The government officials & staffs of every country are continually looking at ways to attract more tourists through a variety of government’s initiatives due to the intensive competition in tourism industry. Because new tourism destination appear an...
The government officials & staffs of every country are continually looking at ways to attract more tourists through a variety of government’s initiatives due to the intensive competition in tourism industry. Because new tourism destination appear and established ones develop or decline, or appeal to tourists fast, destination managers face the daunting task in an increasingly competitive global area. A new emphasis is being given to the preferential destination of tourism brand for tourists because the marked destination with distinguished images are easily to remember & to associate. Therefore, It also stressed the need for the tourists destination branding and tourism managers need to apply a special branding techniques and effective strategies for their tourism destinations.
It has found that the tourists destination branding represents the personality of destination, and even the symbolic images to tourists. The tourists could have chosen to have a similar self-images with destination personality for taking the destination of their trip. Between destination personality and self-congruence are among the factors that are believed to influence tourist behavior. However, a little research has been undertaken the impact of these factors on tourist behavior. The perceived destination personality of tourists might make a mold of destination image. with this matters, this study presents a significant model with capturing the degree of perception for tourists and their behavioral intention. In addition, this study also examined the impacts of the revisit intention & online word-of-mouth of self-image, self congruity which elicited from the destination personality.
This study was aimed to identify the effects of perceived personality of destination and self-image congruence on the behavioral intention and word-of-mouth of Chinese tourists to Korea. With this purpose, a theoretical model that attempts to investigate the influence of destination personality and self-image congruence on tourist behavior was developed and tested empirically.
The survey was based on the recommendations of previous studies, and the scale constructed to measure the destination personality and self-image congruence. For the empirical analysis for this study, the pilot test was performed. After that, the questionnaires modified and supplemented for a principal survey for Chinese tourists to Seoul, Korea only. Data were collected from Oct. 1st, 2012 to Oct. 7th, 2012 in popular tourists spots in Seoul and Duty-Free shops. The present study used 306 valid samples in statistical analysis. In a statistical analysis, SPSS 18.0 Ver. packages were used for frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis(EFA), cannonical correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis were conducted based on the items with construct validity and reliability obtained. From this empirical analysis, the findings of this study are as follows:
First, the destination personality had a significant impact on revisit intention of Chinese tourists in explanation of 16.6%. Among the subordinate factors of destination personality, the ‘Sincerity’ is the most influential factor on revisit intention.
Second, the destination personality had a significant impact on online word-of-mouth in explanation of 12.3%. Among the subordinate factors of destination personality, the ‘Sophistication’ is the most influential factor on online word-of-mouth, and followed the ‘Sincerity.’
Third, cannonical correlation analysis was conducted to verify the statistical significance for the destination personality and self-image. As a result, destination personality and self-image had a significant positive impact, and of the twos, among the destination personality factors, the sincerity of Seoul was the most influential on actual self-image factor. Next, cannonical correlation analysis was also conducted to verify the statistical significance for destination personality and ideal self-image. As a result, destination personality and ideal self-image had a significant positive impact, and of the twos, the sophistication of Seoul was the most influential on ideal self-image factor among the destination personality factors, and followed the sincerity of Seoul.
Fourth, the actual self-congruity had a significant positive impact on revisit intention in explanation of 4.5%, and the hypothesis of 4 was adopted partially. In addition, multiple regression analysis was conducted to verify the statistical significance for ideal self-congruity and revisit intention. As a result, it was not significant of the twos, thus the hypothesis was rejected.
Lastly, the actual self-congruity was not significant impact on online word-of-mouth, the hypothesis was rejected. In contrast ideal self-congruity had a significant positive impact on online word-of-mouth in explanation of 2.7%, and the hypothesis was adopted partially.
Finally, this study discussed an academic and operational suggestions based on the findings from this empirical analysis.