Destination Attributes Research Articles

Reference-dependence in multi-destination choice: A heterogeneous reference point perspective

Destination choice in multi-destination trips is crucial for understanding tourists' preferences, predicting tourism demand and flow, and fostering collaborative opportunities between destinations. This study utilises prospect theory to examine how tourists select a stop within a multi-destination trip and to explore the role of other chosen stops' attributes as a reference point when tourists plan their itinerary. The results reveal dynamic perceptions of gains and losses relative to reference points that vary across individual characteristics and destination attributes. Additionally, heterogeneity is revealed in tourists' reference-dependent patterns, which can be categorised as immediate- and delayed-gratification reference dependencies. These findings contribute to the destination choice discourse by proposing new directions for comprehending tourists' heterogeneous reference dependencies and attitudes in sequential destination choices.

The Impact of Memorable Tourism Experience, Destination Attributes, and Destination Image on Tourist Loyalty in Poncokusumo Tourism Village, Malang Regency

The purpose of this study is to examine tourist loyalty, as developed through destination attributes, destination image, and memorable tourism experience. This research uses quantitative methods and engages 97 respondents via accidental sampling given to the tourists who have been visited Desa Wisata Poncokusumo twice or more. The data was analyzed using SPSS. The result is the destination attributes and the destination image significantly influence memorable tourism experience. The destination attributes have no significant influence on tourist loyalty, whereas destination image does significantly influence it. Memorable tourism experience also has a significant influence on tourist loyalty. Lastly, memorable tourism experience is able to influence both the destination attributes and tourist loyalty, meaning it acts as a full mediation. Meanwhile, memorable tourism experience is also able to influence between destination image and tourist loyalty, becoming partial mediation. Keywords: destination attributes, destination image, memorable tourism experience, tourist loyalty, tourism village

Sustainable Tourism Dynamics at Kakrebihar: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Visitor Satisfaction and Loyalty within Archaeological and Forest Preserves

This research explores the dynamics of sustainable tourism at Kakrebihar, an archaeological site and forest preserve in Nepal, by examining the connections between sustainable tourism practices (STP), destination attributes (DA), visitor experience quality (VEQ), visitor satisfaction (VS), and visitor loyalty (VL). A quantitative approach rooted in the positivist paradigm was employed, with data collected through a survey of 407 visitors. Structural equation modeling (SEM), along with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA), was used for data analysis. The results show significant positive correlations between STP, VEQ, and DA with VS, yielding path coefficients of 0.103, 0.382, and 0.283, respectively. VEQ emerged as the most influential factor in enhancing visitor satisfaction, highlighting the critical role of enriching visitor experiences. Furthermore, VS was identified as a key driver of VL, with a path coefficient of 1.362, suggesting that satisfied visitors are more inclined to return and recommend the site. These outcomes emphasize the role of sustainable tourism practices, destination appeal, and visitor experience in cultivating both satisfaction and loyalty. The study offers valuable insights for stakeholders, underlining the importance of effective tourism management to protect Kakrebihar's archaeological and ecological resources while promoting sustainable growth.

Stakeholders’ Opinion on Geotourism Characteristics of Hummanaya Destination, Sri Lanka

Geotourism is a niche market that contributes to sustaining and even enhancing the geographical characteristics of a territory, including the abiotic, biotic, and cultural (ABC) attributes of destinations. It uplifts the living standards of local communities and provides opportunities for visitors to understand and appreciate the natural environment and the existing culture of the geosites. The aim of this research was to evaluate the geotourism characteristics of the Hummanaya tourism destination based on stakeholders’ opinions and to investigate the extent to which stakeholders are committed to adhering to geotourism principles. Primary and secondary data sources were utilized to collect the necessary data for this study. For gathering primary data, key informant interviews and participatory observations were conducted in the field using a semi-structured questionnaire, with purposive sampling employed. Unpublished documents served as secondary data. Descriptive statistical analysis and narrative interpretation methods were used to analyze the collected data. The study was able to identify the extent to which geotourism stakeholders adhere to geotourism principles. Specifically, regarding the principles of integrity, community involvement, community benefits, and tourist satisfaction, the informants provided positive responses. The findings reveal that the destination is perceived by tourists as a fascinating and unique tourist attraction in Sri Lanka. Most tourists reported being very satisfied or satisfied with the tourist attractions, facilities, and services provided by local facilitators, indicating that the destination meets tourists’ expectations. However, a significant issue is whether other stakeholders are satisfied with geotourism's contributions to protecting the destination's ABC attributes and improving the socio-economic status of local communities. Negative responses were noted concerning principles such as evolution, market selectivity, interactive interpretation, and market diversity. Therefore, necessary measures must be taken to conserve and develop the destination as a geosite and geotourism site.

Wellness tourism destination loyalty formation: the role of mental health and eudaimonic well-being

PurposeWellness tourism is growing in importance as increasing numbers of travelers place a priority on their health and well-being by traveling. This study examined the relationships between wellness tourism destination attributes, perceived quality, perceived mental health, eudaimonic well-being, overall satisfaction and behavioral loyalty to corroborate a model explaining wellness tourism destination loyalty in Thailand.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptual model of this study was examined using a survey research design. The survey questionnaire was distributed to Chinese tourists who had previously traveled to Thailand and engaged in wellness tourism activities during their trip.FindingsThe findings revealed that healthful food choices, core facilities and staff service significantly influenced perceived quality. This perceived quality was a crucial factor in determining perceived mental health, which in turn impacted eudaimonic well-being. Overall satisfaction was directly influenced by perceived quality, perceived mental health and eudaimonic well-being. Additionally, perceived quality had a direct effect on behavioral loyalty.Practical implicationsWith the growing global interest in wellness and travel, this study offers valuable insights for tourism marketers in Thailand to enhance their wellness tourism strategies. Tourism organizations should emphasize the quality of food, facilities and staff service to attract wellness-oriented travelers.Originality/valueThis study highlights the interconnectedness of perceived quality, good mental health and eudaimonic well-being. High-quality experiences contribute to improved mental health and in turn enhance eudaimonic well-being.

Don’t Know Option in Destination Image Study: Extending Insights into Cross-Border Travel and Residents

ABSTRACT Existing research on destination image has insufficiently advocated the use of a don’t know option in surveys in the context of its measurement. This research demonstrates the application of the don’t know option in cross-border travel to Macao. It further compares the utility of the don’t know option for residents vis-a-vis tourists by destination attributes. For tourists and residents, results show that meeting, incentives, conference, and exhibition participants had the highest percentage of don’t know responses, followed by Macanese cuisine and Buddhism/Taoism. These items also exhibited the lowest mean values, suggesting they are lesser known. This research practically and theoretically confirms the usefulness of the don’t know option in destination image research.

Electronic word-of-mouth intentions in personal and public networks: a domestic tourist perspective

This research investigated the determinants of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) sharing intentions in personal and public online networks among domestic tourists. Using a quantitative research design, this study surveyed domestic tourists visiting five major tourist destinations in India. Six hundred thirty valid responses were subjected to principal component analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling to examine the relationships among destination attributes, tourists’ psychological processes, and their intentions to engage in eWOM. The findings show that destination inhabitants’ friendliness and the natural beauty of the destination influence tourists’ overall destination experience. The overall destination experience and personal pleasure from vacations impact eWOM sharing with friends and family (personal networks) and with strangers (public networks). The results also indicate that the overall destination experience mediates the relationship between destination attributes (destination inhabitants’ friendliness and the natural beauty of the destination) and online sharing intent with friends and family. The overall destination experience also mediates the path between personal pleasure from vacations and eWOM sharing intent in personal networks. For tourism developers and destination managers, this study underscores the importance of enhancing the natural appeal of destinations and fostering positive interactions between tourists and locals. It also suggests creating authentic experiences at the destination so that tourists with high involvement generate eWOM about the destination.

How destination attributes affect mountain bikers’ behavioral intention: The mediating roles of enduring involvement and place attachment

This research investigated the effects of destination attributes, enduring involvement, place attachment, and satisfaction on mountain bikers’ behavioral intentions by incorporating the Mehrabian-Russell model. A survey approach was employed to test this model. Data was collected from 682 mountain bikers in the Taiwan Bike Association and Taiwan Cyclist Federation from March 2022 to July 2022. This was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Our results indicate that the destination attributes of tourism attraction and accessibility and amenities and complementary services affect enduring involvement both positively and negatively. While tourism attraction and accessibility positively affect place attachment and satisfaction, amenities and complementary services positively affect place attachment but not satisfaction. Moreover, enduring involvement, place attachment, and satisfaction positively affect behavioral intentions. Enduring involvement, place attachment, and satisfaction had mediating effects on the relationship between tourism attraction and accessibility and behavioral intentions. Enduring involvement also played a mediating role in the relationship between amenities and complementary services and behavioral intentions. We discuss both the theoretical and managerial implications of these findings. Management implicationsThe findings of the current study have the following management implications.•Excellent natural resources and accessibility are essential for positive assessments of cycling routes.•Tourism attraction and accessibility is a strong predictor of enduring involvement, place attachment, and satisfaction.•Professional trail building and ongoing maintenance can mitigate adverse environmental impacts and improve the mountain biking experience.•An oversupply of amenities and services can diminish mountain bikers' sense of accomplishment and the pleasure and relaxation of the activity.

Destination image and personality in workation tourism

ABSTRACT Workation represents an emerging and intriguing alternative type of tourism that integrates work and leisure. While it has gained substantial popularity, scholarly research in this field has been relatively constrained, particularly regarding the role of destinations. This study addresses this research gap by investigating the most salient attributes characterising an ‘ideal workation destination’. We present a theoretical model integrating components from the destination image and personality frameworks and employ fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis on a sample of 213 individuals. Compared to past work exploring the workation concept, experiences, and workationer characteristics, our research focuses on the attributes of destinations that make them attractive for this emerging tourism trend. The findings categorise workationers based on the destination attributes they prioritise, identifying three main groups: outdoor enthusiasts, extroverts, and hipsters. Understanding workationers’ diverse preferences regarding destination attributes enables tourism providers and destination management organisations in remote and undiscovered destinations to tailor their offerings and attract tourism flows seeking unique work-leisure experiences. This approach can support the revitalisation of these areas, enhancing their appeal and sustainability.

Medical Tourism Attribute Competitiveness: An Importance–Performance Analysis

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to analyze the performance of medical tourism in Iran using importance–performance analysis (IPA). In this cross‐sectional study, five hundred ninety‐six medical tourists from West Asian countries (Iraq, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen) referring to health centers to receive medical services in Iran in 2020 were recruited. A standard IPA questionnaire was used for data collection. IP gaps were negative in all three attributes (medical treatments and service attributes, destination attributes, and tourism‐specific attributes). Respondents attached the highest importance to medical treatments and service attributes. The highest IP gap was related to medical treatments and service attributes. The results highlighted that the Iranian tourism industry is not performing well in many areas. Tourism managers and stakeholders should adopt useful strategies for improving those areas with high importance and low performance.

The psychological influence of perceived destination attributes in 360° virtual tours on tourists’ responses

ABSTRACT A 360° virtual tour experience integrates videos and smartphones to evoke tourists’ cognition, emotion, and heightened intentions. The present study investigates the impact of perceived destination attributes on information-seeking and destination visit intention when tourists are presented with a 360° virtual tour experience. The Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework is extended to investigate this mechanism by incorporating perceived destination attributes as a stimulus, tourists’ perceived confidence, confirmation, and satisfaction as an organism, and information seeking and visit intention as a response. Data was collected from 260 tourists in India. The results reveal the strong influence of 360° media in generating perceived destination attributes, which has a significant and positive association with tourists’ perceived confidence and destination satisfaction. Findings based on Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) reveal that destination satisfaction is a strong predictor of information-seeking, and confirmation is a predictor of destination visit intention. The implications provide valuable insights to Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs), VR content creators, and policymakers for effectively promoting VR videos for tourism.

Factors Influencing Revisit Cycling Tour in Bali, Indonesia: The Role of Tourist Engagement, Destination Attribute, Memorable Tourist Experience and Environmental Concern

Factors Influencing Revisit Cycling Tour in Bali, Indonesia: The Role of Tourist Engagement, Destination Attribute, Memorable Tourist Experience and Environmental Concern

Sharia Hotel Management Policy: An Analysis of Islamic Attribute of Destination Theory in Indonesia and Malaysia

Islamic Destination Attributes play an essential role in influencing Muslim travelers' interests. This study analyses IAD by comparing Indonesia and Malaysia's current Islamic hotel policies. It was found that there are four dimensions of IAD, namely Worship Facilities, Islamic Facilities, General Islamic Facilities, and Halal Food, which are in accordance with Fatwa Number 108/DSN-MUI/X/2016 fifth article and MS 2610 2015 fourth and fifth articles. IAD is essential for Muslim hotel customer satisfaction. Both policies have fulfilled these four criteria. This study can contribute to academics and researchers in developing a more profound IAD theory. Although limited to the Islamic hotel sector, IAD studies can develop in other sectors with the same policy, such as travel agencies or tour guides.

Optimized Decisions for Smart Tourism Destinations: A Cross-Generational Perspective Using an Improved Importance–Performance Analysis

Our study introduces an enhanced version of the Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA) method, a powerful tool that can be applied across various domains. This method plays a crucial role in our research, aiding in making well-informed decisions about smart tourism destination attributes. We achieved this by evaluating how 911 consumers from four different generations (Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z) rated these attributes based on their most recent tourist destination visit. Unlike traditional methods that often rely on subjective opinions or complex statistical models, the Improved IPA (IIPA) method offers a clear approach to decision-making. It enables decision-makers to focus on the most crucial attributes that drive consumer interest, thereby optimizing resource allocation and marketing efforts. Specifically, to remain competitive, decision-makers for smart tourist destinations should focus on queuing-time forecast and applications, websites, and content accessible for travelers with disabilities for Baby Boomers; e-complaint handling for Generation X; smart emergency response system for Millennials; and tourist-flow forecast, real-time traffic broadcast, electronic-entrance guard systems, and accessible data about physical design features of accommodation, restaurants, and tourist attractions for Generation Z. Theoretically, this study advances the research on managerial decision-making by demonstrating the effectiveness of the IIPA as a clear and straightforward method for making optimal decisions about product or service attributes. In practice, the study provides decision-makers with valuable insights into the importance of different categories of smart attributes in shaping the overall holiday experience at a tourist destination for Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z tourism consumers.

Tourism metamorphosis: Reshaping destination attractiveness in a post-pandemic world

Through Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) on destination attractiveness characteristics at the country level, this study identifies attribute configurations in the pre- and post-pandemic period to analyze the changes and differences generated by an exogenous event (COVID-19). The results suggest that the destination attractiveness attributes work together, in multidimensional configurations, to increase leisure travel volume. We found an important change in pat-terns/configurations of attractiveness between the pre- and post-pandemic scenarios. Our findings suggest that the destination attributes may change in importance and valuation or disappear for some configurations. The conclusion has implications for the stakeholders related to the destination attractiveness development, showing possible patterns of tourism attributes to guide the action to improve the resilience in the tourism sector and recover these activities in a disaster scenario.

Tourist destination attributes, experience and post travel behavior in Taizhou City, China

Tourist destination attributes, experience and post travel behavior in Taizhou City, China

PUSH AND PULL FACTORS AFFECTING DOMESTIC TOURISM IN THE ERONGO REGION, NAMIBIA

Despite being a well-established economic activity in numerous countries in the world, domestic tourism has received relatively little academic exploration, particularly in Namibia. While this study acknowledges the significance of work already done in this field, there remains a general lack of understanding of the factors motivating domestic tourists’ decisions to travel in the study area. As a result, this study aims to understand the key push and pull factors for domestic tourists, using the Erongo region of Namibia as a case study. The study adopts a quantitative research approach through a survey of 400 domestic tourists in the study area. Relaxation and escapism, seeking participatory experiences, and seeking enriching experiences emerged as the three main push factors, while destination attributes, events and activities, safety and familiarity, and variety of experiences were identified as dominant pull factors. The study recommends that tourism planners and marketers tailor tourism offerings to the asserted domestic tourists’ motivations to induce more domestic tourism demand and consumption among domestic tourists.

An analysis of Pakistan’s destination attributes and their effects on international tourists’ intentions to visit

This paper aims to generate a clear understanding of Pakistan’s important attributes and their direct and indirect influence via perceived destination images on international tourists’ intentions to visit for a holiday. It employed quantitative research methods through the use of a correlation research design. Both direct and indirect effects of destination attributes on visit intentions were examined and a self-administered online survey was distributed across several social media platforms. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that landscape, services, local attitudes toward tourists, safety and risk, sport and special events were found to be statistically significant predictors of such intentions. However, all the destination attributes were found to have an indirect influence on international tourists via the perceived destination image of Pakistan.

The Impact of Social Media Promotion, Cultural and Natural Motivation, and Destination Attributes on the Image and Attractiveness of Urban Farming Edu-tourism: Evidence from Denpasar, Bali

The Impact of Social Media Promotion, Cultural and Natural Motivation, and Destination Attributes on the Image and Attractiveness of Urban Farming Edu-tourism: Evidence from Denpasar, Bali

Digital halal literacy and halal destination attribute as the antecedents of revisit intention

Purpose This paper aims to explore the influence of digital halal literacy and halal destination attributes on revisiting intention through satisfaction and trust as mediating variables. Design/methodology/approach The study collected data from 308 domestic tourists in Indonesia who visited urban tourist destinations using a Likert-scale questionnaire, conducted between June and July 2023, and analysed using PLS-SEM for comprehensive data collection. Findings Digital halal literacy and halal destination attributes significantly impact tourist satisfaction and trust, potentially leading to the desire to revisit previously visited destinations. The higher the digital halal literacy and halal destination attributes, the higher the satisfaction and trust of tourists towards these destinations, potentially resulting in their intention to revisit. Research limitations/implications This study focused on the Greater Bandung area in western Indonesia, a popular tourist destination. Future studies should explore the eastern region and its surroundings, as they do not differentiate between nature-based and man-made tourism. Practical implications The absence of information on halal tourism destinations hinders travellers' understanding and decision-making, particularly considering the preference for symbols as a means of communication, a crucial factor that destination managers must consider. Social implications Visual elements, such as symbols and signage, significantly influence tourist behaviour and experiences, leading to the decision to revisit the destination. Originality/value The integration of digital halal literacy and halal destination attributes offers a comprehensive understanding of halal tourism, particularly in terms of revisit intentions.