•Pleasant and congruent scents in virtual reality experiences enhance sensory states.•These enriched multisensory experiences promote affective and behavioral reactions.•Ease of imagination mediates ...sensory stimulation effect on destination images.•Relationship between affective-conative images is stronger in multisensory experiences.•Congruent integration of sensory stimuli is essential for digital experiences.
We live in a multisensory world. Our experiences are constructed by the stimulation of all our senses. Nevertheless, digital interactions are mainly based on audiovisual elements, while other sensory stimuli have been less explored. Virtual reality (VR) is a sensory-enabling technology that facilitates the integration of sensory inputs to enhance multisensory digital experiences. This study analyzes how the addition of ambient scent to a VR experience affects digital pre-experiences in a service context (tourism). Results from a laboratory experiment confirmed that embodied VR devices, together with pleasant and congruent ambient scents, enhance sensory stimulation, which directly (and indirectly through ease of imagination) influence affective and behavioral reactions. These enriched multisensory experiences strengthen the link between the affective and conative images of destinations. We make recommendations for researchers and service providers with ambitions to deliver ambient scents, especially those congruent with displayed content, to enhance the sensorialization of digital VR experiences.
Antecedents and consequences of destination image gap Martín-Santana, Josefa D.; Beerli-Palacio, Asunción; Nazzareno, Patrizio A.
Annals of tourism research,
January 2017, 2017-01-00, 20170101, Volume:
62
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
•Measures the image gap in their cognitive, affective and conative dimensions.•Examines the antecedents and consequences of the pre- and post-visit gap in the image of a tourist destination.•411 ...respondents who visited the island of Tenerife (Spain) for the first time were surveyed.•Provides practical recommendations for avoiding the image gap.
The purpose of this study is to examine the antecedents that explain changes to the image that first-time tourists have (pre- and post-visit image gap) of a destination and its impact on satisfaction and loyalty through the design and validation of a model. The research has been carried out using a sample of 411 tourists in Tenerife (Spain). The involvement with the trip, the time dedicated to the search for information, and the number of attractions visited influence the change in cognitive image. The factors that explain the time spent searching for information are uncertainty, involvement, and duration and intensity of the visit. The positive gap in the image generates greater satisfaction, which has a positive impact in the loyalty.
Although a consensus exists in the literature regarding the operationalization of the affective component of destination image, interestingly there is no agreement on the operationalization of the ...cognitive aspect of the destination image of Istanbul. Also, even though there are a few studies investigating the concept of 'nostalgic emotion' in tourism management and destinations, most have only examined the influence of nostalgic emotion on destination image before tourists’ actual experience (pre-trip destination image) rather than post-visit experience of tourists as their destination image is modified by actual emotional experiences and their post-visit (e.g. museum visits) evaluations. This paper documents two studies. In the first, which investigated 150 tourists on the last day of their tours, the cognitive image of Istanbul was found to be a multi-dimensional construct composed of attractions, infrastructure, atmosphere, and value variables. The second study investigated 200 tourists who were visiting museums and found that nostalgic emotion positively relates to affective destination image, and all components of the cognitive destination image of Istanbul. It was further found that: (1) affective destination image positively relates to intention to revisit and recommend; (2) attractions, atmosphere, and value variables of a cognitive destination image is positively related to intention to recommend; and (3) attractions and the value aspects of a cognitive destination image positively relate to tourist intention to revisit. Destination images were found moreover to partially mediate the relationship between nostalgic emotion and intention to revisit and recommend.
•Develops the cognitive aspect of the destination image scale representing Istanbul.•Examines the role of nostalgic emotion in the formation of a destination image.•Nostalgic emotion affects tourists' behavioral intentions via destination image.
Retaining the loyal visitors to revisit is highly crucial for generating the revenue in tourism destination as well as reducing the marketing expenses, this empirical study has been designed to ...primarily explore factors that motivate Malaysia tourists to revisit Hatyai and to identify the key factors that affect Malaysia Tourists Destination loyalty behavior. The results of this study indicated that “destination attractiveness” “social interaction” and “Cost/Price/Value” were the most important destination attributes and travel motives for malaysia tourists revisit to Hatyai. Concerning Malaysia tourists destination loyalty behavior, the result reveals that “destination attractiveness” “social interaction” and “price/value/cost” predicts Malaysia tourists’ destination loyalty behavior with R2 = 58.9%.
Travelers may use two common time metaphors to describe their upcoming vacations. The first is the time-moving metaphor, expressed as “the vacation is approaching us,” and the second is the ...ego-moving metaphor, conveyed through “we are approaching the vacation.” Drawing from construal level theory, this research establishes that the choice of time metaphor can impact the attractiveness of destination images. Three scenario-based experimental studies suggest that using a time-moving (ego-moving) metaphor along with a “close-up” (“long-shot”) destination image generates more positive tourist response. Processing fluency, which reflects the ease of information processing, has been identified as an explanatory mechanism for the generation of these effects. Practical implications of these findings are also discussed.
The current study develops a theoretical model of the effect of memorable tourism experiences (MTEs) on behavioral intentions by examining the structural relationships between destination image (DI), ...tourist satisfaction, revisit intention, and word-of-mouth (WOM) publicity. The results show that MTEs influence future behavioral intentions both directly and indirectly through DI and tourist satisfaction. Moreover, MTEs are found to be the most influential determinant of behavioral intentions. Thus, the results challenge those practitioners and researchers who perceive visitor satisfaction to be the most important indicator of destination performance. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed based on the study results, and directions for future research are provided.
Destination image influences tourists’ perceptions and opinions of destinations and plays a crucial role in tourist behavior and travel-purchase-related decisions. This study summarizes and reviews ...151 pieces of literature on destination image published in six major international hospitality and tourism academic journals in the last decade (January 2012–February 2022). By combing through the literature, we found that research on destination image in the previous decade has focused on the following four major areas: (1) the structure of destination image; (2) the measurement and branding of destination image, (3) the influencing factors of destination image, and (4) the influence of destination image on tourists’ behavioral intentions. These results revealed and clarified the latest international research dynamics. The findings provide an all-encompassing understanding of destination image, illustrate the academic evolution of the topic, and point to crucial directions for future research.
•Tourists’ local food consumption value is effective on generating tourists’ positive attitude toward local food.•Attitude toward local food positively affects food destination image.•Both attitude ...toward local food and food destination image positively affect tourists’ behavioral intentions.•Taste/quality value and emotional value can be further emphasized to Chinese and Western tourists in Hong Kong.•Epistemic value needs to be further stressed to other Asian and Western groups in Hong Kong.
Despite the importance of understanding food consumption value from tourists’ perspectives, few studies have explored how experiencing local food in a destination shapes tourists’ consumption value. This study explores the effect of tourists’ local food consumption value on their perceptions and behaviors. Tourists’ cultural background is used as a moderating variable. The findings show that tourists’ local food consumption value effectively explains tourists’ attitudes toward local food, food destination image, and behavioral intentions. In addition, the cultural background of tourists partially moderates the relationships between the proposed constructs. This study is the first empirical application of consumption value theory to the context of tourists’ local food experiences. It provides insights into appropriate marketing strategies for the restaurant and food tourism industries and offers practical suggestions to destination marketing organizations (DMOs) for using local food as a destination marketing tool.