Why Customers Switch the Service Provider? A Critical Issue

Intention to switch from one service provider to another, leads to switching behavior, which results in the decrease of profits of the company. Switching behavior helps in creating relationship between consumer and producer. This study uses the theory of planned behavior to develop a unifying framework for understanding the factors that influence consumers’ switching behaviors. An empirical investigation tested the proposed model with data from 1051 customer who used the service of travel agencies. Results indicate that the theory of planned model fits the data well. Perceived behavior control, attitude toward the switching, and subjective norms all significantly influence switching intentions. Perceived behavior control also significantly influence switching behavior. Keywords: service provider, Theory of planned behavior, switching behavior, customer’s expertis

Effective Factors on Food Companies Brand Equity: Evidence from Iran Food Industry

Brand equity is one of the most cited concepts in marketing literature and internal brand equity is one of the newest derived factors of this concept in internal environment of firms. The aim of this study is to provide insights into how job satisfaction, internal marketing and brand orientation shape employees internal brand equity. Empirical data were collected by a questionnaire distributed to food and pharmaceutical firms. The empirical results indicated that while brand orientation and internal marketing were found to have impact on internal brand equity, job satisfaction has no effect on internal brand equity. Additionally, it was observed that job satisfaction and internal marketing has direct and positive impact on brand orientation and therefore indirect and positive impact on internal brand equity through brand orientation. Results of this study can help organizations to improve their financial performance through more awareness of the determinants of internal brand equity. Keywords: Food industry, internal brand equity, Brand orientation, Internal marketing, Job satisfactio

Application of Werthner and Klein’s Model in Tourism Context

Web evaluation has become a critical process in DMOs’ performance measurement efforts.  However, Web evaluation research over the past decade has led to diverse approaches and findings rather than a unified understanding of success factors that should be measured in order to gauge a Web site’s performance.  The common success factors and potential additional factors identified in this study provide an important basis for practical Web evaluation implementation and simultaneously serve as a useful input for future research.  The major benefit of this study is the digest of a large volume of key factors into one comprehensive model that can be tested and applied to Web site development and evaluation problems.  This integration helps to identify not only commonalities but also gaps in existing approaches. Keywords: Destination marketing; DMOs’ performance measurement; E-satisfaction; E-loyalty; E-quality; Qualitative meta-analysi

A Multi-Dimensional Study on Cultural Heritage Tourism: a Global Perspective

This study has some critical purposes such as: 1) To develop a theoretical structural model of cultural heritage tourism destination image formation and future intentions by investigating tourist functional motivation, motivational conflicts, and perceived value in cultural heritage tourism; and, 2) To test empirically the conceptual model of relationships among the constructs, 3) To identify the differences of functional motivation, perceived value, overall destination image and future intentions across the demographic and visiting behaviors of cultural tourists; 4) To examine the impact of tourist functional motivation on perceived value in cultural heritage tourism; 5) To examine the relationship among perceived value, overall destination image, and future intentions in cultural heritage tourism; 6) To examine the differences of gender motivational conflict on functional motivation, perceived value, overall destination image and future intentions; and, 7) To examine the influences of cultural distance on functional motivation, perceived value, overall destination image and future intentions in cultural heritage tourists. Data were collected from tourists visiting the Iran. The six-stage procedures of structural equation modeling, which was suggested by Hair et al. (2006, p.734) was adopted to test the multiple relationships in the proposed model. This study will contribute to both research and practice. Keywords: cultural heritage tourism, perceived values, domestic and international tourist

A Comprehensive Perspective on Medical Tourism Context and Create a Conceptual Framework

This study developed a theoretical structural model to examine the influence of motivational factor and perceived destination image in the perceived service quality and overall satisfaction of medical tourists who have travelled to a foreign country to obtain a medical treatment. The theory of motivation, perception was combined in this research. This study included customer perceptions based on motivational factor, destination image, quality, value, and satisfaction which occurred after the medical trips. This is a quantitative study and survey method is used to collect data. The instrument of this study is developed based on the review of previous literature. There were only 260 completed responses that met all the required criteria. After data collection was completed, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and SPSS AMOS 22.0 will be used to analyze and interpret the result. The results show that there were positive impact of Destination Image and Motivational Factor on Perceived Value, and positive impact of Perceived Value on Overall Satisfaction. Once again, it can be confirmed that Destination Image has the strongest impact on Perceived Quality, illustrated by the highest standardized value of .473. Keywords: medical tourism, motivational factor, perceived destination image, perceived service qualit

Destination Brand Equity in Tourism Context: Evidence on Iran

Tourism industry is an important source of income for many countries; it has been considered the second important industry of the 21st century. This study analyzes the effect of destination brand equity on tourists’ intention to revisit. Kish Island was chosen as the case study. Components of destination brand equity include destination awareness, destination image, destination quality, perceived value, destination loyalty, satisfaction and intentions to revisit. This research is a descriptive and survey study. The target population was travelers who visited this island in the first half of 2013. Questionnaire was the research tool. Data were analyzed using SPSS and LISREL. The results showed that there is a meaningful relationship between the destination awareness and perceived value, image destination and perceived value and satisfaction, destination quality and perceived value and destination loyalty, perceived value and destination loyalty, satisfaction and destination loyalty and intentions to revisit, and finally destination loyalty and intentions to revisit. Keywords: destination brand equity, intention to revisit, tourists’ evaluation

Market Value Chain and Web Marketing in Tourism Context

Web marketing refers to a broad category of advertising that takes many different forms, but generally involves any marketing activity conducted online.Information and communication technology (ICT) developments are permeating every aspect of tourism marketing. This paper proposes a methodological framework, which will enable tourism businesses to develop and implement their electronic marketing and commerce activities. This paper initially reviews the e-business models literature. In the second section ICT implications in marketing and tourism are discussed. Then it presents the e-tourism business models and subsequently proposes a framework contributing to the planning and implementation of e-commerce initiatives. This methodological framework might also be used to analyse electronic applications in tourism. Keywords: Tourism and Travel industry, Market value chain, web marketing, Business models, Management & Reengineering

Impact of Brand Origin, Image and Uniqueness on Luxury Purchase Intention: An Empirical Study of Iran’s Luxury Furniture Market

The issue of luxury consumption has received a great deal of interest among marketing scholars. However, little is known about how to optimize the market and manage consumer expectations with regard to this specific consumption context. Therefore, this study provides insights into how branding cues and need for uniqueness shape consumer luxury purchase intentions. Empirical data were collected by a questionnaire distributed to luxury furniture stores. The empirical results indicated that brand origin, brand image and need for uniqueness all have a significantly positive effect on consumer luxury purchase intentions. Moreover, brand image and brand origin were found to be a significant moderator between consumer’s need for uniqueness and luxury purchase intentions. The authors explore implications for theory and practice. Keywords: Brand origin, Brand image, Uniqueness, Luxur

Presenting a Casual Model in Organizational Citizenship Behavior using Structural Equition Model

Organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) is one of the extra-role behaviours that served as importance aspect of the organizational effectiveness. In the long-term, OCB would affect the sustainability of organizations, particularly in the turbulent environment. The main goal of this research is to test the models of causal relationship of organizational justice, job satisfaction, and OCB. In addition, the research going to test the effect of organizational justice on job satisfaction and OCB, and the effect of job satisfaction on OCB. Data analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) by LISREL 8.45. As expected, result showed that the causal relationship among organizational justice, job satisfaction, and OCB has the acceptable goodness-of-fit. In addition, result also show that organizational justice affected job satisfaction and OCB; and job satisfaction affected OCB. Keywords: casual model, Organizational Justice, Job Satisfaction, Organizational Citizenship Behavio

Marketing and Entrepreneurship: Relationship between Marketing Strategies, Entrepreneurial Development, Sale Growth and Corporate Profitability

Marketing, Entrepreneurship and innovation are considered among the main characteristics of strategic thinking in business organizations today because of their complicated effects on designing and executing the different activities of such organizations, especially the marketing activities which constitute the core of all other activities. The aim of this study was examined the effects of Marketing Strategies on Entrepreneurial Development. It also attempts to determine the extent to which promotion increases sales growth. Survey research method that used in a cross sectional design through the use of comprehensive questionnaires which were distributed to selected business enterprises. In the analysis of data collected, it was found that marketing strategy such as promotion has a significant impact on the sales growth of any company. It was also noted that the use of direct distribution channel has a positive effect on the overall profitability of the firm. From these analytical findings, it is therefore recommended that entrepreneurs should be able to understand the need for customer satisfaction and create niche for the product they sell.  Entrepreneurs should engage in more marketing promotions by making use of the internet, radio, TV, billboards, and ensure their customers are reached wherever they are found. The research makes clear the importance of Marketing Strategy to all organizations, as it has been confirmed that marketing strategy does have effects on entrepreneurial development. Keywords: Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Promotion, sales growth, direct distribution channe