Vanessa Quintal

An investigation of push and pull motivations of visitors to private parks The case of Araluen Botanic Park

This exploratory study aims at closing an inherent gap in the literature on research on private parks. Specifically, the aim of this study is threefold: (a) to identify the push and pull factors that influence decisions to visit private parks; (b) to examine the differences in these push and pull factors for different sociodemographic groups; and (c) to investigate the interrelationships among these push and pull factors. Data were collected from 228 visitors who were intercepted at various locations in a private park. The survey instrument assessed the reasons for visiting the park (push factors) and evaluated how well the park performed on a series of selected park attributes (pull factors). The results of a factor analysis revealed three push factors and three pull factors. Other analyses included an evaluation of the interrelationship between these factors in terms of different sociodemographic subgroups and a general correlation analysis on the interrelationship among push and pull factors. This study provides useful managerial and practical implications for park managers, policymakers and communication strategists to gain an understanding of how push and pull factors affect tourists and their choice of private parks.

Heritage tourism in Singapore Chinatown: A perceived value approach to authenticity and satisfaction

ABSTRACT This study examines object-based and existential authenticity using a multidimensional approach to perceived value. The effects of value perceptions on satisfaction are also examined. Data was collected from tourists at the Singapore Chinatown heritage precinct. The findings revealed that object-based authenticity, existential authenticity, and perceived monetary value positively influenced overall perceived value and subsequently, satisfaction. This paper provides researchers with a theoretical framework of authenticity and perceived value for future empirical studies in the heritage tourism context. It also provides insight into how destination marketers and policy makers can develop effective and sustainable strategies for heritage destinations.

Examining a Consumption Values Theory Approach of Young Tourists Toward Destination Choice Intentions

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to examine young Australian tourists’ consumption values, perceived beneficial image and tourist’s destination choice intention towards Mauritius as a tourism destination. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected through an intercept method of Australian consumers in a downtown shopping complex. A self-administered questionnaire was used; 408 usable questionnaires were collected, and regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses. Findings – Only emotional/epistemic, social and functional values were found to significantly influence perceived beneficial image of the tourism destination. Only social and conditional values were found to significantly influence destination choice intention. Practical implications – Communication initiatives should focus on functional and conditional values such as quality of infrastructure and personal safety benefits. Destination planners and marketers should emphasize emotional values in their programs, as these values b...

Brand leaders and me‐too alternatives: how do consumers choose?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine brand familiarity, extrinsic attributes, self‐confidence, perceived quality and six dimensions of perceived risk for their effects on purchase intentions between the prototypical and me‐too brands of MP3 players.Design/methodology/approach – A self‐administered survey was employed to collect data from 348 lead users of MP3 players. Existing scales were selected for their tested reliability in buying situations and adapted to suit the context of the current study. Hypothesized relationships were examined with structural equation modeling.Findings – Brand familiarity had positive effects and extrinsic attributes had negative effects on the perceived equivalent quality of the MP3 players for both the prototypical and me‐too brands. Further, brand familiarity and extrinsic attributes produced direct effects on purchase intentions for the me‐too and prototypical brands respectively. While perceived equivalent quality had a positive mediating effect on the brand...

Students' perceptions of an internationalised learning environment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore student perceptions of the internationalised learning environment across a particular universitys home and offshore campuses. It addresses three research questions namely: what constitutes the internationalised learning environment for students? Can a university offer an internationalised learning environment that is equitable for students across its home and offshore campuses? And what differences exist in the internationalised learning environment for students in a universitys home and offshore campuses? Design/methodology/approach – In total, 484 completed responses were collected from the universitys six campuses in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Findings – Findings suggested significant differences in the way students perceived of teaching reputation, context-specific curriculum, resources, student-support staff interaction and their attitude towards their university. Practical implications – These insights could help a universitys ...

Examining Consumer Risk Perceptions of Prototypical Brands Versus Me-Too Brands

This study examines brand familiarity, extrinsic attributes, self-confidence, and perceived quality for their effects on perceived risk between prototypical and me-too brands. Factor analyses and path analysis were used in testing hypotheses. Brand familiarity produced a significant positive effect, while extrinsic attributes produced a significant negative effect on perceived equivalent quality for both the pioneer and me-too brands. Respectively, the perceived equivalent quality of the MP3 players produced significant positive and negative effects on perceived risks for pioneer and me-too brands. Managerial implications include strategic use of me-too brands and management of competitive advantages of pioneer brands with perceived prototypicality.

Wine Tourist Engagement With the Winescape: Scale Development and Validation:

Although the winescape has been frequently referred to in wine-related research, empirical studies that conceptualize, operationalize, and test the construct remain limited. This research sets out to develop a scale to measure the supply-related winescape attributes that influence the winery experience. Adopting scale development procedure by Churchill and De Vellis, five focus groups, two expert panels, and six individual studies that involved 1,537 participants were conducted at varied wineries in diverse wine regions across two different wine countries. The resultant 20-item winescape scale comprised seven attributes, namely, setting, atmospherics, wine quality, wine value, complementary product, signage, and service staff, and was reliable and valid. Theoretically and methodologically, the winescape scale addresses a critical need for an empirical measure that encapsulates the supply-related attributes of a winery. Managerially, it offers wine producers a diagnostic tool to evaluate their winescape, guiding their positioning and service operations in the marketplace.

Looking beyond pasta and pizzas: examining personal and historical nostalgia as travel motives

Purpose This paper aims to examine how nostalgia influences travel attitudes and intentions of tourist destination among travellers with Italian heritage. Perceived travel risks as a moderating role between the relationships between personal and historical nostalgia and travel attitudes are also examined. Design/methodology/approach A self-administered mail survey was used, targeting Australians of Italian heritage, to investigate the influence of nostalgia on attitudes and intentions to visit Italy as a tourist destination. A total of 218 usable responses were used for analysis. Exploratory factor analysis was utilised to assess the dimensionality of the constructs, and regression analysis was used to test the hypothesised relationships in the research model. Findings On analysis of the data collected through a mail survey, results showed that only personal nostalgia was found to exert a positive influence upon travel attitudes which in turn was positively related to travel intention toward Italy. Perceived travel risk factors did not moderate the relationship between personal nostalgia and travel attitudes. However, a negative relationship was found between perceived travel risk and travel intentions towards Italy. Practical implications The findings provide further validity to the personal and historical nostalgia scales as a means of understanding motivations to visit a tourist destination. Such findings are significant in adding destination managers and policymakers in developing marketing executions and policies that seek to capitalise on the nostalgic sentiments of the target segments. This study further contributes to the literature on perceived travel risks by highlighting its moderating effect on nostalgic motivations and travel attitudes. Originality/value This study aimed to enrich the theoretical base of the tourism discipline by reviewing the significance of personal and historical nostalgia as travel motives and their impact upon a tourist’s travel attitudes and intentions. It also examines the moderating role of perceived travel risks in an empirical model. Further, the current study is the first of its kind to empirically examine personal and historical nostalgia within a leisure travel context.

The role of movie images and its impact on destination choice

Purpose – This study aims to examine whether movies are pivotal in developing empathy, nostalgia, perceived risk, place familiarity and place image that can shape viewer attitude towards and intention to visit a place. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from two sample frames of patrons at a large cinema chain located in a major shopping centre in Perth, Western Australia. The experimental group watched the romantic comedy, Friends with Benefits. The control group watched the romantic comedy, Desi Boyz which is set in London and India and is not associated with New York. A quota for data collection was set at 230 subjects in each group. The two groups watched their movies concurrently in different theatres at the same cinema chain in the same shopping centre. Subjects in both groups were asked for their responses to New York immediately after viewing the movie. Findings – In an experimental study, subjects who watched a romantic comedy set in New York had significantly higher empathy, place...

Mediating Effects of Study Outcomes on Student Experience and Loyalty: A Comparison of Home and International Students

This paper aims to examine whether expectations of the student experience have an impact on student loyalty that is mediated by expectations of study outcomes at their university. To achieve this, a 15-minute pen and paper survey was self-administered to a convenience sample of students at a major university in Western Australia. The total sample size was 400 students, with 200 students each drawn from the home and international student populations. Findings suggest the university’s image and facilities that prepare students for career, personal and academic development were positively related to home student loyalty, while teaching and support services that prepare students for career development were positively related to both home and international students’ loyalty. Since the global trend is toward a customer-oriented model, universities can remain competitive by providing the ‘gestalt’ student experience that helps students to achieve their study outcomes and develop loyalty toward their university.