Holiday Preferences Research Articles

Exploring the value of holiday preferences and routine activities for understanding tourist victimisation while on holiday

Crime risk can affect tourists’ choices of holiday destination, accommodation, and activities. However, victimisation of tourists has received limited attention in existing studies. This paper integrates tourists’ holiday preferences with lifestyles and routine activities explanations to examine the relationship between tourism and victimisation. Using a sample of Australian tourists who travelled to Bali or the British Isles (N = 1027), we demonstrate the usefulness of this integrated approach in understanding the risk of theft while on holiday. We found that tourists aspiring to be adventurous, but opting for pre-arranged package holidays and spending most of their time with other tourists, were most vulnerable to theft from their person. The findings can help ensure that security measures target those who will benefit it the most.

A high‐dimensional multinomial logit model

SummaryThe number of parameters in a standard multinomial logit model increases linearly with the number of choice alternatives and number of explanatory variables. Because many modern applications involve large choice sets with categorical explanatory variables, which enter the model as large sets of binary dummies, the number of parameters in a multinomial logit model is often large. This paper proposes a new method for data‐driven two‐way parameter clustering over outcome categories and explanatory dummy categories in a multinomial logit model. A Bayesian Dirichlet process mixture model encourages parameters to cluster over the categories, which reduces the number of unique model parameters and provides interpretable clusters of categories. In an empirical application, we estimate the holiday preferences of 11 household types over 49 holiday destinations and identify a small number of household segments with different preferences across clusters of holiday destinations.

Image-Based Social Media Usage, Holiday Preference, Conspicuous and Status Consumption: Intergenerational Differences

Social media refers to the platforms that were introduced during the advent of Web 2.0. These platforms permit users to create and manage their own content. Additionally, social media has been instrumental in transforming our understanding of identity. It has become mandatory for social media users to demonstrate and authenticate their identity to others. This responsibility has spurred some users to cultivate a new persona or augment their current one by sharing unrealistic content with the intention of receiving recognition, adoration and esteem. Moreover, social media has a significant impact on consumption patterns. Historically, consumption was solely about fulfilling basic needs, whereas today it has taken on more of a symbolic meaning. Two examples of this phenomenon include conspicuous consumption and status consumption. The research aims to identify distinctions in social media usage, conspicuous and status consumption trends, and holiday preferences between generations as potential tourists, with the purpose of creating a desirable image. The study analyzed data derived from 697 potential tourists and concluded that there are variations in the use of image-centric social media, conspicuous consumption, and holiday preferences across X, Y and Z generations. No differences in terms of status consumption were found. However, these variances do play an important role in the consumption habits of various generations and the technological opportunities available during their formative years. Marketers can positively affect the effectiveness of their marketing activities through careful analysis of generational consumption patterns and the development of targeted marketing approaches for specific generations.

Transformations in tourism following COVID-19? A longitudinal study on the perceptions of tourists

PurposeThis study attempts to answer how values and holiday preferences were shaped by the pandemic, how travellers view the future of tourism and how they are willing to contribute to potential changes. Furthermore, it examines the impact of socio-structural background factors, basic values and holiday preferences, and pandemic-related factors on the views of post-pandemic tourism.Design/methodology/approachA longitudinal online survey was conducted in which 155 frequent travellers were interviewed both before and during the pandemic about their values and holiday preferences, attitudes towards travelling during the pandemic, and their prospective views regarding tourism.FindingsThe findings revealed that values remained rather stable, but nature experiences, heritage tourism and beach offers gained more relevance when it came to holiday preferences. Concerning travellers’ expectations of future tourism, environmental concern was ranked higher than economic profit. However, those striving for self-direction, stimulation and city tourism offers stated to be less willing to restrict their travel behaviour in the future.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough our study is just based on a convenience sample, the authors were still able to address notable research gaps. First, because a longitudinal design was selected, it was possible to investigate any potential transitions in basic values and travel style and trace these changes back to the pandemic. Second, thanks to a sophisticated online survey, all concepts could be measured with well-developed scales, which increased the quality of the measurements and led to stable results. Third, young travellers can be considered proponents of future travel styles. Their way of acting and thinking about future tourism could significantly impact the prospective direction of tourism.Practical implicationsThis study makes a valuable contribution to changing holiday preferences and provides useful insights for the tourism industry about travellers’ willingness to change their travel behaviour.Social implicationsSince this study primarily considers human values and socio-structural factors, the findings are of particular interest from a sociological perspective and are also interpreted from this viewpoint.Originality/valueThis study is one of only a few longitudinal studies focusing on holiday preferences and shifting values during COVID-19 and attempting to detect crucial drivers of potential tourism transformations in terms of perceptions from the demand side.

Holiday Preferences and Travel Behavior of German Motorcyclists. A Cluster Analysis

Abstract Motorcycle tourism offers tourist destinations the opportunity to diversify their offer and pursue competitive advantage and economic success. However, motorcyclists’ holidaymaking practices remain underexplored so far and there is an assumption of homogeneity within the riders’ community. This paper argues that, despite common features, differences might stand out in riders’ motivations and local practices. To investigate these differences, cluster analysis is used to segment German motorcycle tourists, with the aim to identify sub-groups of travellers. Using a convenience sample of n=441 bikers, the paper discriminates three types of motorcycling tourists: the pleasure-seekers, the drifters and the focused bikers. The two-step clustering procedure is based on behavioral patterns (i. e. type of accommodation, group type and length of stay) and the results are later enriched using additional descriptors related to the attractiveness of local offers and the probability of undertaking non-riding activities. Theoretical and managerial implications are ultimately derived, acknowledging the exploratory nature of the research design.

The role of holiday styles in shaping the carbon footprint of leisure travel within the European Union

Leisure travel within the European Union (EU) contributes significantly to the carbon footprint of global tourism. Distance travelled is a main factor in this impact, but some of its determinants remain unexplored. We examined the role of tourists' holiday preferences in shaping the carbon footprint of leisure travel within the EU by calculating demand and impact indicators associated with eight holiday styles. We find a substantial and equivalent carbon footprint for visiting relatives, nature tourism and sea, sun and sand tourism, but a higher carbon intensity of travel per trip for the latter. This is due to widespread demand for sea, sun, and sand tourism despite the concentration of destinations in Southern Europe. Furthermore, international travel within the EU is on average three times more carbon intensive than domestic travel. Our insights suggest that tourists’ holiday preferences can be leveraged for the sustainable development of leisure travel within the EU.

Consumer Attitudes as Part of Lifestyle in the COVID-19 Emergency

The pandemic brought significant changes to the functioning of society. This article examines the opinion of consumers in south-eastern Poland on lifestyle elements such as shopping preferences, physical activity, holiday preferences and others, against the background of the COVID-19 situation. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between selected components included in the lifestyle of society in the context of the COVID-19 emergency situation. The research was conducted from 9 November 2020 to 17 January 2021. In order to identify the respondents’ attitudes and their perception of the issues discussed in this study, a questionnaire was created containing a number of theses formulations assessed by the respondents in terms of compliance with their beliefs. The evaluation was carried out using a seven-point bipolar Likert scale with a neutral value. The study was not probabilistic, therefore the inference applies only to the studied group. A total of 737 questionnaires meeting the research assumptions were collected. The form was used to identify ecological attitudes, shopping behavior, food preferences, physical activity and tourist preferences in the COVID-19 situation in which the research was conducted. Also identified were holiday destinations in 2019 and 2020, preferred diet type, and socio-demographic background: sex, age, place of residence and approximate per capita income. The research revealed that the purchasing behavior of the respondents was a predictor of their physical activity and tourist preferences. Studies have also shown that the food preferences of the respondents are an important part of their balanced lifestyle and depend on the sex of the person. The respondents preferred an active lifestyle as a form of pro-health activity when living in the situation of COVID-19. During the COVID-19 pandemic, respondents’ interest in domestic tourism also increased.

Tourist Perception of the Value of Time on Holidays: Implications for the Time Use Rebound Effect and Sustainable Travel Practice

Technological solutions to achieve energy efficiency and carbon reduction in tourism are unlikely to be sufficient alone. This is partly because of the rebound effect (RE) where consumer behavior can absorb some of or all the energy efficiency gains. Time savings from time-efficient technologies can intensify energy consumption, leading to the time use rebound effect (TRE). Research suggests that the TRE in tourism can be high, especially in relation to tourist travel, but its understanding is limited. This study aims to provide empirical evidence of the TRE by categorizing tourist groups that are most prone to its occurrence. An exploratory sequential mixed methods approach is employed. Key factors that influence the potential TRE occurrence include socio-demographic characteristics, holiday preferences, time/money availability, time perception/attitudes, and time use patterns on holiday. The “Busy explorer” cluster of tourists is most likely to show TREs. Implications and suggestions for future research are outlined.

Z Kuşağının Tatil Tercihini Etkileyen Faktörler

The purpose of this research is to determine the tourism decisions of Generation Z and to examine the factors that affect Generation Z vacation preferences. Within the scope of the research, a questionnaire form was created to determine the factors affecting the touristic preferences of Generation Z. The questionnaire was prepared using the “google docs” application and was applied on the basis of volunteerism on the internet. The survey included a total of 44 questions, 6 questions to determine demographic characteristics, 6 questions for vacation decisions, and 32 questions about vacation preferences. During the research process, data were collected from 320 participants and 305 questionnaires were included in the research. The data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS 22 package program, and reliability analysis for the suitability of the scale to the research, frequency analysis to reveal demographic characteristics and the load of variables, factor analysis to reveal the factors affecting holiday preferences. In the study, factors affecting vacation preferences were examined, and it was found that for Generation Z, special activities for children / youth (4.12) were the variable with the most impact. In addition, the technology facilities of the place to stay (4.10) and the cleanliness of the rooms at the destination (4.09) were found to be among the top factors affecting the holiday decisions.

THE INVESTIGATION OF THE CONSUMERS’ TOURISM PREFERENCES IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The new coronavirus (COVID-19) which is rapidly spreading and affecting the whole world, has had significant effects on consumer behavior as in almost every society and industry. Especially, it is expected the fact that the global panic that occurs during the pandemic will impact the tourism sector in this process, change the holiday tourism preferences of the consumers, that consumers will be more selective. The study aims to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism preferences of the consumers. Within the scope of the research, 403 people were reached with the online survey application and the data were analyzed with the Jamovi (version 1.2.12.0) statistical program. According to the results, the participants think that cleaning/hygiene and health precautions in the facility/area are more important than entertainment and activities in holiday preferences during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the correlation analysis, it was found that there are significant relationships between expressions. The items with the highest relationship are "Infirmary and Medical Services (Doctor) at the Facility" and "Hospitals and Other Medical Institutions in the Region Where the Facility is Located." (r= .764); “Health Precautions Taken for Pandemic in the Facility/Area” and “Cleaning and Hygiene of the Facility” (r= .523).

The effect of sensation seeking on holiday preference

Tourists’ holiday preferences may change with changing consumption habits and various impulses, such as sensation seeking and change seeking. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effect of domestic tourists' sensation seeking on their holiday preferences according to their level of change seeking. A questionnaire was developed based on previous literature and data were collected among domestic tourists who inhabit the Adana city center and who had holiday at least once a year. Overall, data from 1,580 respondents entered the data analysis stage. Using stepwise clustering, participants were divided into two groups: high level of change seekers and low level of change seekers. It was found that individuals who had high level of change seeking attitudes displayed more sensational seeking than individuals who had low level of change seeking. The findings also showed that people with high level of change seeking had significantly higher motivations for beach, culture and adventure holidays

Yeşil tüketici değerinin tatil tercihine etkisinde değişiklik arayışının aracılık rolü: Adana ilinde yapılan bir araştırma

Yeşil veya çevreci tutum, tüketicilerin satın alma faaliyetlerine yansıyabilmektedir. Çevreci tüketim, tatil tercilerini de etkileyebilmektedir. Bu nedenle çalışmada, yeşil tüketici değerinin tatil tercihine etkisini belirlenmek amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma evrenini, Adana şehir merkezinde yaşayan 18 yaş üstü çalışan bireyler oluşturmaktadır. Veriler, alan yazına dayalı geliştirilen bir anket ile toplanmıştır. Anket, 15-69 yaş arası, yılda en az bir kez tatile çıkan yerel halka 01 Haziran 2017-02 Nisan 2018 tarihleri arasında, kota örneklemesi esas alınarak yüz yüze uygulanmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında 1580 anketin verileri analiz edilmiştir. Yeşil tüketici değerinin en çok kültür tatili (β: 0,256) tercihini etkilediği, bunu macera (β: 0,173) ve plaj tatili (β: 0,049) tercihinin izlediği bulunmuştur. Ayrıca, değişiklik arayışının yeşil tüketici değerinin kültür tatili ve macera tatili tercihine etkisinde kısmi aracılık, plaj tatili tercihine etkisinde ise tam aracılık rolüne sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Dolayısıyla kültür turizmi kapsamında yerli turistlere verilecek mesajların, hem yeşil tüketici değerini hem de değişikliği vurgulayan mesajlar içermesi önerilmektedir.

Personal values and the theory of planned behaviour: A study of values and holiday trade-offs in young adults

Prior studies have ignored information inherent in the structure of people's values when investigating their impact on tourism decisions. This study examined how personal values trade-offs along two bipolar values dimensions (self-enhancement versus self-transcendence and openness-to-change versus conservation) impacted young adults' travel decisions. A two-staged survey of 299 young adults obtained personal values (at time 1) and value-expressive holiday preferences within a theory of planned behaviour (at time 2). Both bipolar values dimensions predicted attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control towards value-congruent holidays. The total effect of personal values on intentions was larger than that of subjective norms for both dimensions and larger than that of perceived behavioural control for the self-transcendence verses self-enhancement dimension.

Calendar trading of Taiwan stock market: A study of holidays on trading detachment and interruptions

We analyze the influence of the Chinese lunar calendar and superstitions on holiday preferences using theories on time and mood to identify investor sentiment. Trading interruptions caused by Thursday holidays negative significantly influence investor sentiment for trust companies and individual investors. Trading detachment derived from cultural holidays in June positive significantly influences investor sentiment for dealers and individual investors. Trust companies and the market exhibit significantly positive sentiments toward winter holidays. The stock exchange indicates negative and positive sentiments toward winter holidays and holidays in January. Cultural holidays and superstition in Taiwan indicate strong support for holiday preferences in Asia.

The Neglected Art: Trends and Transformations in British Concert Party Entertainment, 1850–1950

The genre commonly referred to as the ‘concert party’ remains largely neglected by scholars of popular entertainment. In this article Bernard Ince presents a new reading of this most distinctive and underrated branch of theatrical activity. The period before the First World War saw the growth of an ‘industry’ which provided seaside amusement during the summer months. During the inter-war years, however, a more sophisticated form developed whose performative characteristics drew increasingly on revue and cabaret. The period after the Second World War saw further adaptations that gave rise to the summer show, an altogether more lavish spectacle that nonetheless inherited much of the concert party ethos of earlier times. Changes in audience expectations and public holiday preferences, the catastrophe of the two world wars, and the emergence of radio and film were challenges all successfully negotiated, further underscoring the resilience and adaptability of the genre. In the wider context, the concert party not only offered a critical path to the variety stage but in the simplicity of basic form also provided a template for experimentation and innovation. The author is an independent theatre historian.

Tourism Activity Among Seniors: A Case-Study from Warmian and Masurian Voivodeship

This work focuses on the issues related to tourist activity of older people. The paper presents the results of the pilot research conducted during the summer of 2013 on a sample of 141 people age 55 and older living in the Warmia and Mazury region. This study, carried out within the framework of the “TOURAGE project – Developing Senior Tourism in Remote Regions”, revealed the average senior tourist from the Warmia and Mazury region and his or her holiday preferences. In the analysis, the main features of tourist activity was described, including frequency of tourism, motivations and forms of participation in tourism, organization of tourist activities, and how seniors spend free time. These considerations expanded to an analysis of the issues of tourism activity among seniors.

AffectButton: A method for reliable and valid affective self-report

In this article we report on a new digital interactive self-report method for the measurement of human affect. The AffectButton (Broekens and Brinkman, 2009. ACII 2009: IEEE) is a button that enables users to provide affective feedback in terms of values on the well-known three affective dimensions of pleasure (valence), arousal and dominance. The AffectButton is an interface component that functions and looks like a medium-sized button. The button presents one dynamically changing iconic facial expression that changes based on the coordinates of the user's pointer in the button. To give affective feedback the user selects the most appropriate expression by clicking the button, effectively enabling 1-click affective self-report on 3 affective dimensions. Here we analyze 5 previously published studies, and 3 novel large-scale studies (n=325, n=202, n=128). Our results show the reliability, validity, and usability of the button for acquiring three types of affective feedback in various domains. The tested domains are holiday preferences, real-time music annotation, emotion words, and textual situation descriptions (ANET). The types of affective feedback tested are preferences, affect attribution to the previously mentioned stimuli, and self-reported mood. All of the subjects tested were Dutch and aged between 15 and 56 years. We end this article with a discussion of the limitations of the AffectButton and of its relevance to areas including recommender systems, preference elicitation, social computing, online surveys, coaching and tutoring, experimental psychology and psychometrics, content annotation, and game consoles.

The influence of hurricane risk on tourist destination choice in the Caribbean

Climate change could have major implications for the global tourism industry if changing environmental conditions alter the attractiveness of holiday destinations. Countries with economies dependent on tourism and with tourism industries reliant on vulnerable natural resources are likely to be particularly at risk. We investigate the implications that climate-induced variations in Atlantic hurricane activity may have for the tourism-dependent Caribbean island of Anguilla. Three hundred tourists completed standardised questionnaires and participated in a choice experiment to determine the influence hurricane risk has on their risk perceptions and decisions regarding holiday preferences. The hurricane season had been considered by 40 % of respondents when making their holiday choice, and the beaches, climate and tranquility of the island were more important than coral reef-based recreational activities in determining holiday destination choice. Choice models demonstrated that respondents were significantly less likely to choose holiday options where hurricane risk is perceived to increase, and significantly more likely to choose options that offered financial compensation for increased risk. However, these choices and decisions varied among demographic groups, with older visitors, Americans, and people who prioritize beach-based activities tending to be most concerned about hurricanes. These groups comprise a significant component of the island’s current clientele, suggesting that perceived increases in hurricane risk may have important implications for the tourism economy of Anguilla and similar destinations. Improved protection of key environmental features (e.g. beaches) may be necessary to enhance resilience to potential future climate impacts.

Estimating Independent Locally Shifted Random Utility Models for Ranking Data

We consider the estimation of probabilistic ranking models in the context of conjoint experiments. By using approximate rather than exact ranking probabilities, we avoided the computation of high-dimensional integrals. We extended the approximation technique proposed by Henery (1981) in the context of the Thurstone-Mosteller-Daniels model to any independent locally shifted random utility model. In particular, this allowed us to estimate any independent random utility model with common shape (e.g., normal, logistic) and scale. Moreover, our approach also allows for the analysis of any partial ranking. Partial rankings are essential in practical conjoint analysis to collect data efficiently to relieve respondents' task burden. We applied the approach to the reanalysis of the career preference data set described in Maydeu-Olivares and Böckenholt (2005), and to a holiday preferences data set.

Perceptions of tourists at risky destinations. A model of psychological influence factors

PurposeThis paper aims to present a model including essential constructs for the measurement of travellers' characteristics in a perceived unsafe destination. This model functions as the basis for three empirical case studies testing the relevance and explanatory power of stable factors regarded as crises‐resistant (e.g. values and holiday preferences) and dependent aspects regarded as crises‐sensitive (attitudes, perceptions and holiday activities).Design/methodology/approachIn total, 930 tourists completed a standardized questionnaire in three regions confronted with or threatened by terrorist attacks as a specific form of tourist crisis (Bali, Indonesia; Sinai, Egypt and Catalonia, Spain). Owing to the coincidence that during fieldwork the second attack on Bali happened it was possible to compare travellers before and after the attack and to test the conception of crises‐stable and crises‐sensitive factors (RQ1). Linear multiple regressions were run to detect significant influence factors on sensation seeking and holiday needs (based on the whole sample) (RQ2) and on risk perceptions and intercultural contact efforts (analysed separately for every destination) (RQ3).FindingsThe results in Bali predominantly justify the model of crises‐stable and crises‐resistant indicators. Considering influences on the stable level values referring to openness for change (self direction, hedonism and stimulation) and to self transcendence (universalism, benevolence) exert the highest influence on travel needs. The weak influences of sensation seeking on security feelings during a holiday lead to the conclusion that these two constructs have to be clearly differed. The perception of a convenient, relaxing atmosphere, a low awareness of risks on holidays and a commitment towards tourism‐related problems seem to be highly relevant for open contacts with the host society.Originality/valueThe empirical results of the study in Bali are of particular importance because there is still little scientific knowledge about the immediate psychological reactions of tourists to crises states in destinations. Highly relevant explanatory factors are reported in this study due to high effect sizes regarding sensation seeking, holiday needs and intercultural communication efforts.