Commercial hospitality in tourism: A global comparison of what culturally matters

Walters, Gabrielle; Huck, Lukas; Robinson, Robinson; Stettler, Jürg

doi:10.1016/j.ijhm.2021.102939

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Cultural values often proxied through art, music, architecture, traditions and social structures can facilitate tourism by influencing tourists’ perceptions of the destination and motivations to travel. In line with the literature of cultural distance (Dong and Truong, 2020; Walters et al , 2021), our findings suggest that the cultural background of tourists matters as it affect how people think, believe, feel, act and decide on travel and leisure issues. Understanding cultural differences can help better recognize preferences for leisure and travel in the ASEAN.…”

Section: Policy Implicationssupporting

confidence: 89%

The role of cultural distance in boosting international tourism arrivals in ASEAN: a gravity model

Heriqbaldi

Esquivias

Agusti

2023

CBTH

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Purpose This study aims to explore the role of cultural distance, economic integration, price competitiveness and substitution prices for tourism arrivals between 10 Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries and 22 other origin countries from 2007 to 2019. Design/methodology/approach A panel-data gravity model is applied to estimate tourism demand in the ASEAN region. An index of cultural distance (time-variant) is introduced to examine the role of cultural differences across bilateral partners. Moreover, relative prices and substitution prices are introduced to the gravity equation to estimate price elasticities. Finally, this study tested whether the ASEAN free trade agreements (FTAs) encourage intraregional tourism arrivals. Two-panel regression approaches are used to test the model. Findings Cultural distance positively affects tourism inflows, boosting foreign arrivals. Income and price elasticities are important determinants in the demand model for ASEAN. A gain in price competitiveness versus alternative destinations can lead to substitution in destination choice. Meanwhile, geographic distance has a negative impact on arrivals, suggesting that connectivity and transportation are key in boosting tourism inflows in ASEAN. A decline in the disposable incomes of tourists caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may reduce tourism arrivals in the region. However, when currencies in ASEAN weaken, and consumer prices are lower than in other destinations, arrivals in ASEAN will be stimulated. FTAs have facilitated travel intra-ASEAN, which is an advantage over the extra-ASEAN sector. Practical implications Cultural heritage could be used in tourism promotion as ASEAN can attract tourists seeking novelty and new excitements. ASEAN countries could create complementary destinations and jointly promote cultural heritage to accelerate the region’s recovery. The depreciation of currencies in ASEAN and the gain in relative price competitiveness could attract more tourist visits, helping the region reestablish tourism activities in a postpandemic economy. Originality/value The model accounts for three key variables in the gravity approach: cultural distance in ASEAN tourism inflows, the effects of the ASEAN economic community on intraregional tourism, and relative and alternative price competitiveness. This study enriches the literature about tourism-demand approaches in modeling tourism arrivals.

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Section: Policy Implicationssupporting

confidence: 89%

The role of cultural distance in boosting international tourism arrivals in ASEAN: a gravity model

Heriqbaldi

Esquivias

Agusti

2023

CBTH

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“…Businesses have always been keen on commercial tourism and pursuing strategies to entice commercial tourists [104,105]. Businesses have taken an interest in religious tourism as a growing phenomenon because of the local community dynamics it generates [59].…”

Section: Commercial and Religious Destinationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting Critical Factors Impacting Hotel Online Ratings: A Comparison of Religious and Commercial Destinations in Saudi Arabia

2023

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User-generated online ratings have become a prominent tool for hotels to enhance overall customer satisfaction. Prior research on online ratings has mainly considered commercial destinations, whereas research on religious destinations is limited. This study uses the IPA technique and beta regression analysis to investigate the destination’s (commercial and religious) varying effects on the relationship between hotel service quality attributes and customer satisfaction. In total, data from 338 hotels representing 82,704 customer reviews in two Saudi Arabian cities (Alkhobar and Makkah) were collected from Booking.com and analyzed. Makkah was selected as a key religious heritage destination, whereas Alkhobar was chosen as a commercial destination as it hosts major sea resorts, recreational parks, and shopping destinations. The results indicate that commercial and religious destination tourists do not have similar perceptions of the selected eight hotel service quality attributes. While comfort, facilities, and value-for-money service quality attributes were considered important for commercial destination tourists, religious destination tourists viewed location, cleanliness, and breakfast as important. Since effective management of customer satisfaction is essential for hotels’ profitability and sustainability, therefore it is imperative to identify and prioritize service quality attributes related to each group of customers. This will enable the efficient application of limited resources.

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“…Hospitableness is considered a significant factor in differentiating hospitality experiences (Mody et al, 2019;Tasci & Semrad, 2016) and is highly valued by hospitality guests as it drives experience quality and authenticity perceptions (Manfreda et al, 2023a;2023b). The concept has been explored through various lenses and settings (Lashley, 2015;Tasci et al, 2021;Walters et al, 2021). Despite the growing attention, hospitableness remains an ill-defined construct that requires further investigation into its relevance in commercial hospitality (Tasci & Semrad, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A model of reciprocal hospitableness for luxury lodges

Manfreda,

Harkison

2024

7 Experiences Summit

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This paper proposes a model of reciprocal hospitableness that underpins luxury lodge experiences. It explores the occurrence of reciprocal hospitableness when gratitude is elicited and identifies the mechanisms and practices that facilitate reciprocal hospitableness among guests, staff, managers, and external parties. By employing a multiple-case study approach and high engagement research techniques, the findings shed light on how hospitableness, encompassing dimensions such as belonging/fictive kinship, meaningful connections, altruism/generosity, comfort/homely feel, and inclusivity, is mutually reciprocated among experience participants in luxury lodge experiences. The findings also reveal mechanisms and practices adopted by the various experience participants to encourage and nurture reciprocal hospitableness, extending the understanding of reciprocity beyond the host-guest relationship. The proposed model contributes to the literature on social exchange, reciprocity, hospitableness, and transformative service research. Moreover, it has practical implications for luxury lodges, emphasising the significance of hospitableness as a differentiating factor, and highlighting the potential of hospitable practices in fostering inclusive relationships within organisations and with the local community, thereby promoting social and economic sustainability in the broader tourism destination.

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Commercial hospitality in tourism: A global comparison of what culturally matters

Cited by 8 publications

References 52 publications

The role of cultural distance in boosting international tourism arrivals in ASEAN: a gravity model

The role of cultural distance in boosting international tourism arrivals in ASEAN: a gravity model

Predicting Critical Factors Impacting Hotel Online Ratings: A Comparison of Religious and Commercial Destinations in Saudi Arabia

A model of reciprocal hospitableness for luxury lodges

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