Canal boat tourism : application of complexity theory

This study applies complexity theory to explain how a cognitive-affective model indicates canal boat tour participants' desired behaviour. An in-situ survey was administered to collect data from 202 boat tour participants following a tour of the Canal du Faux-Rempart in Strasbourg, France. The study applies an asymmetrical analysis to investigate the cognitive-affective factors deriving participants’ intentions to recommend canal boat tours. This study uses an asymmetrical approach to explore causal recipes from three configurations of socio-demographic factors with prior experience and cognitive and affective factors, leading to both high and low scores of recommendation intention. An analysis of necessary conditions was performed to identify the factors required to achieve the expected outcome. The results revealed that complexity theory supports causal interactions, leading to intention to recommend. Overall image, perceived quality, emotion and satisfaction are necessary factors to recommend canal boat tours. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications

Airbnb and taxation: Developing a seasonal tax system

This study applies tax planning theory to develop a seasonal tax strategy as an alternative to a fixed tax rate for shared lodging platforms such as Airbnb, to increase hosts’ revenue and to address seasonality in tourism. The annual revenue of the various types of accommodation is used to calculate a seasonality index by the moving average method, which is incorporated as a corrected coefficient in a seasonal tax formula. The sample includes data from 1258 active Airbnb listings in Boston, Massachusetts. Using a mean comparison test, this study reveals that the application of a seasonal tax strategy significantly increases the revenue of Airbnb hosts compared to a fixed tax rate system. Drawing on the flexibility tenet of tax planning theory, policymakers can use the proposed seasonal tax strategy as an instrument to revisit the taxation system for sharing economy businesses based on changes to the socio-economic, environmental and political conditions. Implications for all stakeholders are discussed

Exploring halal-friendly destination attributes in South Korea: Perceptions and behaviors of Muslim travelers toward a non-Muslim destination

This study is designed to explore halal-friendly destination attributes in South Korea and identify the particular role of the attribute factors in forming destination image and behavioral intentions. In order to achieve this objective, a psychometric process was used. A qualitative approach (i.e., interview) was initially employed to identify possible halal-friendly attributes at a non-Muslim destination. Next, Churchill's (1979) procedures (exploratory factor analytic approach) and Gerbing and Anderson's (1988) guidelines (confirmatory factor analytic approach) were used. A structural equation model was proposed to test the impact of identified attributes on its subsequent outcomes. Additional asymmetrical methods were applied to investigate the combination of halal-friendly attributes and necessary conditions leading to the desired outcomes. The outcomes determined five major halal-friendly attributes which can be useful for destination marketers in South Korea to formulate a favorable destination image, elicit repeat visitation, and promote word-of-mouth behaviors

Behavioral responses of 3S tourism visitors : evidence from a Mediterranean island destination

This empirical research deepens the current knowledge of tourism destination images by conceptualizing the effects of sun, sand, and sea (3S) tourism. The study investigates its impact on tourist attitude toward 3S tourism. This project also examines the impact of attitudes toward 3S tourism on visit intentions and word-of-mouth intentions as two behavioral outcomes. The study focuses on the mental representations of 3S tourism by tourists. Destination images (mental representations of destinations) can be defined, operationalized, and measured in a variety of ways; this study investigates the images and attitudes held by tourists toward 3S tourism in Cyprus, along with their desired behavioral responses. In the study, 410 survey questionnaires were administered to tourists during the summer of 2017. The results revealed that images of 3S tourism had a positive impact on tourist attitudes. Visit intentions and word-of-mouth intentions were enhanced by improving tourists' attitudes toward 3S tourism

Determinants of canal boat tour participant behaviours: an explanatory mixed-method approach

Drawing on cumulative prospect theory (CPT), we measured the risk and motivational factors involved in “canal boat tours” and used these to test conceptual models to predict canal boat tour participant’s behavioural intentions in France. Data were collected using face-to-face questionnaire surveys and subjected to rigorous analysis. In-depth interviews provided deeper insight into participants’ post-purchase behaviour. Assessment of the study results using two key features of CPT – diminishing sensitivity and risk aversion – confirmed that this theory can explain how risk and motivational factors interact to drive canal boat tour participants’ post-purchase behaviours

Impact of airport green atmospherics on mental health value, image, and loyalty among visitors and workers

Nature‐based solutions (NBS) are becoming increasingly crucial as NBS brings diverse health‐related benefits to travelers and workers in the tourism business sector. This research explored the influence of green atmospherics as NBS on airport occupants' mental health value, image, and loyalty generation processes. A quantitative approach with a field survey method was employed. A structural equation modeling and metric invariance test were used as data analysis technique. Our empirical result revealed that green atmospherics as NBS significantly improve the occupants' mental health value and image of the airport, and these variables contribute to their loyalty enhancement for the airport. The effect of green spaces and natural surroundings on loyalty was maximized through mental health value and image. In addition, the linkages from natural surroundings to mental health value and image were stronger in the visitor group whereas the mental health value—loyalty relation was stronger in the worker group

Increasing profitability of the Halal cosmetics industry using configuration modelling based on Indonesian and Malaysian markets

Purpose - Based on complexity theory, this study develops a configurational model to predict the profitability of Halal cosmetics firms in the Indonesian and Malaysian markets. The proposed research model involves two level configurations-industry context and selling strategies-to predict high and low scores of a firm's profitability. The industry context configuration model comprises industry stability, product homogeneity, price sensitivity, and switching cost. Selling strategies include customer-focused, competitor-focused, and margin-focused approaches. Design/methodology - This is the first empirical study that calculates causal models using a combination of industry context and selling strategy factors to predict profitability. Data obtained from the marketing managers of cosmetics firms are used to test the proposed configurational model using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). It contributes to the current knowledge of business marketing by identifying the factors necessary to achieve profitability using analysis of condition (ANC). Findings - The results revealed that unique and distinct models explain the conditions for high and low profitability in the Indonesian and Malaysian halal cosmetic markets. While customer-focused selling strategy is necessary to attain a higher profit in both the markets, margin-focused selling strategy appears to be an essential factor only in Malaysia. Complexity of the interactions of selling strategies with industry factors and differences between across two study markets confirmed that complexity theory can support the research configurational model. The theoretical and practical implications are also illustrated. Originality/value - Despite the rapid growth of the global halal industry, there is little knowledge about the halal cosmetic market. This study contributes to the current literature of the halal market by performing a set of asymmetric analytical approaches using a complex theoretical model. It also deepens our understating of how the Korean firms can approach the Muslim consumer's needs to generate more beneficial turnover/revenue

Transformational leadership, corporate social responsibility, organizational innovation, and organizational performance: Symmetrical and asymmetrical analytical approaches

This study examines the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational performance by evaluating the mediatory role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and organizational innovation which has received considerably less attention in the literature. This study introduces CSR and organizational innovation as potential mediators of relationships between the key constructs of transformational leadership and organizational performance. Sufficient direct and mediation effects of predictors were tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with data from 396 French firms. Sufficient configurations of the predictors indicating high and low scores of performance were explored using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The PLS-SEM results show that both direct and indirect effects of transformational leadership on performance are significant. The fsQCA results reveal that a combination of CSR and transformational leadership leads to high performance. Alternately, high performance results from high innovation. This empirical study contributes to the current knowledge by applying both symmetrical and asymmetrical approaches to indicate performance at an organizational level. This study discusses the findings and provides theoretical, managerial, and research implications