A Cross National Study of Golf Tourists’ Satisfaction

The purpose of this study was two-fold: firstly, it was to examine the determinants satisfaction levels of golf tourists and secondly to investigate if these vary across golf tourists’ country of residence. Using data collected through a survey of golf tourists visiting Lisbon (Portugal), attributes directly related to playing golf as well as more generic destination attributes were examined as potential determinants of golf tourists’ satisfaction. The data was analysed in two stages by the means of logistic regression. In stage one, the analysis was based on a representative sample of golf tourists to the region. In the second stage, two separate analyses were undertaken, one examining the satisfaction of Nordic golf tourists and another of British golf tourists (the two main markets for Lisbon). The results indicate that the satisfaction level of golf tourists is influenced by several factors, including those related to perceived quality and value. In addition, the results suggest that satisfaction is influenced by cross-cultural differences. While some determinants were important influences for both the British and the Nordic golfers, other determinants were specific to each country of origin. lytoinvestigateifthesevaryacrossgolftourists’countryofresidence.Using data collectedthroughasurveyofgolftouristsvisitingLisbon(Portugal),attributesdirectlyrelatedto playinggolfaswellasmoregenericdestinationattributeswereexaminedaspotentialdeterminantsof golf tourists’satisfaction.Thedatawasanalysedintwostagesbythemeansoflogisticregression.In stage one,theanalysiswasbasedonarepresentativesampleofgolftouriststotheregion.Inthesecond stage, twoseparateanalyseswereundertaken,oneexaminingthesatisfactionofNordicgolftourists and anotherofBritishgolftourists(thetwomainmarketsforLisbon).Theresultsindicatethatthe satisfactionlevelofgolftouristsisinfluencedbyseveralfactors,includingthoserelatedtoperceived qualityandvalue.Inaddition,theresultssuggestthatsatisfactionisinfluencedbycross-cultural differences.WhilesomedeterminantswereimportantinfluencesforboththeBritishandtheNordic golfers,otherdeterminantswerespecifictoeachcountryoforigin

Exploring the constraint profile of winter sports resort tourist segments

Many studies have confirmed the importance of market segmentation both theoretically and empirically. Surprisingly though, no study has so far addressed the issue from the perspective of leisure constraints. Since different consumers face different barriers, we look at participation in leisure activities as an outcome of the negotiation process that winter sports resort tourists go through, to balance between related motives and constraints. This empirical study reports the findings on the applicability of constraining factors in segmenting the tourists who visit winter sports resorts. Utilizing data from 1,391 tourists of winter sports resorts in Greece, five segments were formed based on their constraint, demographic and behavioral profile. Our findings indicate that such segmentation sheds light on factors that could potentially limit the full utilization of the market. To maximize utilization, we suggest customizing marketing to the profile of each distinct winter sports resort tourist segment that emerge

The influence of service quality in outdoor recreation programs on participants behavior

This study investigated the factors that influence young people’s decision to participate in outdoor activity programs. Two main questions were examined: First, under what way is the relationship between customers’ expectations for the program’s ‘service quality’ with people’s ‘intention to participate’ in the future as well with actual ‘participation’. Second, under what way is the relationship between customers’ perception for the real ‘service quality’ with people’s ‘intention to reparticipate’, in similar programs in the future. The theory of “Planned Behavior” was utilized, and particularly the factors of ‘attitudes toward the behavior’, ‘subjective norm’, ‘perceived control’ and ‘intention to participate’. These factors were enhanced by the variables of ‘ego identity’ and the level of ‘quality services’. To answer the second question, the variables of ‘perceived service quality’, the ‘satisfaction - dissatisfaction’ factor and ‘fulfillment of emotion’ were used. These factors in conjunction with Planned Behavior variables created the ‘Recreational Services Consumer Behavior’ model, which explains consumers’ intention to participate and reparticipate in recreation programs. Three hundred twenty-nine young people, 18 - 38 years of age, participated in the study. After completing the related questionnaires, they participated in an outdoor activity program. Results for the first part of model indicated that the factors of ‘perceived control’, ‘attitudes toward participation’ and ‘ego identity’ significantly predicted people’s ‘intention to participate’ (R = .59). Customers’ expectations for ‘service quality’ level did not contribute in the prediction equation of ‘intention’ or ‘participation’. In the second part of the model, the variables that significantly contributed in the prediction to ‘reparticipate’ (R= .63), were in order of significance: ‘satisfaction - dissatisfaction’ and ‘fulfillment of emotion’ from the participation. The variables of ‘perceived service quality’ and ‘previous participation’ did not have the expected contribution to the prediction equation. The outcomes of this study were the construction of a questionnaire which can be used to evaluate the ‘quality of services’ in recreation companies and a new ‘consumer behavior’ model which can be effective in this market. The results of this research could contribute towards the improvement of outdoor activity programs by the adaptation of their form according to customer’s desires and quality expectations. Also, the results could be applied to develop marketing services in this area and increase the number of participants. Finally, results could influence recreation companies’ endeavors for better quality service evaluation, not only in the outdoor activity market, but also in the entire leisure market.Στην μελέτη αυτή εξετάσθηκαν οι παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν την απόφαση νέων ατόμων να συμμετέχουν σε προγράμματα υπαιθρίων δραστηριοτήτων αναψυχής. Δύο κεντρικά ερωτήματα τέθηκαν στην παρούσα έρευνα. Πρώτον, με ποιόν τρόπο σχετίζονται οι προσδοκίες των υποψηφίων πελατών για την «Ποιότητα Υπηρεσιών» που προσφέρεται στα προγράμματα με την πρόβλεψη της «Πρόθεσης για συμμετοχή», και στην συνέχεια με την ίδια την «Συμμετοχή» σε αυτά. Δεύτερον, με ποιόν τρόπο σχετίζεται η αντίληψη των πελατών για το πραγματικό επίπεδο «Ποιότητας Υπηρεσιών», που ήδη προσφέρθηκαν, με την πρόβλεψη «Πρόθεσης Επανασυμμετοχής» στο μέλλον, σε παρόμοια προγράμματα υπαίθριας αναψυχής. Ως βάση για την απάντηση του πρώτου ερωτήματος χρησιμοποιήθηκε η θεωρία της «Σχεδιασμένης Συμπεριφοράς» με τους παράγοντες «Στάσεις προς την Συμπεριφορά», «Υποκειμενική Νόρμα», «Έλεγχος της Συμπεριφοράς», «Πρόθεση Συμπεριφοράς», ενισχυμένη με την μεταβλητές της «Ταυτότητας του Εγώ» και της «Ποιότητας Υπηρεσιών». Προς απάντηση του δεύτερου ερωτήματος χρησιμοποιήθηκαν οι μεταβλητές της αντίληψης των πελατών για το πραγματικό επίπεδο «Ποιότητας Υπηρεσιών» που δέχθηκαν, της «Ευχαρίστησης - Δυσαρέσκειας» από την συμμετοχή τους, καθώς και της «Αίσθησης Πληρότητας» που διαμόρφωσαν από την συμμετοχή. Από την συνένωση των δύο ανωτέρω ομάδων παραγόντων δημιουργήθηκε το μοντέλο «Συμπεριφοράς Καταναλωτή Υπηρεσιών Αναψυχής», το οποίο εξηγεί την «Πρόθεση» συμμετοχής και επανασυμμετοχής πελατών σε προγράμματα αναψυχής. Στην έρευνα συμμετείχαν 329 ενήλικα άτομα ηλικίας 18 - 38 ετών, τα οποία αφού συμπλήρωσαν τα σχετικά ερωτηματολόγια, πήραν μέρος σε ένα πρόγραμμα υπαίθριων δραστηριοτήτων αναψυχής. Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας για το πρώτο μέρος του μοντέλου έδειξαν ότι οι μεταβλητές «Αντιλαμβανόμενος Έλεγχος», «Στάσεις προς την Συμπεριφορά» και «Ταυτότητα του Εγώ» πρόβλεψαν σημαντικά την πρόθεση για συμμετοχή (R=.59). Ο παράγοντας των προσδοκιών του επιπέδου της «Ποιότητας Υπηρεσιών» δεν είχε καμία συμβολή στην πρόβλεψη «Πρόθεσης» για συμμετοχή ούτε στην ίδια την «Συμμετοχή». Στο δεύτερο μέρος του μοντέλου, οι μεταβλητές που συνέβαλαν στην πρόβλεψη της «Πρόθεσης Επανασυμμετοχής» (R=.63), ήταν με σειρά σπουδαιότητας οι εξής: «Ευχαρίστηση - Δυσαρέσκεια» και «Αίσθηση Πληρότητας» από την συμμετοχή. Οι μεταβλητές της αντίληψης της πραγματικής «Ποιότητας Υπηρεσιών» και της «Πρότερης Συμμετοχής» δεν είχαν την αναμενόμενη συνεισφορά στην πρόβλεψη. Προϊόντα της εργασίας αυτής θεωρούνται η κατασκευή ειδικού ερωτηματολόγιου εκτίμησης της «Ποιότητας Υπηρεσιών» παρεχόμενες σε εταιρίες υπαίθριας αναψυχής και η δημιουργία ενός νέου μοντέλου διερεύνησης της «Συμπεριφοράς Καταναλωτή» στην συγκεκριμένη αγορά. Τα αποτελέσματα της εργασίας αυτής, μπορούν να βοηθήσουν στην βελτίωση των προσφερόμενων προγραμμάτων υπαίθριας αναψυχής με την προσαρμογή του περιεχόμενού τους στις επιθυμίες και στις ποιοτικές προσδοκίες των υποψηφίων πελατών τους. Επίσης μπορούν να βελτιώσουν το μάρκετινγκ των εταιριών αυτής της αγοράς σε ότι αφορά την κατανόηση των προθέσεων συμπεριφοράς των υποψηφίων πελατών τους και έτσι συμβάλλοντας στην αύξηση του αριθμού των ατόμων που συμμετέχουν σε υπαίθριες δραστηριότητες αναψυχής. Ακόμη μπορούν να ενισχύσουν την προσπάθεια για σωστή αξιολόγηση των προσφερόμενων υπηρεσιών όχι μόνον στην συγκεκριμένη αγορά, αλλά σε όλο το φάσμα των εταιριών της αγοράς της αναψυχής

Somatic Education and Mind-Body Disciplines: Exploring the Effects of the Pilates Method on Life Satisfaction, Mindfulness and Self-Compassion

This study was aimed at exploring the potential of the Pilates Method of somatic education as a tool for enhancing factors influencing wellbeing. Specifically, the study focused on investigating whether Pilates Method mat-based and equipment practices affects mindfulness, self-compassion and life satisfaction among adults. A total of 129 adults (16 men and 113 women) participated in this study. Participants completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Self-Compassion Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale, and provided additional information regarding the frequency of participation in Pilates practices and demographics. Correlation analysis indicated strong relationships between variables. One-way multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine differences in mindfulness, self-compassion and life satisfaction, and revealed significant differences between Pilates subgroups. Bonferroni post hoc tests showed that participants who practiced Pilates as many as five times per week scored higher than those participating once or twice. Regression analyses indicated that mindfulness and self-compassion were good predictors of life satisfaction. Pilates positively correlated with factors that enhance positive psychology processes and wellbeing. The major finding was that Pilates practitioners can enter into a different relationship with bodily movement, transcending the physical body, fitness and exercise techniques. Further empirical research is required to explore how the Pilates Method shapes somatic experiences. Implications of the Pilates technique as a somatic and mind-body method in physical and dance education are presented. © 2022 Aglaia Zafeiroudi and Charilaos Kouthouris

Segmenting visitors of a Greek recreational theme park using factors that motivate attendance

Purpose: This study aims to segment visitors to a Greek theme park using factors that motivate attendance. Research methods: Three hundred and twenty-two young and adult visitors of an outdoor recreational theme park, located in the midlands of Greece, completed a questionnaire that measured four dimensions: motivation, service quality perceptions, intention to revisit, and word-of-mouth communication. Results and Findings: A principal component analysis of the motivation items revealed a clear five-factor structure. Thereafter, a cluster analysis of the five factors was performed. This classified participants into three psychographic segments: “incurious to activities and social life”, “recreation and nature oriented”, and “outdoor activities enthusiast”. An analysis of variance test successfully validated the three segments relative to visitors’ perceptions of service quality and future behavioural intentions. Practical implications: Theme park management can use this study’s newly developed visitor segmentation to better understand, commercialise, and personalise their services. Managers can more effectively execute visitor management strategies to attract customers and develop marketing techniques to create new competitors’ advantages. Research contribution: The study successfully developed three validated psychographic theme park visitor segments: “incurious to activities and social life”, “recreation and nature oriented”, and “outdoor activities enthusiast”. © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Increasing customers' loyalty in a skiing resort: The contribution of place attachment and service quality

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is three-fold: first, to propose a model for measuring service quality in a skiing resort; second, to investigate the contribution of place attachment on the prediction of customers' loyalty, and third, to examine the influence of service quality on the development of place attachment. Design/methodology/approach - A total of 264 (n=264) recreational skiers participated in the study, and filled the two-dimensional place attachment questionnaire and a service quality questionnaire, which was based on Brady and Cronin's three-dimensional service quality model (physical environment quality, interaction quality, outcome quality). Findings - The results of the study indicate that skiers' loyalty was significantly predicted by both the place attachment dimensions (place identity and place dependence). Furthermore, place attachment was significantly predicted by the interaction and physical environment service quality dimensions. Research limitations/ implications - The research was limited because it was based on one skiing resort. Testing it on many would give a more accurate result. Expansion of the theoretical model in other tourist destinations would also provide a more accurate result. Practical implications - Strategies to develop customer loyalty and for the development of place attachment are discussed. A model of measuring service quality in skiing resorts is presented. Originality/value - The paper proposes a model for measuring service quality in skiing resorts. It also introduces the construct of place attachment and its value for predicting customer loyalty. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Predicting intention to participate in outdoor recreation programs from behavioral variables

This study aimed to investigate the degree to which specific behavioral variables can predict future intentions to participate in outdoor recreational programs. One hundred and eighty seven (N=187) individuals (98 men and 89 women) from 19 to 40 years of age (M=26.6, SD=6.6) took part in an outdoor recreation program including lake canoeing /kayaking, orienteering, and archery activities. Information was collected about participants' perception of service quality, satisfaction, motives fulfillment, and future behavioral intentions. Perceived service quality was measured by Parasuramant et al's (1988) scale, satisfaction was measured by Oliver's (1980) scale, motives fulfillment was measured by a three-items scale, and behavioral intentions were measured by Ajzen's (1988) scale. Positive correlations existed between all variables of the study. The results indicated that service quality predicted very low amount of variance in future behavioral intentions. In contrast, customer satisfaction and motives fulfillment variables appeared to be effective marketing tools for predicting participation in outdoor recreational programs. The implications of these results for the management of outdoor recreational market are discussed

Investigating the relationships among motivation, negotiation, and alpine skiing participation

This study aimed to investigate the negotiation strategies used by recreational skiers to overcome constraints' influences, and to test the degree to which negotiation acts as a mediator of the relationship between motivation and intention to continue participation. Two hundred and twenty (N= 220) recreational skiers completed the intrinsic and extrinsic dimensions of the Sport Motivation Scale (Pelletier et al., 1995) and a fifteen-item negotiation scale. Five negotiation dimensions were revealed by an exploratory factor analysis: "improve skiing knowledge," "adjust lifestyle," "acquire information regarding resorts," "time management," and "find partners." The results indicated that: (a) both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation had statistical significant associations with intention to continue skiing, (b) the "time management" and "improve skiing knowledge" dimensions offered significant contributions to the prediction of intention, (c) the negotiation dimensions partially (not fully) mediated the relationship between intrinsic motivation and intention. These results provide support for the negotiation proposition, developed by Jackson et al. (1993), and further explain the relationships among motivation, negotiation, and an individual's leisure behavior

Yoga as Serious Leisure Activity: Socio-Demographic Differences in Mindfulness Levels Among Yoga Retreat Participants

Yoga retreats are an emerging component of international well-being tourism. This form of tourism focuses on groups with specific demographic characteristics and interests, highlights natural destinations of high tourism value, and supports the development of personal well-being through such practices as mindfulness. This study investigated the demographic characteristics of 203 Greek yoga retreat tourists in relation to their mindfulness levels. The study also investigated the effect of different yoga practices in asana, meditation, and philosophy courses on the formation of mindfulness. The 'Mindful Attention Awareness' scale (Mantzios, Wilson & Giannou, 2015), consisting of 15 items, was used to evaluate mindfulness and psychographics were successfully tested. The results show statistically significant differences in mindfulness between subgroups of participants of different marital status, financial profile, age, and number of years practicing yoga meditation and philosophy. The study concludes that yoga is a serious leisure activity with high personal and work life involvement. The findings enrich data regarding yoga retreats in Greece and establish the profile of yoga retreat participants according to mindfulness, asana, meditation, and philosophical practice participation. Tourism providers can give prominence to the concept of mindfulness as a dominant theme in the wellness tourism industry and, as a consequence, develop and improve the quality of yoga retreat services. © 2022 Zafeiroudi et al. This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Physiological and metabolic responses to hiking: A meta-analysis toward health benefits

The present study investigated hiking as a type of physical activity that takes place in natural environment and promotes humans health. In the recent years hiking has becoming very popular in individuals of different activity level, gender and age. Consistent with the recent literature, hiking is a physical activity of low to moderate intensity (40-70% HRmax) which consists of walking from 4 to 11 hours and lasts from one single or more days. Hiking produces high energy expenditure which in most of the cases is higher than participants' energy intake, therefore, producing a negative energy balance, the extent which depending on the difficulty of the hiking route (intensity, duration and severity of terrain). The negative energy balance and the high fat utilization occur during hiking have a reducing effect on participants' body mass and body fat. Generally, hiking is consistent with the recommendations for physical activity that promotes and maintains health publish regularly by international associations (ACSM, AHA and BASIS)