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.
Purpose-This paper aims to propose and investigate the relationships among the components of brand equity, and examining the effects of these components on overall destination brand equity in Hoi An tourism destination, Vietnam, from the perspective of domestic tourists. Design/methodology/approach-Questionnaire data were collected from 319 domestic tourists who have visited Hoi An city. The results of empirical tests using a structural equation model support the research hypotheses. Findings-The results indicate that destination brand awareness has significant, positive effects on destination brand image and destination perceived quality; destination brand image has positive influences on destination perceived quality and destination brand loyalty; destination perceived quality has significant, positive impacts on destination brand loyalty; except for destination brand image, the remaining dimensions have positive and direct impacts on overall destination brand equity. Originality/value-An integrated model of destination brand equity dimensions and overall destination brand equity was tested in a tourism city in the context of a developing economy. Moreover, relevant implications are provided for destination marketers as to how to improve destination brand equity in the tourism industry.
Purpose This paper aims to examine the relationships between brand equity, customer satisfaction and cultural distance for a tourism destination. The mediating role of customer satisfaction and the moderating effect of cultural distance in these relationships are assessed. Design/methodology/approach The direct–indirect–moderating relationships were assessed by applying covariance-based SEM (CB-SEM), mediating and multi-group analysis. A paper survey was used to collect data from 618 tourists (domestic and international tourists) visiting a destination in Vietnam. Findings The findings support direct positive links between the dimensions of brand equity and customer satisfaction, except for the effect of destination brand awareness on destination brand loyalty. This work further demonstrates the mediating effect of customer satisfaction on the indirect relationships between the dimensions of brand equity. Cultural distance was found to moderate the connections between the research concepts. Research limitations/implications Future research should explore the model’s relationships based on comparisons in different destinations, to better understand the impact of cultural factors. Originality/value This study identifies specific factors to increase branding efficiency by developing and testing the relationship between brand equity and customer satisfaction. Using moderating variables through the lens of cultural distance, it proposes a mediated model. This work contributes to practice by informing destination managers on how to improve brand equity and satisfaction based on the cultural characteristics of international and domestic visitors.
Purpose This study aims to examine the direct and indirect relationship between self-congruity and destination brand loyalty (DBL) based on the conceptual linkages of cognition, affect and conation. A multiple-step, multiple mediator model is investigated to explain the indirect effect of self-congruity on DBL through perceived destination quality (PDQ) and tourist satisfaction (TS). The moderating impact of visit frequency in these relationships is also proposed and empirically evaluated. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual model and research hypotheses were assessed by applying covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM), mediating and multi-group analysis. An online survey was used to collect data from 347 domestic tourists visiting a destination in Vietnam. Findings The results support the link from self-congruity to PDQ, TS and then to DBL. Visit frequency was found to moderate the links between the research concepts. Research limitations/implications Future research would benefit from considering other self-congruity components (e.g. social self-congruity and ideal social self-congruity) and moderating variables (e.g. cultural distance). This would provide insights into the relationships between self-congruity and tourist behaviors and could be based on comparisons in different destinations to achieve more wide-ranging results. Originality/value The effect of self-congruity on DBL that evolves from linking self-congruity to PDQ and TS to increase DBL was examined within a tourism destination context. This study is valuable to destination managers as it provides suggestions to improve DBL.
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