e-Review of Tourism Research

Evaluating Demand Side Enablers for Medical Tourism: Case Study of Medical Tourists from Bangladesh to Kolkata, India

2023-05-25T10:21:04+00:00

Globalization has brought about transformations in medical infrastructure, with foreign collaborations in ownership of healthcare. The resulting world-class medical services helped India to secure the 6th rank amongst 46 nations. Such demand-pull factors have attracted tourists from across the world to come to India to seek high-quality treatment at affordable costs. The trend has been particularly strong for Kolkata, a preferred healthcare destination for medical tourists from Bangladesh. However, this aspect has been largely ignored in the existing literature. The present research investigates demand-pull and demand-push factors based on the motivations and experiences of Bangladeshi medical tourists. Primary research was conducted through a purposive snowball sampling to interview 207 patients and 11 hospital staff from different Kolkata hospitals. Field observations, telephonic discussions, survey questionnaires, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews were carried out at outpatient departments, reception desks of diagnostic centers, lodges, and guesthouses where families of international patients stayed for the tenure of their treatment. The key findings of this study provide important policy recommendations for stakeholders and lay down the pathway for future research for cross-border services trade.

An Overview of ‘All-For-One Tourism’ Development and Possible Future Research Directions for Ningxia’s Tourism using VUP (Visual Urban Perception)

2023-03-14T11:22:33+00:00

This study intends to explore using visual urban perception (VUP) to develop a place branding framework to promote Ningxia's tourism industry in the context of the "All-for-one tourism" policy. Based on the review of "All-for-one Tourism," "Visual Urban Perception," and "Place Branding for Tourism Development," this paper tries to provide a new perspective and potential direction of research for future studies about all-for-one tourism. This research used a literature review descriptive analysis method, searching the Scopus database with English as the language. Due to the limited research on the topic, only a few relevant publications were chosen for inclusion in this study. However, the selected papers still provided helpful insight into the current state of the research area. The results showed that more research currently needs to be done utilizing VUP to develop a place branding framework, an excellent method to promote the tourism industry. This study is original in this field and has theoretical and practical significance and value when combined with an all-for-one tourism policy. This study adds to the existing literature on all-for-one tourism, VUP, and place branding. Furthermore, the findings will also provide a new perspective and potential research direction for future studies.

An Examination of The Effect of Iso-Ahola's Motivation Theory, Perceived Value, Destination Image, and Satisfaction on Tourists' Loyalty

2023-02-18T11:51:46+00:00

The current study aims to explain the interrelationship between the motivation and loyalty of domestic tourists by combining Iso-Ahola’s motivation theory with two additional variables, perceived value and destination image, as the new conceptual framework. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach has been a widely accepted method to evaluate and validate a complex model, combining Iso-Ahola’s motivation theory, perceived value, and destination image to predict domestic tourist loyalty. The data was collected from 554 domestic tourists who visit Dong Thap province. The study's findings revealed that Iso-Ahola's motivation and tourist satisfaction are core concepts for understanding tourist loyalty. In addition, tourist satisfaction had the strongest impact on tourist loyalty in this study. The current study took a unidimensional destination image and perceived value to understand domestic tourist loyalty. Future research should consider other constructs to understand tourist loyalty. The current study provided a new theoretical framework to evaluate and validate domestic tourist loyalty.

A Systematic Review of Factors Influencing the Gastronomic Experience At the Tourist Destination and Post-Purchase Behavioural Intentions

2022-09-15T06:20:16+00:00

For destinations to achieve a competitive advantage, it is necessary to comprehend the whole range of variables that influence travellers' gastronomic experiences. This research aims to examine the factors that influence travellers' gastronomic experiences and their post-purchase behavioural intentions. A systematic review and synthesis of the available literature from 141 research articles published between 2010 and 2023, based on PRISMA guidelines, was undertaken. Outcomes of the study indicate that food characteristics (sensory attributes, health, authenticity and price and value), personal characteristics (previous experience, food-related personal trait, motivation, culture and socio-demographics) of consumers, and destination characteristics (servicescape, destination food image, marketing and sanitation) influence the gastronomic experience. The findings further suggest that satisfaction with the gastronomic experience enhances destination image and perceived value, antecedents of post-purchase behavioural intentions, namely revisit and loyalty intentions, recommendation, and positive word-of-mouth. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the antecedents and consequences of satisfaction with the gastronomic experience based on evidence assembled over 13 years.

Mapping Well-Being and Resilience of Tourism Intermediaries Amid Covid-19: Perspectives from India

2022-09-20T11:33:16+00:00

The impact of the pandemic on the tourism workforce is multidimensional, including from economic, social, and psychological perspectives. Compared to the impact on other emotional factors, substantial issues remain unaddressed. Thus, this study focuses on the psychological effects of COVID-19 on travel intermediary businesses in India drawn from primary (interviews) and secondary (document analysis) data sources. It confirms the unprecedented situation of tourism employees facing a slew of issues, many of which are detrimental to their emotional well-being during these turbulent times. The findings present very general to specific issues, categorised under four main themes: a) common psychological issues in the working population, b) unreliable employment, c) pressure for a career change, and d) lack of guidance or support.

Second Home Tourism Development in Portugal – Expectations of Portuguese Emigrants

2023-04-14T11:18:13+00:00

This study proposes to fill a gap in research by analysing the expectations of Portuguese emigrants regarding tourism investments and development in their place of origin. The questionnaire survey method was used for collecting data from emigrants. The data were analysed using quantitative descriptive analysis and tests of the correlation of variables, together with a qualitative analysis through the application of student's t-tests. Additionally, the regression model was used for tourism demand analysis. Results show that Portuguese emigrants aged 29-39 with a house in a rural county in Portugal can promote second-home tourism development in Portugal.

Keywords: Emigration; Second Home Tourism; Rural Restructuring; Portugal.

Positive Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Czech Hospitality Industry

2023-03-16T10:13:16+00:00

This article aims to examine the positive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on accommodation and catering facilities in the Czech Republic. Data collection took place via the Czech Association of Hotels and Restaurants (AHR CR) between June 2020 and March 2021. A total of 422 questionnaires were completed. Almost three-quarters (72.7%) of the questionnaires were completed by accommodation facilities, 20.6% by catering facilities, and the rest by accommodation and catering facilities together. In this research, we used mathematical and statistical methods, Correspondence Analysis (CA), and the method of generalization. According to the research, almost one-third of the respondents (31.0%) did not identify any positive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, this study confirmed that hospitality managers were more focused on reconsidering their lifestyle. The COVID-19 pandemic helped people to analyze and change their values. More than a tenth of the respondents (11.4%) said that they considered the positive benefits of the COVID-19 pandemic to be family support and that they had enough time to spend with their families.

Review of Issues and Challenges Faced by Tourism Stakeholders in Malaysia Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

2023-04-14T11:04:17+00:00

The worldwide expansion of the COVID-19 virus has provoked a worldwide emergency, especially in the travel and hospitality industries. The aftermath of this crisis is potentially more significant than those caused by previous events such as 9/11, SARS, and the Great Recession of 2008. The pandemic has disrupted the supply chain within the tourism industry, affecting stakeholders in tourism destinations worldwide. Malaysia has been particularly impacted, with tourist arrivals dropping below what was recorded in 2000, almost two decades ago. This study examines the issues and obstacles faced by Malaysian stakeholders in the tourism industry due to the widespread occurrence of the COVID-19 virus and discusses its theoretical background and impacts. The paper concludes with managerial recommendations to overcome both short- and long-term challenges while minimizing the impact on the global economy.

Dark Branding: A Proposed Conceptualization

2022-09-20T10:20:27+00:00

This paper aims to incorporate dark branding into the dark marketing spectrum. The study's research question is: How do fake reviews in news media and the recency of non-existent hospitality establishment reviews influence the behavioural intentions of the viewer? The findings of a qualitative study on the place of interest, namely, a (non-existent) restaurant with fake reviews in news stories, were used as a background analysis. A purposive sampling technique and thematic analysis approach were adopted. Dark branding is conceptualised as a form of branding involving questionable ethical practices such as fake online reviews and forms a basis for consumer activism within the dark marketing spectrum. The approach of using emotional marketing, for example, selling mood/comfort instead of tangible products such as food, the novelty of service delivery, servicescape, and signature storytelling, are attributes of dark branding. Adopting an exploratory research method, this study is a first step towards defining the problem statement as a deceptive technique in information technology used by content creators to promote brands, and it is suggested that dark branding in tourism is a dimension of dark marketing.