This paper has examined only five dimensions of tourism service quality that affected destination loyalty directly and indirectly; meanwhile, other service quality dimensions such as technical quality may affect both destination image and destination loyalty. Further, destination image is the only mediator investigated in this paper. Other consumer-based brand equity factors such as brand salience my act as another mediator. Also, this paper investigated international tourists’ perspectives in the Dead Sea tourism destination only, which means that its generalisation to other tourism destinations is limited. Therefore, comparative studies inside and outside Jordan’s tourism destinations are potential areas of future research. Other limitations and future research areas are also outlined.
Practical implications
The paper highlights the strategic importance of brand image on the relationship between tourism service quality and destination loyalty. Tourism service quality acts as an antecedent to brand image and the later is essential to destination loyalty. In other words, brand image of the physical environment and people friendless and kindness are the critical linkage that create destination loyalty. Further, an integrated model of tourism service quality, destination image and destination loyalty is required by tourism organisations operating in the Dead Sea destination to win international tourists again.
Originality/value
This paper represents one of the very few attempts that investigate tourism service quality and destination loyalty through understanding the mediating role of brand image in the Dead Sea destination. Accordingly, it should shed more light into the strategic role of brand image dimensions and how they affect destination loyalty. Further, the paper is the first of its kind to investigate an integrated model of tourism service quality and destination loyalty from international tourist perspectives in Jordan. The main issue here is that tourism organisations operating in the Dead Sea tourism destination have now valuable empirical evidence concerning the drivers of destination loyalty in an integrated manner.
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Rosaria Luisa Gomes Pereira, Antónia Correia and Ronaldo L.A. Schutz
The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a measurement brand personality scale for golf destinations and simultaneously to assess the destination personality of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a measurement brand personality scale for golf destinations and simultaneously to assess the destination personality of the Algarve as a golf destination.
Design/methodology/approach
A set of 36 unrepeated items, generated from individual interviews with experts in tourism and golf in the Algarve and from promotional texts in golf-related websites, was the base for a survey instrument. The survey was applied to a convenient sample of 600 golf players in the Algarve, and 545 (valid) questionnaires were analysed to refine the scale. Golf players assessed the Algarve as a golf destination and the components of the relational brand personality (functional, symbolic and experiential). Two multi-dimensional brand personality models were estimated by using structural equation modelling.
Findings
Findings indicate that golf players ascribe personality characteristics to destinations. The brand personality of the Algarve is translated into three main dimensions enjoyableness, distinctiveness and friendliness when tourists/golf players reveal their overall perception of the destination. The brand personality of golf destination Algarve is reflected in the dimensions reliability, hospitality, uniqueness and attractiveness when tourists/golf players assess the components of the relational brand personality. Refined scales consisting of 10 and 11 items were finally derived meeting both reliability and validity requirements.
Research limitations/implications
The analysis is based on personality perceptions of only one golf destination. Another limitation is the fact that both interviewees and respondents had great difficulty in expressing themselves tending to use repeated words. Also, the fact that the research was conducted in two languages since translation and retroversion of the items may lead to some loss in meaning or sense. Moreover, the experiential component of the relational brand personality might have been further explored to relate golf destination brand personality to the tourist experience.
Practical implications
Important contributions are that both qualitative and quantitative approaches should be used in the measurement of brand personality. A reliable and valid tool to assess golf destination brand personality is a valuable marketing management resource.
Social implications
Destination managers will be able to plan marketing actions that will help to change general destination attitudes and product-destination attitudes, establishing the destination brand and creating differentiation, resulting in increased preference and usage, higher emotional ties, trust and loyalty towards the brand. Also, marketers should place great emphasis on building a connection between destination personality and tourists/golf players’ self-concept.
Originality/value
This is one of the first pieces of research to validate a specific brand personality scale to golf destinations. Results of this study make important theoretical contributions to the understanding of brand personality in the context of tourism destinations in general, and golf destinations in particular.
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Marcos Álvarez-Díaz, Mónica Villanueva-Villar and Elena Rivo-López
Analyzing the main determinants that lead a traveler to make a cultural trip is an important issue to understand where the cultural tourism market is going, and where the…
Abstract
Purpose
Analyzing the main determinants that lead a traveler to make a cultural trip is an important issue to understand where the cultural tourism market is going, and where the decision-makers should intervene. This study helps develop a profile of cultural tourism participants, and underscore the changes in this market niche. This information is crucial for the successful marketing and development of cultural tourism in the future.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors estimate a binary probabilistic (logit) model to determine the probability of a tourist to travel for cultural reasons, as a function of the traveler's socio-economic characteristic (e.g. age, gender, income or level of studies), of the trip-related characteristics (e.g. distance traveled to destination or mode of transport) and of the characteristics of the province of destination (e.g. weather conditions or existence of cultural sites at destination).
Findings
This study’s estimates reveal that middle-aged individuals, with a higher level of studies and with a medium level of income show a higher propensity to travel for cultural reasons. The latter finding evidences that cultural tourism has evolved from a niche market reserved for an elite clientele to a much wider range of people. Additionally, cultural travelers tend to travel statistically much longer distances. They are less prone to visit crowded destinations, prefer visiting destinations with important cultural sites, and are less sensitive to weather conditions. Finally, the authors discover a complementary effect of culture tourism and other activities carried out during the trip such as visiting cities or theme parks; and a substitution effect with “beach-and-sun” tourism.
Practical implications
The information given in this study can be crucial for the successful marketing and development of cultural tourism in the future. A better understanding of the main determinants of being a cultural traveler implies a better and a more efficient implementation of managerial and political measures to attract a kind of tourism characterized by a high spending capacity.
Originality/value
Discovering the main determinants of being a cultural traveler is a topic scarcely treated in the literature. This study has the main originality to include characteristics of the destination (pull factors) to explain the individual's decision to take a cultural trip. Moreover, the authors work at a provincial (NUTS-3) level of analysis, which makes this study original in the field of cultural tourism.
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Ozan Atsız, Veronica Leoni and Orhan Akova
This paper aims to empirically analyze tourists' length of stay in Istanbul, an important cultural destination. The objective of the study is twofold: (1) uncovering the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to empirically analyze tourists' length of stay in Istanbul, an important cultural destination. The objective of the study is twofold: (1) uncovering the qualitative difference between one-night visitors and longer stay visitors and (2) for those visitors staying longer at the tourism destination, investigating the key determinants of length of stay.
Design/methodology/approach
This research was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to international tourists who were about to leave the destination. To perform the analysis, we applied a two-step approach: first, we opted for classical binary logit to investigate the tourists' group membership (one-night vs longer stays); second, we applied a zero-truncated Poisson model for uncovering the drivers of length of stay for longer stay visitors.
Findings
The results confirmed the structural difference between the two visitor subgroups. Moreover, we found a positive impact of cultural attributes on tourists' length of stay.
Practical implications
The findings provide useful information for destination managers and planners, highlighting the importance of designing different tourism policies in light of tourists' heterogeneity. Moreover, the results confirmed the importance of the preservation and promotion of cultural attributes, given that these are a key factor in determining the success of a destination.
Originality/value
The importance and originality of this study are that it explores the impact of cultural/heritage attributes of the destination on tourists' length of stay. Moreover, it sheds light on the qualitative difference between short- and long-stay visitors.
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