Christina Geng-Qing Chi

Locals' Attitudes toward Mass and Alternative Tourism: The Case of Sunshine Coast, Australia

This study examines local residents’ attitudes toward two different types of tourism development, mass tourism and alternative tourism, using data collected from residents of Sunshine Coast, Australia. The study findings reveal that host community support is affected directly and/or indirectly by the level of community concern, community attachment, ecocentric values, use of the tourism resource base, state of the local economy, and the perceived impacts of tourism development. Findings suggested that even though some of the factors influence attitudes toward both mass and alternative tourism, attitudes toward each form of development is likely to be formed based on the perceptions of different factors.

An Examination of Destination Loyalty: Differences Between First-Time and Repeat Visitors

The objective of the study was to examine how first-time and repeat visitors develop loyalty differently. A multiple group analysis in LISREL was conducted using data collected from a major tourism destination in the southern United States. The findings revealed that (a) repeat visitors reported higher levels of revisit and referral intentions (used to infer destination loyalty) compared with first-time visitors and (b) previous experiences moderated the relationship between tourist satisfaction and destination loyalty—satisfaction played a more important role in leading to loyalty for first-timers than for repeaters. The theoretical and managerial implications were drawn based on the study findings, and recommendations for future researchers were made.

Theoretical examination of destination loyalty formation.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the most critical antecedents of destination loyalty formation (DLF) and to develop a series of propositions for the relationships among the antecedents of loyalty formation and their direct and indirect impacts on loyalty formation. Design/methodology/approach – This conceptual paper provides a comprehensive review of the previous studies that examined destination loyalty and posits a framework of tourist DLF titled Destination Loyalty Formation. Findings – In the proposed conceptual model, the sequential relationships among the antecedents of tourist destination loyalty postulate that previous experiences are the most influential driver that could manipulate tourist destination loyalty. Place attachment and involvement constitute the second most influential factors of DLF. In addition to the above two variables, destination image is proposed to have direct and indirect effects on perception of service quality and satisfaction. Meanwhile, service quality...

How to help your graduates secure better jobs? An industry perspective

Purpose – Many hospitality programs have developed their own career and placement services to assist students in job searching efforts. The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that are important for the success of career and placement services offered by hospitality programs, from the industrys perspectives.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected through an online survey from hospitality recruiters and human resources managers. Descriptive statistics were applied for the data analysis.Findings – Internship requirement was found to be the most important factor for the success of career services, followed by faculty industry experience and quality of student preparation for job/internship interviews. These were followed by reputation of the program and quality of educational curriculum and courses taught.Originality/value – The important implications drawn in this paper could assist hospitality schools to allocate limited resources to help create excellent career and placement services.

Temporal Change in Resident Perceptions of a Mega-event: The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Abstract This study investigated the influences of temporal effects on local residents’ impact perceptions of hosting the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, utilizing data collected during the first week of the games and after the games from local residents of Beijing. Findings suggested that thirteen of the 30 impact items examined were significantly different between the assessment of impacts during and after the games. While changes in two of those impact perception items indicated that residents’ perceptions changed for the better after the games, eleven of them suggested that during the first week of the games residents had high expectations about the benefits, though they were aware that such benefits would not be cost-free. However, they later realized that the benefits generated were lower than they had anticipated and the costs associated were higher than they expected.

Destination Loyalty Formation and Travelers' Demographic Characteristics: A Multiple Group Analysis Approach

The objective of the study was to offer a systematic approach to examine the potential differences in loyalty formation process across different demographic groups. A multiple group analysis in LISREL was conducted using data collected from a major tourism destination in the southern United States. The findings revealed that (a) travelers in different age and income segments exhibited no significant difference in their perception of the destination image, levels of satisfaction, or loyalty; (b) travelers in different gender and education segments had different levels of image perception, but they formed comparable level of satisfaction and loyalty across groups; and (c) in spite of the evidenced heterogeneity in the means of some of the latent constructs, the holistic loyalty formation process remained identical across demographic groups. The theoretical and managerial implications were drawn based on the study findings, and recommendations for future researchers were made.

Consequences of “greenwashing”: Consumers’ reactions to hotels’ green initiatives

Purpose – This quasi-experimental study aimed to investigate, drawing upon influential discounting behavior theory and cognition – affect – behavior (C-A-B) paradigm, consumers’ reactions to the phenomenon of “greenwashing” in the lodging industry. More specifically, this paper proposed and tested a theoretical model that examined whether recognizing the ulterior motive caused consumer skepticism about hotels’ environmental claims, which in turn influenced consumers’ intention to participate in linen reuse program and intention to revisit the hotel. Additionally, the moderating effects of ecological concern on the relationship between skepticism and intention to participate and between skepticism and intention to revisit were examined. Design/methodology/approach – A quasi-experimental design was used with two conditions (control vs ulterior motive) employing staff members of a US public university as study participants. In total, 638 useful responses were received. Findings – The results of this study re...

Consequences of “greenwashing”

Purpose – This quasi-experimental study aimed to investigate, drawing upon influential discounting behavior theory and cognition – affect – behavior (C-A-B) paradigm, consumers’ reactions to the phenomenon of “greenwashing” in the lodging industry. More specifically, this paper proposed and tested a theoretical model that examined whether recognizing the ulterior motive caused consumer skepticism about hotels’ environmental claims, which in turn influenced consumers’ intention to participate in linen reuse program and intention to revisit the hotel. Additionally, the moderating effects of ecological concern on the relationship between skepticism and intention to participate and between skepticism and intention to revisit were examined. Design/methodology/approach – A quasi-experimental design was used with two conditions (control vs ulterior motive) employing staff members of a US public university as study participants. In total, 638 useful responses were received. Findings – The results of this study re...

Destination competitiveness of Middle Eastern countries: an examination of relative positioning.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to examine the relative positioning of ten Middle Eastern destinations using six competitiveness indices developed by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). A multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) analysis is utilized to generate a positioning map based on the analysis of both attributes and objects in a joint space. The positioning map revealed closely competitive destinations, how competitiveness indicators cluster together and competitive strengths and weaknesses of each destination. This study identified four groups of countries (destinations) that compete with each other. The implications of relative positioning of destination countries based on six specific tourism indices and the limitations of the study are discussed.

Examine destination loyalty of first-time and repeat visitors at all-inclusive resorts

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that are likely to influence the loyalty behavior of first-time and repeat visitors to all-inclusive resorts. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from first-time and repeat Russian tourists to Antalya, Turkey, utilizing a self-administered survey questionnaire. A total of 339 usable responses were obtained. A structural equation modeling approach was used to test the proposed model on the first-time and repeat visitors’ samples. Findings This study suggests that the effects of cognitive evaluation of the resort (service quality) channel through affective evaluation of the visitor experience (visitor satisfaction) before bolstering visitor loyalty. This study also shows that differences exist between the two groups of visitors – first time visitors value cognitive attributes more and rely more on cognitive evaluation. Practical implications Destination marketers and managers need to promote all aspects and attributes of a destination among all-inclusive vacationers by creating innovative and comprehensive marketing campaign. Due to the differences between first-time and repeat visitors, it is critical to differentiate the two groups in designing targeted marketing campaign and providing targeted service/product. Originality value All-inclusive resorts have attained substantial global presence and popularity over the past 40 years. However, guest satisfaction/loyalty studies in this particular context have not often been approached with the kind of statistical breadth and rigor presented herein. This study adds new information for the understanding of and marketing to the all-inclusive resort guest.