0000000001311198
AUTHOR
Josip Mikulić
The Factor Structure of Medical Tourist Satisfaction: Exploring Key Drivers of Choice, Delight, and Frustration
The current study intends to contribute to a better understanding of the medical tourism experience. In particular, this study uses data from a survey-based study conducted on a sample of 1,209 medical tourists in Croatia. On the one hand, this study aims to explore and shed light on the decision-making process of medical tourists, and, on the other hand, to reveal which elements of both the medical institution and the destination where it is located, have largest potentials to drive medical tourist delight and/or frustration, in accordance with the three-factor theory of customer satisfaction.
Exploring relationships between customer-based brand equity and its drivers and consequences in the hotel context. An impact-asymmetry assessment
The development of customer-based brand equity plays a critical role in tourism. This paper attempts to study which variables contribute to brand equity creation and to examine whether brand loyalty can be considered as a consequence of brand equity in the hotel context. In addition, it seeks to provide a more detailed insights into possible asymmetric effects among customer-based brand equity and its drivers and consequences. Four constructs are found to influence significantly brand equity: two perceptual (image and perceived quality) and two relational variables (trust and affective commitment). Additionally, both behavioural and attitudinal components of loyalty are confirmed as brand e…
Campsite choice and the camping tourism experience: Investigating decisive campsite attributes using relevance-determinance analysis
Abstract Camping tourism represents a growing part of the overall tourism industry. Despite this fact, this form of tourism has so far been rather neglected by tourism and hospitality research. Using a case study of a major campsite operator in the coastal part of Croatia, this study thus aims to contribute to the understanding of this specific tourist segment. In particular, a relevance-determinance analysis is conducted to reveal most decisive attributes for campsite choice, on the one hand, and for the actual campsite experience, on the other hand. Overall, the results provide valuable insight to practitioners, especially for the purposes of campsite marketing and experience management.
Exploring Integrated Marketing Communications, Brand Awareness, and Brand Image in Hospitality Marketing: A Cross-Cultural Approach
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess customer perceptions of integration of marketing communications, brand awareness, and brand image in hospitality. Moreover, cross-cultural differences are considered when evaluating all the concepts, since national culture can have a considerable impact on customer behavior. Design/Methodology/Approach – After a literature review of the examined concepts, the results of an empirical study are presented and discussed. The empirical investigation was carried out by approaching 475 guests of upscale Croatian hotels. The SPSS software was employed for data analysis. Findings and implications – The results indicate that hotel guests assessed integ…
Destination Attractiveness Drivers among Urban Hostel Tourists: An Analysis of Frustrators and Delighters
This study is based on data from 679 tourists staying at hostel accommodation facilities in Zagreb, a propulsive city-break destination in Central Europe. Besides providing insight into the socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics of hostel tourists, this study uncovers determinant destination attributes influencing their perceptions of destination attractiveness. In particular, impact asymmetry analysis identified potential sources of delight and frustration among hostel tourists. Since the hostel tourist segment, as such, is almost completely unconsidered in contemporary tourism research, partly covered only by a few studies on youth travellers and backpackers, the results of thi…
Customer-based brand equity building
The marketing literature suggested that customers are adding incremental value to a product by its brand, conceptualizing this phenomenon in terms of brand equity. This article is a contribution to this area of study as it provides a new understanding of the process of brand equity building, when approached from the customer point of view. The empirical research is centred on the hospitality industry, more specifically, upscale (i.e. four- and five-star) hotels in Croatia. The data were collected from 475 guests in 24 upscale hotels. The results reveal that image and loyalty exert a direct impact on the overall brand equity, while the influence of trust and affective commitment is mediated…
Identifying Drivers of Destination Attractiveness in a Competitive Environment: A Comparison of Approaches
Abstract This study applies a demand-side analysis framework to assess drivers of destination attractiveness in consideration of competitor destinations. The framework, consisting of a relevance–determinance analysis (RDA) and a competitive-performance analysis (CPA), is further benchmarked against competing variants of importance–performance analysis (IPA). As this study reveals, the RDA+CPA framework significantly outperforms the IPA approaches with regard to the level of detail and validity of recommended managerial action. In particular, this study reveals that the original IPA framework of recommendations is not compatible for use with attributes that are characterized by large discrep…
Understanding prevention measures and tourist behavior in Croatia during the COVID-19 pandemic. A mixed-method approach
This study investigates the adoption of prevention measures in Croatia during the COVID-19 pandemic and its relationship with tourist behavior. The research adopts a mixed-method approach as it examines both practitioners’ and tourists’ viewpoints. A qualitative study was conducted with eight destination service providers, while the quantitative study took place among 333 international tourists during their stay in the country. Results from the qualitative study show that the most frequently employed prevention measures are cleaning and disinfection of customer-use spaces, the use of hand sanitizers, mandatory face masks for employees and guests, and social distancing. Tourism service provi…
Airline Loyalty Determinants among Business Travelers: Empirical Evidence from Croatia
AbstractAirline passenger loyalty has been the subject of several studies set within a general travel context. These studies have helped understanding the influence of variables like brand equity, airline service levels, customer commitment, but also price in tying a passenger to a particular airline. Despite the great economic importance of the business traveler market, no study has, however, so far, exclusively focused on this traveler segment and tried to investigate drivers of repurchase intentions and loyalty of this specific traveler type. This study aims to address this research gap. The findings reveal that business passenger loyalty is far stronger driven by emotional than rational…
sj-xlsx-1-jht-10.1177_1096348020987273 – Supplemental material for The Factor Structure of Medical Tourist Satisfaction: Exploring Key Drivers of Choice, Delight, and Frustration
Supplemental material, sj-xlsx-1-jht-10.1177_1096348020987273 for The Factor Structure of Medical Tourist Satisfaction: Exploring Key Drivers of Choice, Delight, and Frustration by Josip Mikulić, Damir Krešić and Maja Šerić in Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research