Search results

Special interest tourism (SIT) is a specialized type of tourism. People aim to visit destinations with a specific theme through this type of tourism. During SIT consumption, they create or develop peculiar interests and participate individually or in groups. In this respect, SIT is a concept that reflects some trends. These trends developed toward satisfying different interests rather than those developed around mass tourism. In other words, SIT emerges as an alternative movement to mass tourism based on general interests. Soon after mass tourism gained extensive dimension, alternative tourism, ecotourism, and SIT concepts emerged. These concepts altered the style of tourism operations. Diversified tourism operations have transformed conventional tourism into experience-based tourism activities. Presentations of these types of experiences are frequently in the form of special interests. The content of this chapter encompasses the fundamental concepts forming the SIT. An overview of the terminology – such as alternative tourism, sustainable development, and sustainable tourism – is the scope of this chapter. Moreover, criticisms and some trends in SIT are the leading subtopics. Some examples of academic research about SIT in Turkey are listed in the current study. This list was compiled from the information gathered from the Council of Higher Education National Thesis Center Database records.

In the era of new technological revolution, seeking to survive and guarantee business sustainability in their digital internationalization, enterprises choose to become environmentally oriented. The need for new green business models has become evident in recent years, and enterprises offer green services in creative and eco-friendly ways. However, does the display of a green label on hotels' websites really promote the eco-conscious tourists' online booking intention? This study aims to examine the impact of the perceived label on the online sustainable hotel booking intention of the eco-conscious tourists, using the foundations of signal theory.

This study adopted a structural equation model to integrate several constructs with a sample of 349 validated responses.

The empirical results highlight, the importance of the green label perception on the eco-conscious tourists' booking intention of online sustainable hotel and the role that green trust and green perceived risk play as a mediating variable between the perception of the exposed label and the booking intention. Indeed, when booking a sustainable hotel online, the tourists may be sensitive to the exposure of a green label. Therefore, this signal decreases the perceived risk of unsustainability and ultimately increases the trust in hotel's sustainability.

The first limitation is related to the sample employed in this study. Given that most of the participants were residents of France, the results of this study may not be generalized to the entire population. Secondly, a range of other factors can affect the eco-conscious tourists' intentions to book online a hotel with green label, such as their attitude, social media influence, tourists' satisfaction, etc. Indeed, other variables and/or signals could be adopted to study online booking intention in the pandemic era.

In light of these results, theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. The findings make an important contribution to SMEs sustainability and internationalization by exploring new ties. This study considers how SMEs and specifically hotels start following green practices (e.g. adoption of an eco-label) relevant to their international environment where they operate and in response to global pressures. SMEs can survive better in the highly competitive global environment where they need to employ more green practices, however, managers should consider how green trust and green perceived risk can affect customer behavior. It also adds to the existing literature by dealing with customer perceptions about the green label of sustainable hotels and its subsequent effect on booking intention.

This study had shown the importance of the display of green label on the eco-conscious tourist's online booking intention.

Despite the growing interest regarding companies' sustainability, its social dimension has mostly been neglected by academics and practitioners. Consequently, this study aims to address this issue by investigating if the adoption of human resource (HR) analytics can positively influence the impact of social sustainable operations practices (SSOP) on employees' motivation and engagement and the effect of these lasts on organizational retention.

Data were collected through online questionnaires addressed to 281 HR managers of heterogeneous companies from Europe and analyzed through a structural equation modeling (SEM) technique.

The findings confirmed the positive effect of SSOP on employees’ motivation and engagement, and of these last on employees’ retention. Furthermore, they confirmed that the usage of HR analytics positively moderates the relationship between SSOP and employees’ motivation and engagement.

This study contributes to both sustainable operations management and HR management literature streams. First, it adopts a multidisciplinary perspective which also considers evidence from HR management literature, allowing the authors to concentrate on the social dimension of sustainability. Second, it provided further insight regarding the adoption of a data-driven approach in relation to social sustainable operations management. Finally, it contributes to HR analytics-related literature by demonstrating its impact also on organizational aspects that are not directly controlled by the HR department.

Joint advertising is an emerging strategy where marketers promote both brands in the same marketing communication. This research determines how the domestic, foreign, or global nature of the partner impacts important brand-related outcomes and identifies underlying psychological process mechanisms and contextual variables that affect this relationship.

Across three experiments, we investigate how the type of joint advertising partner impacts consumer attitudes and behaviors. We establish the number of similarities between the partners and perceived cognitive fit as the mediating process mechanisms underlying this relationship, with holistic processing moderating the effect.

We find that when consumers are exposed to joint advertisements between domestic or global [foreign] brands, they will be able to generate more [fewer] similarities between the partners and perceive a stronger [weaker] cognitive fit. Moreover, these similarities interact with consumer cultural traits related to holistic processing style to differentially influence perceived cognitive fit and downstream consumer attitudes and behaviors.

Partnering for mutually beneficial, joint advertisements is a growing phenomenon that redefines traditional thinking about advertising, but the success of the joint advertisement is contingent upon the characteristics and compatibility of the partners.

This study aims to examine the interrelationships between social media marketing activities, self-brand connections, brand equity, trust and loyalty.

A total of 402 valid responses were collected from Amazon MTurk, and the data were subjected to partial least squares structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).

Findings indicate that social media marketing activities strongly and positively influence self-brand connection, brand equity and brand trust. Moreover, brand loyalty was strongly and positively influenced by self-brand connection, brand equity and brand trust. Moreover, the findings from fsQCA indicate that three causal paths lead to a high level of brand loyalty, and one causal path determines a low level of brand loyalty.

This research extends current knowledge by bridging the literature between social media marketing activities and branding using self-brand connections. Additionally, this study uses the strength of two complimentary methods – symmetrical and asymmetrical modeling – to uncover how social media marketing activities bridge customer-brand relationships.

Este estudio examina las interrelaciones entre las actividades de marketing en redes sociales, las conexiones de marca propia, el valor de la marca, la confianza y la lealtad.

Se recopilaron 402 respuestas válidas de Amazon MTurk, y los datos fueron sometidos a PLS-SEM y análisis cualitativo comparativo con conjuntos difusos (fsQCA).

Los resultados indican que las actividades de marketing en redes sociales influyen fuertemente y de manera positiva en la conexión de marca propia, el valor de la marca y la confianza en la marca. Además, la lealtad a la marca es influenciada fuerte y positivamente por la conexión de marca propia, el valor de la marca y la confianza en la marca. Además, los resultados de fsQCA indican que tres vías causales conducen a un alto nivel de lealtad a la marca, y una determina un bajo nivel de lealtad a la marca.

Esta investigación amplía el conocimiento actual al vincular la literatura entre las actividades de marketing en redes sociales y el branding utilizando conexiones de marca propia. Además, este estudio utiliza dos métodos complementarios – modelado simétrico y asimétrico – para descubrir cómo las actividades de marketing en redes sociales construyen las relaciones entre cliente y marca.

本研究探讨社交媒体营销活动、自我品牌连接、品牌资产、信任和忠诚度之间的相互关系。

从亚马逊MTurk收集了402个有效回复, 并对数据进行了PLS-SEM和模糊集合质性比较分析 (fsQCA) 的处理。

研究发现, 社交媒体营销活动对自我品牌连接、品牌资产和品牌信任产生了强烈而积极的影响。此外, 自我品牌连接、品牌资产和品牌信任也对品牌忠诚度产生了强烈而积极的影响。fsQCA的结果显示, 导致高水平品牌忠诚度的有三条因果路径, 而导致低水平品牌忠诚度的有一条因果路径。

本研究通过构建社交媒体营销活动与品牌之间的桥梁, 利用自我品牌连接, 扩展了当前知识。此外, 利用对称和非对称建模两种互补方法的优势, 揭示了社交媒体营销活动如何建立客户品牌关系。

After reading this case study, students will be able to understand the impact of cyber threats on businesses; explore the intersection of innovation and ethical considerations; understand the proactive role of entrepreneurs in identifying gaps in traditional industries, such as insurance, and innovating solutions that align with local dynamics; and learn to formulate strategies addressing cultural factors, market gaps and challenges.

The case study follows Hasnain, a prosperous entrepreneur in Pakistan, who was surprised by the news of a cyberattack on Bank Islami. This event, coupled with a personal data breach in his family’s business, triggered Hasnain’s willingness and interest to address the growing threat of cyber risks and attacks. As the progenitor of a digital solutions startup, he identified a gap in the insurance industry’s replication to cyber threats and envisioned the desideratum for a Sharia-compliant cyber-insurance product withal called cyber risk takaful. The case study explores Hasnain’s journey as he contemplated the challenges of introducing cyber risk takaful – a Sharia-compliant insurance solution for businesses and individuals. Apperceiving the low vigilance and perceived costs associated with cyber insurance, Hasnain faced the dilemma of surmounting these barriers in a country where the penetration of insurance, in general, is already minimal. The story raises critical questions: How can Hasnain efficaciously introduce cyber risk takaful to a market reluctant to embrace cyber insurance? What business strategies should he use to engender vigilance and acceptance of this innovative insurance solution? Will businesses and individuals embrace the concept of cyber risk takaful and recognize its paramount in forfending their digital assets?

This case study is designed to meet the educational needs of both undergraduate and postgraduate students, particularly those enrolled in business administration programs. This case study is tailored for students in the final year of BBA and the first year of MBA programs. It is also well-suited for executive education programs that focus on strategic decision-making in the context of emerging market challenges, such as entrepreneurship and corporate strategy. The case study is particularly relevant for courses centered on entrepreneurship, business strategy, strategic management and corporate strategy.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS11: Entrepreneurship.

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the supply and demand of marketing and communication consulting services and evaluate actual and perceived gaps.

The paper uses two different datasets to assess the gap. The supply database comes from desk research carried out in the province of Bergamo (n. 159 consulting agencies). The demand dates are the results of 100 structured interviews with local companies that requested marketing and communication consulting services both inside and outside the province.

Findings show that there is no significant shortage in local service supply. Nonetheless, a limited gap exists between the provision of specific services and their overall quality. Conversely, the perceived gap is wider, leading to an impression of scarce availability – a notion disproven by the analysis of the actual supply.

The study suggests that local agencies may overcome their “myopic” attitude and need to increase their visibility, competencies and expertise by investing in these areas and improving networking.

There are no previous studies that compare the supply and demand for marketing and communication consulting services. The paper also provides insights into actual and perceived gaps in a hypercompetitive environment.

The purpose of this research is to explore the influence of the pandemic on manoeuvring consumption decisions towards goods and encouraging the trial of local food goods in a developing country, Jordan; primarily by taking an internal look into country image from a local perspective. Given the lack of studies analysing the impact of crises on consumption decisions, this research highlights the hidden benefits of the pandemic in shifting the perceptions of local food goods among Jordanian consumers.

This study adopts an exploratory approach to obtain rich, descriptive data to aid in the understanding of the shift in country image perceptions after the COVID-19 crisis and associated influences on purchase intentions. Using a qualitative open-ended approach eliminates the boundaries of closed-end methods of experimental research. Due to the nature of the phenomena being explored in this research, this study adopts the approach of responsive interviews with 26 participants.

Findings indicate that participants’ perceptions of country image and local goods and their consumption changed responding to COVID-19 for different reasons, creating new norms and perceptions of country image and local food goods. The findings precisely indicate a shift from negative to positive perceptions of country image and local food goods due to the pandemic. Results reveal that there are inconspicuous benefits associated with the role of the pandemic in shifting perceptions of country image and local food goods in Jordan.

Consumers’ perceptions and consumption decisions continue reciprocally to respond to and reflect on the COVID-19 crisis. Adjusting to the new normal is now the focus of research to understand the variance in consumption decisions across the world, including in emerging markets such as Jordan. Results also extend research on cue theory, as crisis seems to have a moderating role in the extent of influence cue theory has on perceptions of goods.

Assisting local brands in improving their marketing strategies, by identifying the barriers that hinder the “desire to try” phase among Jordanian consumers.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is unique and first of its kind, as it investigates perceptions of Jordanian consumers of their country’s image and whether the perceptual change in their country image would also stimulate a shift of perceptions in local food goods concerning the COVID-19 crisis. The results provide new insights into understanding consumer behaviour and preferences in crises; and the inconspicuous benefits that a crisis may have on local goods.

This study aims to examine the impact of geographical and business proximity between parent companies and affiliates on R&D investments in business groups. Furthermore, it compares the moderating effect of value chain participants’ bargaining power and the performance-aspiration gap.

This study uses data from 411 Chinese private manufacturing listed firms affiliated with business groups. This paper conducts regression analysis using Stata 16.0 software. Additionally, this paper employs combined random effects regression models, the 2SLS method and GMM method.

Geographical distance between focal affiliates and parent companies is negatively related to focal affiliates’ R&D. The higher the business proximity between focal affiliates and parent companies, the more R&D investments are made. Further research shows that with stronger bargaining power and a wider performance-aspiration gap, the negative relationship between geographical distance and R&D investment weakens.

This study contributes to the R&D investment literature by offering a novel perspective on why proximity influences affiliates’ R&D investments in Chinese business groups. This study enriches the proximity theory by introducing business proximity as a new dimension into the framework. Furthermore, this study highlights the boundary conditions of the proximity theory by ascertaining the moderating effects of bargaining power and the performance-aspiration gap.