Joseph S. Chen

An investigation of tourists’ destination loyalty and preferences

Investigates the relationship between tourists’ destination loyalty and their preferences as to destination. Destination loyalty is operationally defined as the level of tourists’ perceptions of a destination as a recommendable place. On‐site surveys of Korean outbound travellers were conducted at the Seoul International Airport, South Korea, in March 1997. Of 285 questionnaires collected from Korean outbound travellers, 265 useful questionnaires are analyzed. Multiple regression analysis reveals that three destination preferences, including different culture experiences, safety, and convenient transportation, have a positive relationship with tourist’s loyalty to the destination. Results from a path analysis show that past trip experience affects tourists’ destination preference. The implications and limitations of the study are discussed in the conclusion.

Validating a tourism development theory with structural equation modeling

Abstract This study attempts to examine the structural effects of four tourism-impact factors on total impact and on local residents’ support for tourism development. To achieve the above goal, five research hypotheses are proposed. Three hundred and four questionnaires from a mail survey of randomly selected residents from the Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Newport News area were analyzed. A confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling procedure were performed, respectively, by utilizing the LISREL procedure. Four exogenous constructs dealing with economic, social, cultural, and the environmental impacts and two endogenous constructs, including the variable of total impacts and support for tourism development were analyzed with structural equation modeling procedures. In the resulting structural equation model, five hypotheses are supported. The implications for tourism practitioners and academicians are discussed.

Measurement of Korean Tourists’ Perceived Images of Overseas Destinations

This article identifies image attributes measuring the total attractiveness of overseas destinations to Korean tourists and investigates image attributes affecting Korean tourist choice behaviors of trip planning time frame, budgeted travel costs, and length of trip. The attractiveness of a destination was found to be defined by its adventurous atmosphere, scenery, environmental friendliness, availability of tourist information, and architectural style. Respondents’ perceptions of travel cost, destination lifestyle, availability of quality restaurants, freedom from language barriers, and availability of interesting places to visit affected their choice behaviors.

Competitive analysis of cross cultural information search behavior

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate German, French, and British travelers’ information search behavior. This study used the data collected from a series of in-flight surveys on German, British, and French travelers to the US between January and December 1997. To visualize tourists’ information research behavior, a correspondence analysis was employed. The results from correspondence analysis revealed two-dimensional solutions: the first was labeled as business/leisure dimension, and the second was identified as dependent/independent information search behavior. In addition, four distinct market segments based on the information search behavior emerged from the analysis. In conclusion, future study in respect to cross-cultural choice behaviors was advocated.

Increasing state market share through a regional positioning.

State tourism o

Cross-cultural comparison of the information sources used by first-time and repeat travelers and its marketing implications

cials need to know more about the nature of in-state and out-of-state visitor characteristics and how actual and potential visitors perceive local destinations. The main objective of this study was to understand Virginia’s image as a travel destination versus competitive states in the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA. The regional competitiveness of Virginia as a tourism destination was evaluated by creating a ‘perceptual mapa which reveals the similarities and di!erences in how 10 states were rated on the 48 destination attributes included in the survey. Results showed that Virginia stands out in the quality of its natural and historical landscape; features shared by many of the surrounding competitive states. Virginia competes with Pennsylvania, North Carolina, West Virginia on natural features and competes with Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, and Georgia on historic and cultural heritage. Virginia’s amenities are well known, but lack emotional impact. Possible marketing strategies would be to give Virginia a stronger emotional image, while building on its strong reputation for quality natural and cultural attractions. It is also important that destination promotional activities focus on di!erentiating features of places in a regional context so that complementary tourism products within the region can also be developed. ( 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Motivation and Involvement as Antecedents of the Perceived Value of the Destination Experience

Abstract This research is to investigate first-time and repeat German, French, and British travelers’ use of information sources. Three research questions are proposed to explore the differences in the use of information between repeat and first-time travelers and delineate the information usage pattern among the above three groups of travelers. Accordingly, this study analyzed the data collected from a series of in-flight surveys of German, British, and French travelers to the US between January 1997 and December 1997. The differences in regard to first-time and repeat travelers’ use of external information sources were revealed by logit analyses. A correspondence analysis was employed to further visualize travelers’ information usage patterns. This study indicates that past trip experience significantly influenced travelers’ use of information sources. In the conclusion section, various marketing implications are drawn.

A case study of Korean outbound travelers’ destination images by using correspondence analysis

Research acknowledges the tourist as imperative in creating experience value. Building on this premise, the present study offers an integrated approach to understanding tourists’ experience values and attempts to extend the theoretical and empirical evidence of causal relationships between the motivation, involvement, and the experience value of the destination, hereafter called experience value. Using a sample drawn from tourists in Norway, the research model investigates relationships between the three constructs, using a structural equation modeling approach. The results indicate that motivation and involvement are linked to tourists’ experience value and motivation affects the level of involvement. In order to facilitate for tourists to cocreate experience value then, not only should the industry recognize experiences that tourists value but should also acknowledge motivation and involvement as essential in value creation for tourist experiences.

Cross-Cultural Differences in Travel Information Acquisition among Tourists from Three Pacific-Rim Countries

Abstract This study delineates destination–country images perceived by Korean travelers to Asia/Pacific, North America, and Europe, respectively. The results from the frequency analysis show that travelers to Asia/Pacific and North America felt their travel destinations possessed an “adventuresome” image, while those who traveled to Europe perceived it had “many interesting places”. To further reveal the unique images of Asia/Pacific, North America, and Europe, a correspondence analysis on 17 image attributes was employed. Various suggestions are provided to help practitioners launch effective strategies to entice future tourist demand, as well as meeting needs concerning the study of “image”.

AN INVESTIGATION OF URBAN RESIDENTS' LOYALTY TO TOURISM

To address the deficiencies of cross-cultural research in the realm of tourist information search behavior, this study investigates external information sources used by tourists of Pacific-rim countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Australia. The data drawn from a series of in-flight surveys of Japanese, South Korean, and Australian tourists to the United States between January and December 1997 were analyzed. Correspondence analyses were employed to compare tourists’ information research behavior among the tourists of the study countries. The resulting data reveal the differences that provide theoretical support for expanded research in the area of cross-cultural behavior and highlight the need for managers to consider possible differences in the development of promotional strategies when enticing potential Japanese, South Korean, and Australian tourists to the United States.