Journal of Travel Research current issue

Persuasive Design of Destination Web Sites: An Analysis of First Impression

Kim, H., Fesenmaier, D. R. — 2008-07-15

This research examines the persuasiveness of destination Web sites through an investigation of users' first impression. To achieve this goal, it builds on research by Fogg (2003) and by Kim and Fesenmaier (2007) to assess the effect of the design factors of destination Web sites on first impression formation. The results of this study indicate that the participants were able to make quick judgments on tourism Web sites and that inspiration and usability were the primary drivers evoking a favorable first impression. This research concludes by discussing the implications of these findings and possible directions for future study.

Applying Ecological Systems and Micro-Tipping Point Theory for Understanding Tourists' Leisure Destination Behavior

Woodside, A. G., Martin, D. — 2008-07-15

Micro-tipping point (MTP) theory includes the proposal that a specific stream of unconscious and conscious thoughts result in a go and no-go discretionary action in a given context (e.g., whether or not to visit a given destination in a given season or year, with particular persons being included or excluded from the trip). The specific stream represents a stream or conjunctive combination of thoughts in context that results in a tourist party actually taking the steps that include booking the trip and experiencing a destination firsthand. Building such contingency models that are applicable to real-life combinations of unconscious and conscious thinking requires collecting data from informants on both implicit and explicit beliefs, attitudes, and thinking rules relevant for a specific yes or no context. This article illustrates applying the long interview for collecting such data and using quantitative comparative analysis for constructing MTP models.

Examining the Antecedents of Brand Loyalty from an Investment Model Perspective

Li, X., Petrick, J. F. — 2008-07-15

The primary purpose of this study is to theoretically identify the key determinants of brand loyalty. Based on the investment model in social psychology, this article suggests that customers'attitudinal loyalty to a brand is weakened by the quality of alternative options but strengthened by their satisfaction with, and investment in, the brand. An online panel survey was conducted, and the data supported all hypothesized relationships. Collectively, satisfaction, quality of alternatives, and investment accounted for more than 74% of the variance in attitudinal loyalty. The findings suggest that the investment model may lend a theoretical foundation to the explanation of tourists'brand loyalty formation.

Timing Matters: Travelers' Advanced-Booking Expectations and Decisions

Chen, C.-C., Schwartz, Z. — 2008-07-15

Dynamic revenue management models often price discriminate based on time. The literature concerning changes in travelers' propensity to book a room over time, however, is scant, and industry practices provide few and somewhat contradictory hints about the phenomenon. To facilitate efficient and dynamic revenue management polices, this study further explores how and why customers' propensity to book changes over time. Specifically, this study empirically tests how the expectations of advanced-booking customers change in connection with the likelihood of being offered a better deal and the sellout risk as the date of stay nears. The results indicate that timing matters and that the expectations' change pattern is more complex than anticipated. These findings underscore the importance of the timing element and call attention to the need for more empirical research on the role of timing in travelers' advanced-booking decisions.

Characterizing Tourist Sensitivity to Distance

Nicolau, J. L. — 2008-07-15

Literature suggests that the effect of distance on destination choice can be positive or negative, contingent on individual characteristics. The aim of this study was to objectively measure, identify, and characterize tourist sensitivities to distance—individual by individual—in a real context where real choices made by tourists are observed. The empirical application is carried out on a sample of 2,127 individuals, and the operative formalization used to estimate the individual sensitivities to distance follows a random-coefficient logit model; to detect the determinant factors, a regression analysis is used. After obtaining the sensitivity to distance of each sampled individual, the dimensions that appear to have an effect on it are income, number of children, size of the city of residence, use of intermediaries, transport mode, interest in discovering new places, variety-seeking behavior, and motivations.

A Multifaceted Analysis of Tourism Satisfaction

Neal, J. D., Gursoy, D. — 2008-07-15

The objective of this research was to provide empirical evidence that satisfaction with travel and tourism services is the result of satisfaction during various stages of the tourism experience. The Leiper model of the tourism system was used as the theoretical underpinning from which a structural model was generated and analyzed. Data were collected via self-reported measure from Virginians who had recently traveled. LISREL-8 was used with the Maximum Likelihood Method of Estimation. The findings indicated that tourists' level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction during various stages of travel affect their overall satisfaction with travel and tourism services.

Challenging "Factor-Cluster Segmentation"

Dolnicar, S., Grun, B. — 2008-07-15

The concept of market segmentation has been widely accepted and warmly embraced both by tourism industry and academia. In tourism research, this increased interest in segmentation studies has led to the emergence of a standard research approach. Most notably a concept referred to as "factor–cluster segmentation" has been broadly adopted. The aim of this article is to demonstrate that this approach is not generally the best procedure to identify homogeneous groups of individuals (market segments).

Information Value Structure for Vacation Travel

Cho, M.-H., Jang, S. — 2008-07-15

This study explores vacation information value structure relating to resort guests. To delineate structures for the pretrip information value, five information value dimensions (utilitarian, risk avoidance, hedonic, sensation seeking, and social) are identified through an extensive review of the literature. Using the five value dimensions, the authors propose four models for pretrip information value structure and test them with confirmatory factor analyses. The first-order correlated factor model appears as the most valid framework for vacation travel-related information value structure, suggesting that the five dimensions of information value coexist and influence each other. The results indicate that a multidimensional vacation information value also exists.

Residents' Attitudes Toward Tourism and Perceived Personal Benefits in a Rural Community

Wang, Y., Pfister, R. E. — 2008-07-15

This research focuses on residents' perceptions of personal benefits from tourism, identifying not only the relationships between personal benefits from tourism and residents' attitudes toward tourism but also the nature of benefits associated with tourism. The study was conducted in a small rural community where tourism is still at its emerging stage. It was found that residents' perceptions of personal benefits from tourism were closely associated with their attitudes toward tourism in a positive direction. The significant contribution of this study falls on the recognition of noneconomic perspective of tourism benefits for residents in a community where tourism has not yet explicitly emerged. In particular, the data lend support for social exchange theory and improve its understanding in tourism investigations.

Cointegration and Causality between Tourism and Poverty Reduction

Croes, R., Vanegas, M. — 2008-07-15

This study, using cointegration and causality tests, investigates the relationship among tourism development, economic expansion, and poverty reduction in Nicaragua. The results indicate a long-run stable relationship among the three. The causality tests suggest a one-way Granger causal relation between tourism development and economic expansion, and between tourism and poverty reduction, and a bidirectional causal relation between economic expansion and poverty. The nexus of tourism, economic expansion, and poverty reduction is established in the Nicaraguan economy. This result is supported by testing the sensitivity of the Granger causality test under different lag selections along the optimal lag. The empirical evidence points to the potential economic muscle of tourism to seriously tackle Nicaraguan poverty at scale through helping both Nicaragua's public and private sectors allocate resources to tourism development, resulting in the overall improvement of the economy.

Effects of Winery Visitor Group Size on Gratitude and Obligation

Kolyesnikova, N., Dodd, T. H. — 2008-07-15

Building on reciprocity theory, the current study explores whether wine tourists feel a need to buy wine at tasting rooms due to a perceived need to reciprocate for services received. In this research, wine and souvenirs bought fully or partly out of the desire to repay hospitality and services received are identified as gratuity purchasing. Specifically, the study investigates the role of gratitude and obligation in wine tourist purchasing behavior. The results indicate that the higher visitor feelings of gratitude and obligation while at a winery, the bigger the expenditures. In addition, the research examines the effect of visitor group size on purchasing. It appears that visitors who travel to wineries in smaller groups experience higher levels of gratitude and obligation than visitors of larger groups. Consequently, visitors who come to wineries in smaller groups tend to spend more money on wine and/or souvenirs than larger groups. Managerial implications are discussed.

Factors Affecting Convention Participation Decision-Making: Developing a Measurement Scale

Yoo, J. J.-E., Chon, K. — 2008-07-15

The study developed a measurement scale to examine factors affecting convention participation decision-making. The scale development process started with a review of extant literature and personal interviews, followed by data collection through a Web survey of selected association members. Data were subjected to exploratory factor analysis and unidimensionality tests via subsequent confirmatory factor analysis. These procedures yielded a five-factor measurement scale with acceptable levels of reliability and validity. Five underlying dimensions of convention participation decision-making were labeled: (a) destination stimuli, (b) professional and social networking opportunities, (c) educational opportunities, (d) safety and health situation, and (e) travelability. The implications of the scale are discussed for future research as well as convention marketing strategy.