Antecedents and moderators of golf tourists’ behavioral intentions

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela C. Mason ◽  
Andrea Moretti

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of golf tourism in a Mediterranean golf resort located in Italy. Based on a systematic literature review, this research develops and tests a context-specific “integrated model” in order to shed further light on the complex discordance in the literature with new empirical data. Furthermore, the present study attempts to establish a framework to provide a better understanding of golf tourism behavior in terms of specific segmentation profiles. This will contribute to a more targeted approach to marketing and promotional activities. Design/methodology/approach – This study applied structural equation modeling to verify the path relationship of golf tourists quality, perceived value, satisfaction and behavioral intention. The final step was to include the suggested moderator variables (age and playing experience) into the model in order to gain further insights. Furthermore, multiple group analyses were calculated in comparing two sub-samples. Findings – This study provides an improved understanding of the role of quality, perceived value, satisfaction on behavioral intentions in golf tourism. Four out of the six hypotheses of the study were confirmed. Precisely, perceived value did not have a direct significant effect on behavioral intentions and quality was not significantly related to overall satisfaction. The empirical results suggest that all three variables appear to have a direct effect on golf tourists’ behavioral intention. Satisfaction was determined to be the best predictor, followed by quality and perceived value. Furthermore, the moderating variables exert a significant influence on some of the proposed relationships. Research limitations/implications – First, the current model explores the impact of only two moderator variables of golf tourists such as age and years of playing experience. Second, the study is limited to a Mediterranean destination; the analysis and measurements should thus be replicated in different contexts to test their adaptability to different golf tourism destinations. Another important limitation is the cross-sectional nature of the data. Practical implications – This research provides important insights the ability to generalize this chain of effects across golf tourists under significantly different conditions. Furthermore, it has important implications for managers of companies that have plans to implement adequate market segmentation strategies in order to expand their business. Based on the finding it is crucial for managers in the golf industry to focus on perceived value for young tourists golfers and on quality for experienced golfers. Managers should customize relationship management programs and develop promotional and pricing strategies for younger golf tourists and exclusive quality services for more experienced golfers. Social implications – As urban lifestyle life becomes more prevalent in modern society, golf tourism relaxes and gives back a sense of calm and peace of mind to the players. Escape from everyday demands and duties is another classic travel motive; many want to get away from the stress and boredom of their daily lives and fill their holidays with a range of exciting and new physically challenging experiences. Therefore, it can be seen that the term of environment conservation improve the sustainability of golf sport tourism in a Mediterranean destination. Originality/value – The inclusion of moderating variables in the proposed model is one of the unique aspects of this research. Dealing with the different groups of golf tourists, the authors put the emphasize on the importance of using two types of appropriate tools: on the one hand, grouping tools which are appropriate to the tourism consumption (demographic variables), and on the other hand, grouping tools which are appropriate to the study of the sports market (years of a plying experience). Combining these two types of criteria will lead marketers to more accurate analysis of golf tourists’ behavior.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti Haverila ◽  
Kai Christian Haverila

PurposeOn the basis of the justice, attachment, social support, self-determination theories, this research paper examines the impact of the student–instructor relationship construct on the customer-centric measures of overall student satisfaction, and perceived value for money and their impact of the behavioral intentions as an endogenous construct. We considered universities as providers of complex services focusing on students' service quality and students as the customers of the higher education institutions.Design/methodology/approachA survey instrument was used to collect data among undergraduate and graduate business students in a medium-sized Canadian university (N = 178). Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the strength, significance, and effect sizes of the relationships between the key constructs.FindingsThe results indicate that the student–instructor relationship is significantly related to student satisfaction and value for money perceptions. Also, the student satisfaction and behavioral intentions, value for money and student satisfaction, and value for money and behavioral intentions relationship were significant.Originality/valueThe perceived quality of student–instructor relationship and its relationship to customer-centric measures like satisfaction, value for money and behavioral intentions has received relatively little attention in previous research and was discovered to be an important contributor to the perceived student satisfaction and value for money. The importance of the student–instructor relationship is further emphasized indirectly via the perceived value for money construct to student satisfaction.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Goyal ◽  
Sumedha Chauhan ◽  
Parul Gupta

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the external and internal stimuli, which affect the organismic experiences of the users and thereby influence their response in terms of behavioral intention toward the use of online doctor consultation platforms.Design/methodology/approachThe study operationalized the stimulus–organism–response framework for the research model and surveyed 357 users in India who had experienced online doctor consultation platforms. The analysis has been done using the structural equation modeling approach.FindingsThe authors’ main results indicate the following key points. One, perceived usefulness, social influence, health anxiety, offline consultation habit and perceived technology usage risk are significant predictors of perceived value. In contrast, perceived ubiquity is identified to be an insignificant predictor of perceived value. Second, social influence and perceived technology usage risk have significant influence on trust. However, perceived usefulness is not a significant predictor of trust.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the theory by integrating technology-oriented factors with behavioral attributes for determining the behavioral intention of users toward the online doctor consultation platforms.Practical implicationsThe managerial contributions of this study involve highlighting those technology-oriented and behavioral elements, which can be targeted to attract more users toward these platforms.Originality/valueThis is an original study that has looked beyond the role of technology-oriented factors in influencing the perceived value and trust elements while investigating the behavioral intention among the users toward the online doctor consultation platforms.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 1386-1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya F. Farah ◽  
Muhammad Junaid Shahid Hasni ◽  
Abbas Khan Abbas

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the important factors which help explain consumer intention and use behavior in mobile banking (m-banking) adoption. All constructs of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 are studied. Non-monetary value is studied through perceived value. Trust and perceived risk are also included to predict intention. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was utilized to evaluate customer responses on a five-point Likert scale. A convenience sampling technique was used to collect data from a sample of 490 respondents in Pakistan. The data were analyzed using AMOS and SPSS for Cronbach’s α, CR, CMV, AVE, Harmon’s single factor test, correlation and structural equation modeling. Findings The results of the study show that most of the predictors of intention, including perceived value, performance expectancy, habit, social influence, effort expectancy, hedonic motivation (except for facilitating condition), perceived risk and trust, are significant. All predictors of usage behavior are significant. Research limitations/implications A cross-sectional study was conducted due to time constraints. Practical implications Bank managers must focus on improving customers’ intentions to use m-banking as well as on providing facilitating conditions to increase its actual use. To boost mobile banking, banks’ management must consider the customers’ habits while designing their m-banking products. Originality/value The findings of this paper are not only interesting in terms of boosting m-banking diffusion rate, but also in terms of financial inclusion of the vast majority of mobile users. Further the impact of intention, facilitating condition and habit were checked on actual use behavior since people tend not always to act upon their intentions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyunjoo Oh ◽  
Paulo Henrique Muller Prado ◽  
Jose Carlos Korelo ◽  
Francielle Frizzo

Purpose This paper aims to explore the impact of brand authenticity on forming self-reinforcing assets (enticing-the-self, enriching-the-self and enabling-the-self), which subsequently influence the brand-self connectedness and consumers’ behavioral intentions. Design/methodology/approach The authors surveyed 347 consumers in the USA and Brazil and used structural equation modeling to test the relationship among brand authenticity, self-reinforcing assets, brand-self connectedness and behavioral intentions. Findings Brand authenticity was found to influence the self-reinforcing assets. In turn, the self-reinforcing assets promoted closeness toward the brand, thereby increasing the behavioral intentions of consumers to buy a product, visit a store/website in the future and recommend the brand to other people. Practical implications Marketing practitioners can use these results to promote better brand positioning by considering brand authenticity as a key factor in how consumers cognitively assess brands. Originality/value This paper shows that brand authenticity is a key antecedent of consumer–brand self-reinforcing assets.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinhua Guan ◽  
Jinhong Gong ◽  
Mingjie Li ◽  
Tzung-Cheng Huan

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of the robot restaurant servicescape and robot service competence (RSC) on customers’ behavioral intentions and to analyze the mediating role of hedonic value (HV) and utilitarian value (UV) in these relationships and the moderating role of individual characteristics. Design/methodology/approach This research involves seven constructs to be measured, namely, servicescape, RSC, negative attitude toward robots (NAR), openness to change (OC), HV, UV and behavioral intention. This research selects Foodom robot restaurants, located in Shunde and Guangzhou of China, as the research site, and the research objects are customers having dinner in the restaurant. A total of 485 valid data was collected. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data, verify the proposed research model, and test the research hypotheses. Findings The study finds that servicescape and RSC improve customer behavioral intention. Additionally, HV and UV mediate the influence of servicescape and RSC on customer behavioral intention. Moreover, OC negatively moderates the influence of servicescape on UV and that a NAR negatively moderates the influence of RSC on HV. Originality/value Through carefully design of servicescape and the improvement in service capabilities of robots, the original service delivery dominated by frontline service personnel can be transformed into service delivery dominated by service robots, which is conductive to providing a pleasant and unforgettable experience for customers.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Maria Correia Loureiro ◽  
Arnold Japutra ◽  
Sebastian Molinillo ◽  
Ricardo Godinho Bilro

Purpose This paper aims to explore tourist perceived value and attachment to intelligent voice assistants (IVAs) as antecedents of the quality of the human–IVA relationship in the hospitality domain. This research also examines the moderating role of psychological factors (self-esteem) and knowledge factors (past experience and technology expertise) in the relationships between antecedents and relationship quality. Design/methodology/approach The researchers conducted two quantitative studies, collecting data via online surveys in Mechanical Turk (n1 = 124 and n2 = 281). The proposed model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The first study uncovers that tourist perceived value is the main influence on the quality of the relationship between tourists and IVAs. The second study confirms the direct relationships of the first and shows that self-esteem and technology expertise act as moderators. Practical implications This study advances the understanding of the tourism and hospitality stakeholders in using modern technologies (e.g. IVAs). Through comprehending the relationship building between individuals and IVAs, the stakeholders will be able to craft better strategies. Originality/value The study extends the attachment and social exchange theories to the tourist–IVA relationship context. Specifically, this research demonstrates the impact of tourist perceived value on the quality of the relationship with the IVA. It also points out that tourists’ self-esteem and technology expertise can weaken the tourist–IVA relationship.


2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tz-Li Wang ◽  
Phuong Thi Kim Tran ◽  
Vinh Trung Tran

Purpose This paper aims to examine the effects of gender and visit frequency as moderating variables on the relationships among destination perceived quality, tourist satisfaction and word-of-mouth (WOM). Design/methodology/approach This study incorporated several previous research models to propose a conceptual model that fully explains the relationships among destination perceived quality, tourist satisfaction, visit frequency and WOM. One important thing to consider is whether gender and visit frequency impact on the relationships among these factors. In addition, this study was able to generate measurement items for the dimensions by analyzing specific tourism conditions in Danang City and referring to the scales of these factors in previous studies. Quantitative research was conducted to test the scales of the research model and hypotheses through data collected from 303 domestic tourists. Findings Structural equation modeling and a multi-group analysis were used to test the hypotheses and the invariance of structural coefficients across groups. The results indicate that destination perceived quality has significant, positive and direct effect on tourist satisfaction; WOM is positively influenced by destination perceived quality and tourist satisfaction; and there is significant relationship between visit frequency and WOM. In particular, when exploring the impact of moderating variables such as gender and visit frequency, this study also found that the impacts of destination perceived quality on WOM are different between genders, and this impact is stronger for female rather than male tourists; and the effect of destination perceived quality on tourist satisfaction is stronger for the first visit than for later visits. Research limitations/implications This paper is limited in its ability to gather a larger sample to more generally represent the complete domestic market, as well as in its lack of a comparison of online versus offline WOM effects by gender. Originality/value This paper was conducted to have a better understanding of how tourist demographic characteristics such as gender and visit frequency are important contributors that influence the relationships among these three factors. This paper has important implications for marketers and managers of Danang, such as local tourism authorities, commercial association managers, hotel owners, restaurant owners and tour managers working to improve the quality of this destination, and thus better satisfying tourists and competing with other destinations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Safari ◽  
Reza Salehzadeh ◽  
Razieh Panahi ◽  
Samaneh Abolghasemian

Purpose The purpose of the present research is to investigate the impact of environmental knowledge and awareness on green behavior with respect to behavioral intentions, environmental attitude and green commitment as mediator variables. Design/methodology/approach The statistical population included the managers of Esfahan Mobarakeh Steel Company in Iran. In total, 135 questionnaires were distributed among relevant managers, out of which 120 questionnaires were returned and analyzed using structural equation modeling method. Findings The findings of the study showed that environmental knowledge and awareness has a significant direct effect on managers’ green behavior (β = 0.42). Also, environmental knowledge and awareness has a significant indirect effect on managers’ green behavior through behavioral intentions (β = 0.34), environmental attitude (β = 0.19) and green commitment (β = 0.33). Originality value This study is among the first to simultaneously investigate the multiple pathways from environmental knowledge and awareness to green behavior. The second contribution of the present study is considering green behavior of personnel in the iron and steel industry in a developing country.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nhung Thi Hoai Duong ◽  
Nguyen Khanh Chi ◽  
Hanh Thi Nguyen ◽  
Ngan Thi Kim Nguyen ◽  
Chi Phuong Nguyen ◽  
...  

PurposeThis study examines the impact of perceived value, materialism and tourist intention on willingness to pay a premium for ecotourism (WTPP).Design/methodology/approachData were collected and conducted in Vietnamese National Parks. The dataset consists of 927 valid responses by domestic travelers. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the proposed relationships among perceived value, materialism, tourist intention and tourists' WTPP.FindingsThis study found a significant positive effect of perceived value on both tourist intention and their WTPP. The results also indicated that materialism is revealed to have a totally negative influence on WTPP for ecotourism; its indirect effect is transmitted through tourist intention. These findings highlight that tourists are mainly attracted when they received unique information about eco-destination. Therefore, they tend to participate in ecotourism and decide to pay for ecotourism.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, the study findings contribute strategies for tourism providers in their marketing activities by segmenting the target market which can be based on tourists with materialistic and nonmaterialistic. Second, ecotourism marketers need to focus on increasing the unique image of ecological sites. These efforts will create a favorable action for tourists. Third, ecotourism providers might increase the prospective customer base among consumers who have materialistic behaviors. Furthermore, they can provide ecotourism promotion materials for targeting customers. Finally, government needs to consider strategies designed to enhance the eco-destination places and environmental intention.Practical implicationsFirst, the study has not compared the efficacy of two different measures which are affective and cognitive items in perceived value construct. Second, this research does not discuss about the interrelationships among other factors influencing tourists' WTPP. Third, the customers' demographic characteristics in this study did not explore because the difference on gender may be perceived differently in analyzing advertising. Fourth, this study was conducted in Vietnam, not in different countries and other different cultures.Originality/valueThis study investigates the impact of perceived value and materialism on ecotourism intention and tourists' WTPP for ecotourism. This study reveals the understanding of how individuals' concern about the value of ecological sites and influences their intention to actual behavior in engaging ecotourism. Significant practical implications are also provided for ecotourism providers, marketers and government. In general, government needs to consider strategies designed to enhance the eco-destination places and environmental intention. Ecotourism marketers need to focus on increasing the unique image of ecological sites. These efforts will create a favorable action for tourists. Otherwise, ecotourism providers might increase the prospective customer base among consumers who have materialistic behaviors. Furthermore, they can provide ecotourism promotion materials for targeting customers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Xiao ◽  
Xiaoling Ren ◽  
Pei Zhang ◽  
Antonnette Ketlhoafetse

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine foreign participants’ service quality, satisfaction and behavioral intention during the 2016 Shanghai International Marathon, and to gain a better understanding of the impact of service quality on their satisfaction and behavioral intention. Design/methodology/approach An English questionnaire was originally designed on the basis of the literature review of service quality, overall satisfaction and re-participation intention to assess the purpose of the study. Data were collected from 308 foreign runners including 61.7 percent (n=190) of male and 38.3 percent (n=118) of the female. Structural equation modeling was employed to check the proposed model and to test the impact of service quality on foreign participants’ overall satisfaction and behavioral intention. Findings A positive correlation was captured between the following: service quality and overall satisfaction (r=0.752, p<0.01), overall satisfaction and behavioral intention (r=0.876, p<0.01), and between service quality and participants’ behavioral intention (r=0.760, p<0.01). Furthermore, the service quality of Shanghai International Marathon had an indirect effect on foreign participants’ behavioral intention. The structural model fits the data well (R2=0.823). Research limitations/implications First, the sample size was small and was just drawn from one event, which can be taken with caution in the context of the generalization of findings. Second, the results are specific to 2016 Shanghai International Marathon participants and cannot be generalized with other events in China or around the world. Practical implications The results are practical for the marathon event organizers to better understand foreign participants’ needs and improve their services. This study has a significant importance to the sports events organizers, especially the organizers of the Shanghai International Marathon in terms of a better understanding the level of their service. This study will also help the event organizers to adapt their strategies and their efforts to increase Shanghai International Marathon foreign participants’ satisfaction and intention to repurchase or to share with others. Social implications This study contributes to the foreign participant’s satisfaction literature. In fact, many studies were carried on event spectators’ satisfaction while rare studies were carried on event participants’ satisfaction, especially marathon foreign participants’ satisfaction, and this study will supplement studies related to sport events participation. This will be convenient for sports managers and scholars to better understand the impact of service quality on participants’ satisfaction and behavioral intention in the field of sports events management. Meanwhile, the results were extremely useful to Shanghai during the process of constructing a “world-famous sports city” and “modern international metropolis”. Originality/value Little literature focus on foreign participants of Shanghai International Marathon, which is important in the process of shaping city image and building world-famous city. Are foreign participants satisfied with the Shanghai International Marathon? Which aspect of the service quality is of greater value for them? What are the influencing factors of their behavioral intention and word-of-mouth communication? What are the specific impact paths among the service quality, overall satisfaction and behavioral intention variables? To examine the objectives, the study was designed to target foreign participants’ service quality, satisfaction and behavioral intention. Besides, structural equation model was applied in this study to explore the path relationship between service quality, satisfaction and behavioral intention specifically.


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