Demographic, Behavioral and Perceptual Comparisons of the U.S. Visitor Experience with Group Package Tours and Free Independent Travel to China

U.S. visitor demand for the China travel experience is anticipated to rise significantly through 2105, causing the Chinese government to employ 100 million service providers over the next six years and raising concern about service delivery and perceptions of the on-site China experience. In an effort to better understand these issues concerning U.S. visitors, this study investigated two specific types of U.S. travelers to China: Group Package Tour (GPT) visitors and Free Independent Travel (FIT) visitors. Results indicated that GPT visitors were more likely to be older and have higher household income than FIT visitors. Four trip-related characteristics of GPT and FIT visitors were found to be significantly different, with GPT visitors showing higher levels of satisfaction with the overall China on-site travel experience

The different shades of responsibility: examining domestic and international travelers' motivations for responsible tourism in India

To address the scarcity of research concerning the demand side of responsible tourism, the present study examines the motivations of domestic and international travelers in India. Data were collected using an Internet survey distributed via e-mail and Facebook to the clients of five responsible tourism operators in India. Using Dann's push–pull typology, factor analysis uncovered nine underlying motivations for responsible tourism, with significant differences between domestic and international travelers for these factors. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct segments of travelers – Responsibles, Novelty Seekers, and Socializers – that differ in their core underlying motivations for responsible tourism and in their socio-demographic characteristics. The study contributes one responsibility-specific push and one pull factor to the literature about travel motivation. Also the findings suggest that operators and destination marketers must develop their products and marketing communications to address the heterogeneity of motivations underlying responsible tourism.Accepted manuscrip

Exploring potential segments for wellbeing tourism in Finland : a case study of Japanese tourists

Previous studies on wellbeing tourism in Finland have identified the unclear profiles of potential consumers as a significant challenge in attracting wellbeing tourists to rural areas. To address this issue, the present study employed the AIO (Activities, Interests, Opinions) segmentation method to identify potential segments of Japanese wellbeing tourists based on their lifestyle factors. Furthermore, the study aimed to examine whether there are any statistically significant differences among the identified segments in terms of socio-demographic factors, factors pertaining to travel behavior, and interests in various activities, and nature connectedness. travel behaviour, and interests in diverse activities. Data on tourist profiles were collected in April 2023 using a self-administered electronic questionnaire, resulting in 219 responses. These collected data were subsequently analysed using the factor-cluster method to classify the respondents into different segments. A total of four segments were identified: Indifferent about Arts; Interested in Arts; Indifferent about everything; and Interested in everything. Significant differences were observed among the segments in terms of socio-demographic factors, travel preferences, wellbeing experiences, and interests in activities. This study aims to address this research gap and contribute to a better understanding of Japan, which represents a significant tourism market for Finland, as a potential customer for wellbeing tourism in Finland

A study of Japanese guests\u27 satisfaction with hotel attributes and performance in Taiwan

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between hotel performance and guest\u27s satisfaction using the evaluative congruity theory framework; The findings indicate that the guest\u27s satisfaction of hotel services is a positive function of the functional evaluative congruity between a guest\u27s expectation of hotel attributes and perceived performance outcome. More specifically, the level of satisfaction is the highest among those individuals who have lower expectations but positive perceptions of performance, followed by individuals who have higher expectations and higher perceptions of performance. Those who have lower expectations and lower perceptions of performance, and those with higher expectations and lower perceptions of performance report less and less satisfaction; This study contributes to the hospitality marketing by introducing a model of guest\u27s satisfaction measure and the existing knowledge in consumer behavior by providing empirical findings with regard to the functional congruity model in explaining the Consumer Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction phenomenon

Changing of Asian Outlooks and New Travel Demands are the Emerging Factors for Expanding Tourism Markets Globally

This paper has focused on some basic Asian outlooks and inherited homogeneous characteristics, especially social & cultural traditions, values, ethnicity and emotions. These are predominant factors for the peoples of Southeast, South and East-Asian countries that have influenced much on decision-making matters in families as well as in societies. These influencing factors are also responsible for expanding tourism markets globally. Indeed, long period colonial exploitation & struggle and gradually social transformation have prepared Asian peoples growing their self-reliance, self-esteem and the economic uplift that have brought to changes more in their lifestyles and freethinking about the world and other societies. Asians’ long economic backwardness, prejudice and dominated anti-ethic values have been disappearing with faster growing of individualism, nationalism and economic development of Asian peoples. All these issues are more or less responsible for changing the outlook of Asian inhabitants and preparing them to be widened more their traveling perceptions about world tourism attractions and different society values. This paper has discussed elaborately on these factors and analysed the impacts on decision-making matters for tourism participation based on study survey results and other documents. Asian societies have been accustomed to modern technology & communication and the present global interactions are influencing them much in the new way of thinking, creating demand for visiting other societies and western world. Present young generations are thirst for sharing knowledge of unseen and unknown values with others. All these factors have some positive roles increasing the number of Asian travelers gradually. This paper also presents a habitual marketing nature and limits of expenditure of Asian travelers

A Study Of Destination Attractiveness Through Tourists\u27 Perspectives : A Focus On Chiang Mai, Thailand

This study seeks to gain insights into the overall attractiveness of a destination by applying the multi-attribute Fishbein model. This approach has been carried out twice before in the international context and this dissertation contributes further to the concepts of destination attractiveness especially through the application of multi-attribute models of measurement and analysis with the context of localisation. It also adds to the body of knowledge on the understanding of tourism product preference and perceptual attitudes held by tourists from specific geographical origins to the South-East Asian region, specifically within Thailand. The study investigated (i) tourists\u27 perceived overall attractiveness of Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, and (ii) the perceived importance of destination attributes to tourists, which contribute to its overall attractiveness. Surveys employing a closed-ended, self-administered questionnaire were conducted among 614 international inbound tourists who visited the area during 1-30 April 2001. The participants were selected by using a proportionate stratified sampling method and included tourists from France, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and Japan. Data were collected at the departure area of the Chiang Mai International Airport, provincial train station, hotels and resorts in the province. The main findings of the study indicated that of eight destination attributes, tourists rated \u27Cultural Features,\u27 as the most attractive element of Chiang Mai. This is closely followed by ‘Reception,’ Cost/Price,’ ‘Natural Factors’, ‘Services,’ and ‘Recreation and Shopping Facilities.’ The attributes .Accessibility\u27 and \u27Infrastructure\u27 were rated lowest in attractiveness. Generally, Japanese and Western tourists gave high ratings to all attractiveness features. Only the travellers from Taiwan rated the attractiveness features as very low. In terms of the importance of attributes, tourists rated \u27Cost/Price,\u27 \u27Cultural Features’ and \u27Infrastructure,\u27 as most important when visiting a region, while \u27Accessibility\u27 and \u27Reception\u27 was rated as less important. Considering the influence of tourists\u27 internal and external characteristics on the perception of attribute importance, the research indicated the following outcomes: Travel motivation: the result indicated that tourists who were categorised in a \u27higher motivational level\u27 of Pearce\u27s \u27Travel Career Ladder\u27 appear to show greater interest in \u27Recreation and Shopping Facilities.\u27 \u27Infrastructure,\u27 and \u27Cost/Price\u27 than tourists who have a lower motivational level. Travel purpose: while all respondents were interested in leisure activities, only those who travelled for educational experiences and business purposes placed greater importance on the \u27Cultural Features.\u27 Gender: male tourists gave more importance to the \u27Infrastructure\u27 than female counterparts, whereas females rated \u27Reception\u27 of greater importance. Age: younger people (under 25) and older visitors (35 and more) considered \u27Services\u27 important, while visitors in the 25 to 34 age groups rated \u27Services\u27 of minor importance. Occupation, white-collar visitors rated \u27Reception\u27 as important, whereas hose who were unemployed and visitors who did not have a regular income (ie. students) rated \u27Reception\u27 of less importance. Income: people with higher incomes rated \u27Natural Factors\u27 more highly than those in the lower income category. Marital status: married people gave more importance to ‘Natural Factors,\u27 \u27Accessibility,\u27 and \u27Reception\u27 than those who were single or never married. Family size: tourists who have children (under 18 years of age) in their household perceived \u27Accessibility\u27 as important, whereas those without children gave it a lower rating. The study concludes with a discussion on the implications of this research for tourism in the Chiang Mai province of Thailand

A land for all season: the effect of travelers' orientation on awareness, satisfaction, place image, and travelers' loyalty

Learning outcomes At the end of this chapter, readers should be able to: 1. What is traveler orientation? 2. The importance of travelers’ orientation. 3. The role of travelers’ orientation on the awareness, place image, satisfaction, travelers’ loyalty. 4. The moderating role of digital marketing in the travelers’ orientation in the relationship of awareness, place image, satisfaction, and loyalty. 5. What is the moderating role of gender in the relationship of awareness, place image, satisfaction, and travelers’ loyalty

A factor-cluster analysis of tourist motivations: A case of U.S. senior travelers

The senior travel market has become an increasingly important area of interest to the tourism industry for more than a decade due to its market size and potential growth. The trends toward early retirement, increased number of leisure years, active lifestyles, longevity, and time flexibility after retirement make the elderly an attractive market for the tourism industry. The U.S. senior travel market is one of the important senior segments for Thailand\u27s tourism industry. However, little knowledge is known regarding this segment, particularly its travel related-behavior and motivations to visit Thailand. The purpose of this study is to investigate travel motivations of U.S. senior travelers to Thailand by adopting the theory of push and pull motivations as a conceptual framework. This study also examines the possibility of segmenting the U.S. senior travel market by utilizing attribute-based benefits segmentation (pull motivational factors). The results of factor analysis identify three push and four pull factor dimensions. Among them, \u27novelty & knowledge-seeking\u27 and \u27cultural & historical attractions\u27 are viewed as the most important push and pull factors, respectively. Based on cluster analysis, the study reveals two distinct segments within the U.S. senior travel market (i.e. \u27cultural & historical seekers\u27 and \u27holiday & leisure seekers\u27). The results of the study provide important implications for both policy makers and industry practitioners to develop effective marketing strategies for each segment. The findings also contribute to the tourism literature in the area of travel related-behavior and motivations of the senior travel market

A factor-cluster analysis of tourist motivations: A case of U.S. senior travelers

The senior travel market has become an increasingly important area of interest to the tourism industry for more than a decade due to its market size and potential growth. The trends toward early retirement, increased number of leisure years, active lifestyles, longevity, and time flexibility after retirement make the elderly an attractive market for the tourism industry. The U.S. senior travel market is one of the important senior segments for Thailand\u27s tourism industry. However, little knowledge is known regarding this segment, particularly its travel related-behavior and motivations to visit Thailand. The purpose of this study is to investigate travel motivations of U.S. senior travelers to Thailand by adopting the theory of push and pull motivations as a conceptual framework. This study also examines the possibility of segmenting the U.S. senior travel market by utilizing attribute-based benefits segmentation (pull motivational factors). The results of factor analysis identify three push and four pull factor dimensions. Among them, \u27novelty & knowledge-seeking\u27 and \u27cultural & historical attractions\u27 are viewed as the most important push and pull factors, respectively. Based on cluster analysis, the study reveals two distinct segments within the U.S. senior travel market (i.e. \u27cultural & historical seekers\u27 and \u27holiday & leisure seekers\u27). The results of the study provide important implications for both policy makers and industry practitioners to develop effective marketing strategies for each segment. The findings also contribute to the tourism literature in the area of travel related-behavior and motivations of the senior travel market