International Journal of Culture Tourism and Hospitality Research

Kenneth F. Hyde; Alain Decrop

2011 International Journal of Culture Tourism and Hospitality Research

doi: 10.1108/17506181111139537

Purpose – This paper introduces the seven empirical studies on vacation decision making in this special issue of IJCTHR. The paper compares the findings of these seven studies to traditional models of vacation decision making, and highlights a number of new perspectives for research into vacation decision making. Findings – Five themes appear in these contemporary studies of vacation decision making: the multifaceted nature of the vacation; joint decision making by members of the household; impact of the type of vacation trip on the decision making process; the role of the internet in vacation decision making; and the role of socio‐psychological variables in vacation decision making. Research limitations/implications – The paper provides recommendations for future research in vacation decision making, in light of contemporary changes in the travel and tourism industry. Originality/value – The value of this paper lies in its review of traditional approaches to researching vacation decision making, and advice provided for future research on the topic.

Douglas G. Pearce; Christian Schott

2011 International Journal of Culture Tourism and Hospitality Research

doi: 10.1108/17506181111139546

Purpose – This paper seeks to analyze the extent to which New Zealand domestic and outbound travelers' book components of their trip in advance or at their destination and to explore the factors that influence this. Furthermore, the paper compares the distribution channels used by domestic and outbound travelers to purchase different travel products and to examine why these channels have been selected. Design/methodology/approach – The study involves the collection and analysis of data on the profiles, trip characteristics and distribution behavior of domestic and outbound travelers based on a nationwide telephone survey of 1,000 respondents. Findings – Little variation was found in the profile characteristics of domestic and outbound travelers but significant differences occurred in terms of the trip characteristics, the extent of booking in advance and at the destination, reasons why advance bookings were not made, how bookings were made and the channels used all exhibited significant differences according to domestic or outbound travel. This pattern was less consistent with regards to the factors influencing how the bookings were made and the factors affecting channel choice. Research and practical implications – The findings illustrate the complexity of travel decision‐making issues, underline the need to take account of differences between domestic and outbound travel and across trip components, and to examine the factors that underlie distribution related behavior. Originality/value – The value and originality of this paper lie in the systematic comparison of the booking and channel choice behavior of domestic and outbound travelers, the search for factors influencing this behavior and a sectoral approach that differentiates transport to and at the destination.

Fred Bronner; Robert de Hoog

2011 International Journal of Culture Tourism and Hospitality Research

doi: 10.1108/17506181111139555

Purpose – Information‐search for vacation decision‐making can occur in two different contexts: an individual one, in which one forms one's preferences, and a social one in response to discussions with partners and family members. This paper focuses on the latter. Design/methodology/approach – By means of a longitudinal study the research investigates the main topics of discussion in couples, and the information sources couples use in their discussion. Furthermore, the research investigates whether the information sources used depend on the nature of the sub‐decision – search‐determined or experience‐determined – the couples discuss. Findings – The research finds that there is considerable discussion between partners and that the amount of discussion varies in relation to the type of sub‐decision. During these discussions, the use of different information sources is widespread. More generally, the study confirms the overall importance of the social context: information sources used in the social context are different from sources used in the individual context. The research does not confirm the expected relationship between the nature of a sub‐decision and the type of information source used. As the decision process proceeds over time, the role of objective information sources increases in discussions. Research limitation/implications – Compared with the classical individual approach to researching tourist information search, the social context of information‐searching needs other market research data, to provide insight into the topics of discussion. Tourism marketing messages in a social decision context should be directed to significant others, as these messages are likely to be used as important information sources during the joint vacation decision process in couples. In this respect, the use of electronic word‐of‐mouth offers new opportunities for vacation marketing. Originality/value – A new perspective on information search: the relevance of social contexts.

Ya'arit Bokek‐Cohen

2011 International Journal of Culture Tourism and Hospitality Research

doi: 10.1108/17506181111139564

Purpose – This paper aims to uncover the relationships between marital power and influence strategies used during couples' vacation decision processes. Marital power includes two dimensions: the first dimension is objective and composed of actual economic resources; the second is subjective and composed of feelings such as spousal love or self‐esteem. Design/methodology/approach – 192 couples completed a questionnaire that included statements describing different influence strategies utilized during the vacation purchase‐decision process; respondents indicated the frequency with which they employed each strategy. Findings – Subjective marital power is associated with the use of spousal influence strategies. Objective marital power does not predict the use of these strategies. Research limitaions/implications – These findings highlight a hitherto understudied aspect of marital power – subjective power. Practical implications – Consumer researchers and vacation marketers should take into account the subjective marital power balance and its impact on influence strategies during couples' vacation decision processes. Originality/value – This study shows that during a vacation decision process, the marital power balance between partners impacts on the choice of spousal influence strategies. Secondly, economic power is not the dominant factor that affects the choice of influence strategy; rather, interpersonal power is influential in the use of spousal influence strategies during the vacation decision process.

Gerard Dunne; Sheila Flanagan; Joan Buckley

2011 International Journal of Culture Tourism and Hospitality Research

doi: 10.1108/17506181111139573

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the city break travel decision, and in particular, to develop a decision making model that reflects the characteristics of this type of trip taking. Design/methodology/approach – The research follows a sequential mixed methods approach consisting of two phases. Phase One involves a quantitative survey of 1,000 visitors to Dublin. The research distinguishes and compares city break and non‐city break visitor cohorts. Phase Two entails a qualitative analysis (involving 40 in‐depth interviews) that specifically examines the decision making behavior of city break visitors. Findings – The research shows city break trips to be relatively inexpensive, uncomplicated, and discretionary in nature. The city break travel decision emerges from quite distinct motives where situational factors proved particularly influential. The decision process mostly entailed low involvement / limited problem solving behavior with strong internet usage evident throughout. Originality/value – The findings show that many traditional decision making models have problems incorporating contemporary travel decisions such as city breaks. This is because such models generally fail to recognize a non‐systematic approach to decision making, where travelers do not necessarily undertake the process in distinctive stages, and where emotional elements are as relevant as functional ones. This study supports the need for a range of models that are reflective of the differences that exist in travel decision making – models that can distinguish the specific nuances and characteristics of particular decision situations.

Lisa J. Abendroth

2011 International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research

doi: 10.1108/17506181111139582

Purpose – Prior to e‐commerce, tourists could only purchase souvenirs at a destination. The goal of this research is to develop and test a theory to explain how adding a retail web site affects tourists' decision‐making for souvenir purchases. Design/methodology/approach – The researcher conducts two experiments using scenarios to simulate a souvenir purchase. The researcher manipulates item type and web site availability, and then measures purchase intent, attitudes toward the souvenir, and regret. Findings – Purchase limitation increases initial purchase intent by increasing the souvenir's reminder value, regardless of item type. Non‐purchase regrets are greater than purchase regrets, which in turn increases purchase intent at a later time. Research limitations – The stimuli are necklaces, and although the findings do not show gender effects, the stimuli could limit the generalizability to other souvenir types. The research tests hypotheses using scenarios and less‐experienced travelers. Future research should examine different types of souvenirs in a naturalistic setting. Practical implications – Retailers should not mention web sites until after a tourist decides not to buy in‐store and should do so subtly. Originality/value – This research contributes to souvenir research by identifying a purchase limitation, available in‐store only, as a new determinant of a souvenir's reminder value. The research also contributes to scarcity research by identifying reminder value as a new and qualitatively different type of valuation affected by scarcity. Lastly, the research extends the regret literature by reversing inaction inertia at a later purchase opportunity while maintaining a regret minimization goal.

Karin Teichmann

2011 International Journal of Culture Tourism and Hospitality Research

doi: 10.1108/17506181111139591

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between consumer self‐confidence, product expertise, and travel experience in the context of travel information search during vacation planning. Design/methodology/approach – The research design is based on a panel study to monitor trip planning processes of Austrian travelers. A structural model is used to assess to what degree consumer self‐confidence, product expertise, and travel experience affect travel information search and to examine the influence of consumer self‐confidence on product expertise. Findings – Findings from the study show that consumer self‐confidence significantly affects product expertise. Travel experience, on the other hand, positively influences product expertise that again is positively related to travel information search. No significant relationship is established between travel experience and travel information search. Research limitations/implications – While most of the previous studies investigated information search using cross‐sectional data, this study addresses the need for more accurate research on information search adopting a panel design. One major limitation of the study is the small sample size. Results from a larger sample might be different in regards to the magnitude of the relationships. Originality/value – This study contributes to the overall understanding of how knowledge and ability‐related factors impact travel information sourcing. The tourism literature reveals no other study that has simultaneously quantified consumer self‐confidence and product expertise during trip planning.

Drew Martin; Arch G. Woodside

2011 International Journal of Culture Tourism and Hospitality Research

doi: 10.1108/17506181111139609

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe theory building and testing of dual processing of tourist reasoning, judgment, and actions. Design/methodology/approach – The paper applies micro‐tipping point theory and qualitative comparative analysis, using case study data. Findings – Maps of the reasoning, judgments, and actions of five parties of tourist buying major services support dual‐processing theory of deciding on destination choices. Research limitations/implications – This report does not include the attempt to generalize the findings to large survey samples of informants. Practical implications – Executives need to go beyond recognizing that what tourists report consciously may differ substantially from what they think unconsciously and to plan on collecting data on both dual processing modes of thinking. Originality/value – This paper breaks new ground in applying dual‐processing theory in tourist behavior of buying major tourist services.