Pleasure Travel Research Articles

Analysis of Structural Equation Model for the Student Pleasure Travel Market: Motivation, Involvement, Satisfaction, and Destination Loyalty

Greater understanding of the model that plays a role in attracting certain visitor segments thus allows travel businesses to develop marketing strategies. This research analyzes an empirical model including push motivations, pull motivations, cognitive involvement, affective involvement, satisfaction, and loyalty to students' top domestic and international destinations. Results suggest push motivations are a good predictor of pull motivations, which in turn are considered a good predictor of cognitive involvement. Cognitive involvement is a good predictor of both affective involvement and satisfaction. Affective involvement is a good predictor of satisfaction. This study also confirms the significant association of satisfaction with destination loyalty. Hence, the proposed model provides a good quality of theoretical framework to positively predict travel demand toward domestic and international destinations.

Going where the Joneses go: understanding how others influence travel decision‐making

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine if an evoke set exists for pleasure travelers based on the past and future travel destinations of their peer groups.Design/methodology/approachResearchers distributed a questionnaire to university students enrolled in the same program. The literature review suggests four ways in which peers can influence individuals: not to travel influence, direct influence, indirect influence, and shared goal of future destination influence. Results from the respondents provide data for correlation analysis based on these four types of peer influence.FindingsThe findings support previous researchers demonstrating a strong influence of peer reference groups on service purchase decisions, specifically tourism destination choice. Given a relatively small sample population, all four types of peer reference found support in the data.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations are related to sample size and the homogeneity of the sample. Because, the respondents were in the same life stage, their peer groups were similar to all. Consequently, no comparative analysis specifically identifying peers and the degree of proximity at different stages of life was possible.Originality/valueVery few studies focus specifically on the nature of peer group influence on service purchase behavior, related specifically with travel destination decision‐making. By recognizing travel patterns of individuals and understanding the influences causing these patterns, tourism marketers and planners have a greater understanding of the mechanisms of peer influence in pleasure travel destination choice.

Russia's destination image among American pleasure travelers: Revisiting Echtner and Ritchie

This study measured Russia's destination image among US pleasure travelers by the means of a Web-based survey. The methodology proposed by Echtner and Ritchie [(1993). The measurement of destination image: An empirical assessment. Journal of Travel Research, 31(Spring), 3–13] was enriched by using a combination of two software programs, CATPAC and WORDER, to analyze responses to open-ended questions about stereotypical holistic, affective, and uniqueness images and facilitate statistical comparisons of images between visitors and non-visitors to Russia. A favorability variable was operationalized on the textual data, and affective images of visitors and non-visitors to Russia were statistically compared. The study found that American travelers’ perceptions of Russia were often negative and there is a lack of awareness about Russia's destination features. Marketing implications for Russia's Federal Travel Agency based on the study results are discussed.

Demonstrating an Exploratory-Confirmatory Factor Approach to Travel Activity Patterns: A Study of French Pleasure Travelers to North America

An effective way of understanding travelers' preference in a destination is to investigate travel activity patterns. This study took a two-stage approach to discover how travel activities can be explored and verified by a manageable number of dimensions. Activity participation data collected from 434 French outbound pleasure travelers were factor analyzed to explore possible underlying activity dimensions by an exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Using eight explored activity dimensions (including Nature, Sightseeing, Local Lifestyle, Culture & Social, Beach & Outdoor, City Touring, Shopping & Dining, and Entertainment), a model was then hypothesized and validated based on a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to verify the tenability of the dimension structure. The authors also discuss the managerial implications of the findings and recommend the practical use of activity dimensions in destination marketing by prioritizing budget allocations based on activity participation rates.

Staying Safe and Guilty Pleasures

Staying Safe and Guilty Pleasures

Applying Importance–Performance Analysis for Japanese Senior Travelers to Hawaii

Seniors are a growing segment among Japanese outbound travelers. Given that Hawaii is one of the most visited destinations by Japanese travelers, it is expected that the proportion of seniors will continue to grow in accordance with social trends of aging adults in Japan. The purpose of this article is to examine the satisfaction of Japanese senior travelers based on their expectations of important destination attributes of the Hawaiian Islands in relation to the travelers' performance judgment of these attributes. This study employs an Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA) to determine critical attributes of this destination. A focus group with tourism industry professionals resulted in 15 distinct attributes of Hawaii as a tourist destination. Respondents rated the importance level of each attribute on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 = not important to 6 = extremely important. In addition, respondents evaluated Hawaii's performance of these same destination attributes on another 6-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = very poor to 6 = excellent. Questions also focused on the travelers' trip-related characteristics and demographics. Respondents were selected from Japanese travelers who were 20 years or older, and had visited Hawaii for pleasure travel. Of the 211 questionnaires collected, 73 of the surveys were completed by Japanese travelers over the age of 50. Of this group, senior travelers were mostly satisfied with the destination attributes of Hawaii, specifically those factors that were related to Hawaii's natural resources as well as the characteristics related to a comfortable trip. Interestingly, the features related to physical activities such as golfing, water sports, and outdoor activities were not viewed as important travel destination attributes for Hawaii for both seniors and the younger Japanese travelers. On the other hand, improvement in local transportation and accommodations were destination attributes that travelers felt needed attention. These results provide some useful insights for developing effective marketing strategies to attract Japanese senior travelers to Hawaii, as well as the usefulness of using the IPA methodology.

Relationship between Satisfaction and Future Behavior

Studies have been carried out on satisfaction and international pleasure travel. Some have related satisfaction and past visits to a particular destination with intentions to recommend it, to revisit it, and to visit other destinations in its area. This study arose from reconsideration of research on satisfaction and stated intentions of travelers from Britain and Germany to Mallorca and Turkey. Analysis confirmed that satisfaction is a significant predictor of stated intentions and that contingent factors moderate the influence of satisfaction on intentions. Explaining limited variance led to the logical examination of why the explanation was not better. It is concluded that variance explanation was low because segments had particular satisfaction–likelihood relations and because satisfaction and likelihood responses were ambiguous. Sources of variation that can be controlled are identified. They include some first-time visitors not being likely to return regardless of satisfaction; personal satisfaction responses not reflecting what the party will do; and likelihood responses not having a clear meaning. Practical and research implications are presented.

Long-Haul Travel Attitude Construct and Relationship to Behavior—

Consumers' attitude has been extensively examined in general marketing literature. Empirical work in tourism is also abundant on the subject. However, most extant tourism studies were lacking in conceptual foundations. This was particularly evident in the research field of long-haul pleasure travel. The current study was designed to contribute to the field by applying the conceptual molar model of multidimensional expectancy-value attitudes (MEVAs) to the study of long-haul travelers, with two specific objectives: (1) identifying an attitude construct of long-haul pleasure travel, and (2) examining the relationship between the elements of the construct and the need recognition of long-haul pleasure travelers. Using a secondary survey data, the study identified the attitude construct as consisting of the eight dimensions of travel arrangement, price-value, travel aversion, timing of travel, cold winter avoidance, preference for winter attractions, novelty and activity level, and length of travel. It was found that the first six of the dimensions were useful in predicting the likelihood of an individual to be a traveler, intender, or nonintender of long-haul pleasure travel. The study concluded that the conceptual molar model of MEVAs was appropriate and applicable in studying the attitude-behavior relationship for long-haul pleasure travel.

Diving medicine

Recreational diving developed in the late 1940s when self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) first became available for civilian use. At the same time the development of the commercial airliner, in particular the jet airliner, made possible the concept of international travel for pleasure as opposed to business. Over the past 50 years the number of international tourists has increased by over 2500% from a mere 25 million in 1950 to over 700 million in 2002 (Treadwell TL. Trends in travel. In: Zuckerman JN, editor. Principles and practice of travel medicine, 2001; p. 2-6). The popularity of recreational diving has also increased over the same period from an activity experienced by a small number of individuals in the early 1950s to an activity today enjoyed by many millions. The combination of increased international travel and the means by which to enter and explore the underwater world has led to diving becoming increasingly popular as a tourist activity.

The economic value portfolio matrix: A target market selection tool for destination marketing organizations

The main goal of the study was to propose a practical evaluation tool for destination marketers to evaluate travel market segments in terms of the expected economic return on each identified segment. An Economic Value Portfolio Matrix based on the Stay-Spend Index (SSI) and market share was developed. French travelers to Canada were segmented based on benefits sought. Benefit segmentation has been extensively used in travel research in the past 20 years and has helped us better understand the dynamic global tourism market. The results showed that the Economic Value Portfolio Matrix approach may be a useful quantifiable and objective evaluation tool for destination marketing organizations and that benefits sought clearly differentiated the French long-haul pleasure travel market.

Spaces of Containment and Revenue Capture: ‘Super-Sized’ Cruise Ships as Mobile Tourism Enclaves

This paper explores the notion that cruise ships can be conceptualized as spaces of containment. The cruise ships that perhaps best exemplify containment are ‘super-sized’ cruise ships. In this paper, super-sized cruise ships are defined as vessels that can accommodate more than 2,000 tourists. These ships are built for the purpose of revenue capture. In fact, they could be viewed as travel destinations since they have become places where many tourists are inclined to spend their time and money. Tourists on board a super-sized cruise ship may also have the opportunity to spend time and money at a private island or beach operated by the cruise-ship company. There are several cruise-ship companies that have rented or purchased private islands and beaches in the Caribbean that serve as port destinations for cruise ships. These islands and beaches, similar to super-sized cruise ships, are spaces of containment. Tourists, it should be noted, are not the only individuals who experience containment. There are also cruise-ship employees to consider; cruise ships and private islands are contained and confined workplaces that operate in accordance with strict rules and restrictions. Perhaps the ultimate contained environment that is seaborne and built for pleasure travel is The World of ResidenSea, a recently constructed condominium cruise ship. That this ship represents an extreme mode of containment is discussed in this paper.

Naufrágio e galanteio: viagem, cultura e cidades em Mário de Andrade e Gilberto Freyre

Na literatura de viagem, dois gêneros tradicionais se destacam: o diário e o guia; e dois personagens: o viajante e o cicerone. O objetivo deste artigo é avançar na compreensão das cidades como campo cultural na perspectiva da viagem e dos viajantes. Para tal, proponho repensar a distância entre Mário de Andrade e Gilberto Freyre, figuras centrais do modernismo e da antropologia no Brasil, a partir do exame de suas experiências de viagem. Mais especificamente, trata-se de encenar um encontro entre estas personalidades diversas, às vezes antagônicas, em um topos comum de acesso à cultura brasileira: as cidades do Norte e do Nordeste do Brasil, surpreendidas na crise do regime agro-exportador e patriarcal, com seus resíduos de paisagem e caráter, povo e modos de vida, memória, forma urbana, arquitetura, arte e folclore. A base de leitura são os diários e crônicas redigidos pelo escritor paulistano ao longo de suas duas longas viagens etnográficas à Amazônia (1927) e ao Nordeste (1928/1929); o diário de juventude, as crônicas de jornal e o Guia Prático, Histórico e Sentimental da Cidade do Recife (1934), do antropólogo pernambucano. Se a opção por estes escritos - menores no conjunto de suas obras, é verdade, porém sólidas posições nos gêneros em que se incluem - instiga o turista e o cicerone a uma relação de proximidade, neles é possível flagrar, ao lado da viagem prazerosa, uma dimensão exploratória e etnográfica da sociedade moderna.

Attitude and Behavior Regarding Pleasure Travel Among Mature Consumers

Socialization Theory guides this study's examination of factors that influence mature consumers' attitudes and behavior regarding pleasure travel. The study examines the extent to which social structural variables are related to mature travelers' interaction with socialization agents, and how social structural and developmental variables are related to their attitudes, past travel behavior, and future travel intentions. Data (n = 182) were collected via mailed questionnaires. A series of multiple regression analyses were used to test hypotheses. The findings reveal that socialization theory serves well in explaining attitude, behavior, and intentions regarding pleasure travel. Socialization agents, social structural variables, and attitudinal components are identified and their relationships with past travel behavior and future travel intentions are assessed.

SO WHY HAVEN'T YOU TAKEN A CRUISE LATELY? AN EXPLORATION OF CONSTRAINTS TO CRUISING

Cruise travel attracted 9.5 million tourists in 2003. Yet, only 5–6% of the US population has cruised. Why are there not more cruisers? The primary purpose of this study was to document the factors associated with the decision not to take a cruise vacation. A secondary purpose was to explore how the concept of constraints negotiation may provide insight into the cruise travel decision-making process. Using qualitative interviews conducted with individuals who travel regularly for pleasure but who have either not cruised or have not cruised recently, we explored individual's travel histories. We focused on adaptive strategies used to negotiate intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural constraints involved in pleasure travel in general and cruising in particular. Highlighting themes that emerged from the interviews, we drew attention to some of the limitations of the hierarchical constraints model. Finally, we suggested how travel agencies and cruise lines might increase the number of cruisers and provided directions for future study.

?Passports to pleasure?: credit cards and contemporary travel

This paper explores the relationship between credit cards and contemporary travel. The credit card has transformed the way in which travel-related experiences are produced and consumed. Production-related activities within both the travel and credit card industries have, in certain ways, become rationalised, systematised and more co-ordinated. As a result, credit cards are widely accepted by travel providers around the world. The credit card has also altered travel-related consumption; in particular, pleasure travel and hedonism have become more accessible to a broad proportion of the population in many Western countries. This tension between rationalised production and pleasure-driven consumption underpins the travel industry and, more broadly, contemporary economies. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Neurologic aspects of infections in international travelers.

As international travel for business and pleasure becomes part of contemporary lifestyle, the clinician today is confronted with an increasing number of travelers returning ill with unfamiliar syndromes. The physician will encounter a myriad of patients with exotic infections, emerging infectious diseases, or resurgent Old-World infections. This review article will discuss salient points of important infectious diseases associated with overseas travel, provide a syndromic approach to the traveler who returns with neurologic manifestations, and list resources for additional diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive information. As many of infections acquired in other countries can directly or indirectly affect the nervous system, the care of the ill traveler often falls into the hands of neurologists. The contemporary neurologist should therefore be knowledgeable of the clinical manifestations, potential complications, and appropriate management of region-specific infections.

Preferences and trip expenditures—a conjoint analysis of visitors to Seoul, Korea

This study analyzed the preferences of international urban travelers by focusing on European, North American, and Japanese travelers to Seoul, Korea, and attempted to identify the relationship between preferences and expenditures for the attributes or activities. The results indicated that, for both pleasure and business trips, the travelers from the near origin (Japan) tended to give most consideration to the ‘tangible’ attribute (shopping), while the travelers from the distant origin (Europe and North America) evaluated the ‘intangible’ attribute (local culture) as most valuable. Regardless of the origins, business travelers spent significantly more than pleasure travelers in the total trip expenditure. Preference for a specific activity seems to not directly correlate with the expenditure on the activity. The results provided useful implications for cities to develop a marketing plan for international travelers. Recommendations for future research were also suggested.

Online shopping motivations and pleasure travel products: a correspondence analysis

The purpose of this study was to examine purchase motives of pleasure travel components of low and high complexity in a Web environment. Motives to buy travel components of a typical pleasure vacation were differentiated using the economics of search framework and mapped using correspondence analysis. Findings showed a uni-dimensional solution that was named informational/transactional. While purchase of activities, accommodation, events and attractions demanded more informational contexts behind purchase; purchase of car rentals and airline tickets were driven by transactional contexts. Theoretical and marketing implications are discussed.

Information Search Behavior of Mainland Chinese Air Travelers to Hong Kong

This study is to explore the information search behavior of Mainland Chinese visitors traveling to Hong Kong. The results of comparisons among travelers with different travel experiences to Hong Kong reveal that there is no significant difference between first-timers and repeat travelers on their pre-trip planning characteristics and perceived level of influence of the information sources used. There is no statistically significant difference between Mainland Chinese business and pleasure travelers on their perceptions on the importance of most of the information sources used except for “Corporate travel department.” These two groups also display differences in the number of information sources used in making travel decisions to Hong Kong. Regardless of the respondents' purpose of the trip and prior travel experience to Hong Kong, empirical evidence clearly shows that travelers used several information sources in planning their trips. The results of this study will allow marketers in Hong Kong to better understand the Mainland Chinese travelers' information search behavior so that they can more effectively tailor marketing strategies to this major source market.

The Relationship between Preference and Expenditure in International City Tourism

This study analyzed the preferences of international travelers by focusing on European, North American, and Japanese travelers to Seoul, Korea, and attempted to identify the relationship between preferences and expenditures for the attributes or activities. The results indicated that, for both pleasure and business trips, the travelers from the near origin (Japan) tended to give most consideration to the 'tangible' attribute (shopping), while the travelers from the distant origins (Europe and North America) evaluated the 'intangible' attribute (local culture) as most valuable. Regardless of origin, business travelers spent significantly more than pleasure travelers in total trip expenditure. Preference for a specific activity does not seem to directly correlate with expenditure on the activity. The results provide useful implications for cities in developing a marketing plan for international travelers. Recommendations for future research are also suggested.