The Causal Relationships between Destination Image, Tourist Satisfaction and Revisit Intention: A Case of the United Arab Emirates

Authors: Abdul Raheem Jasim Mohammed, Mohd Salehuddin Mohd Zahari, Salim Abdul Talib, Mohd Zulhilmi Suhaimi

Abstract:

The connection between past travel experience and tourists’ revisit behavioral intentions has not been widely explored but the existing studies suggest a close relationship between them. Destination image can equally be construed as having effects on the attitudes of the tourists at the end of their actual visitation and the satisfaction of a tourist with his or her travel experiences contributes to a revisit intention towards a particular destination. With strong marketing efforts, UAE is not only considered to be successful in attracting foreign investors, but is becoming the most popular tourism destination in the Arab region. UAE is seriously developing its tourism image and taking serious initiatives to attract new or repeat visitations from the international tourists. This study empirically investigates the causal relationships between tourism destination image, tourist satisfaction and revisit intention using UAE as a contextual study setting. A very clear picture emerged which provides a host country with potential implications for its tourism industry practitioners, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and the travel agencies who act as the intermediaries between the potential tourists and the hotel operators.

Keywords: Destination image, tourist satisfaction, revisit intention.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1097255

References:

[1] Baloglu, D., & Brinberg, D. (1997). Affective images of tourism destinations. Journal of Travel Research, 35 (4), 11 - 15.
[2] Baloglu, S., & McCleary, K. W. (1999a). A Model of Destination Image Formation. Annals of Tourism Research, 26 (4), 868 - 897.
[3] Baloglu, S. and McCleary, K.W. (1999b). U.S. international pleasure travelers’ images of our Mediterranean destinations: A comparison of visitors and non visitors. Journal of Travel Research, 38, 144 - 152.
[4] Baloglu, S., & Brinberg, D. (1997). Affective images of tourism destination. Journal of Travel Research, 35 (4), 11 - 15.
[5] Baloglu, S. (2001). Image variations of Turkey by familiarity index: informational and experiential dimensions. Tourism Management, 22, 127 - 133.
[6] Beerli, A., & Martin, J. D. (2004). Factors influencing destination image. Annals of Tourism Research, 31 (3), 657 - 681.
[7] Calderon, H., Gil, I., & Gallarza, M. G. (1998). Una aprozimacion al estudio de la actividad turistica desde la perspectiva del Marketing. In: International forum on the sciences, techniques and art applied to marketing. Academy and Profession, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, 207 - 217.
[8] Crompton, J. L. (1979). An assessment of the image of Mexico as a vacation destination and the influences of geographical location upon that image. Journal of Travel Research, 118 - 123.
[9] Dann, G. (1977). Anomie, ego-enhancement and tourism. Annal of Tourism Research, 4 (4), 184 - 194.
[10] Dann, G. M. S. (1996). Tourists images of a destination: An alternative analysis, Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 5 (1/2), 41 - 55.
[11] Dichter, E. (1985). What's in an image. The Journal of Consumer Marketing, 2, 75 - 81.
[12] DTCM. (2009). Developments in Selected Major Government and Private Sector. Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing: Dubai.
[13] DTCM. (2011). Developments in Selected Major Government and Private Sector. Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing: Dubai.
[14] Echtner, C. M., & Ritchie, J. R. B. (1991). The meaning and measurement of destination image. The Journal of Tourism Studies, 2, 2 - 12.
[15] Echtner, C. M., & Ritchie, J. R. B. (1993). The measurement of destination image: An empirical assessment. Journal of Travel Research, 31 (4). 3 - 13.
[16] Echtner, C. M., & Ritchie, J. R. B. (2003). “The meaning of measurement of destination image”. Journal of Tourism Studies, 14 (1), 37 - 48.
[17] Fakeye, P. C., & Crompton, J. L. (1991). Image differences between prospective, first-time, and repeat visitors to the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Journal of Travel Research, 30 (2), 10 - 16.
[18] Gallarza, M. G., Saura, I. G., & Garcia, H. C. (2002). Destination image: Towards a conceptual framework. Annals of Tourism Research, 29 (1), 56 - 78.
[19] Gartner, W., & Hunt, J. (1987). An analysis’s of state image change over a twelve-year period (1971-1983). Journal of Travel Research, 26 (2), 15 - 19.
[20] Gartner, W. C. (1993). Image formation process. In Communication and Channel
[21] Systems in Tourism Marketing. Edited by M. U. A. D. R. Fesenmaier (Ed.). New York: The Haworth Press, 191 - 215.
[22] Gartner, W.C. (1989). Tourism image: attribute measurement of state tourism products using multidimensional scaling techniques. Journal of Travel Research, 28 (2), 16 – 20.
[23] Gartner, W. C. (1996). Tourism development: Principles, policies, and policies. New York: Van Nostram.
[24] Gartner, W. C., & Shen, H. (1992). The impact of Tiananmen Square on China's tourism image. Journal of Travel Research 30 (40), 47 – 52.
[25] Gartner, W. C. (1986). Temporal influences on image change. Annals of Tourism Research, 13, 635 - 644.
[26] Keown, C., Jacobs, L. & Worthley, R. (1984). American tourists' perceptions of retail stores in 12 selected countries. Journal of Travel Research, 22 (3), 26 - 30.
[27] Kotler, P. (1994). Marketing management: Analysis, planning, implementation and control (8th Ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.
[28] Lawson, F., & Baud-Bovy, M. (1977). Tourism and recreational development. London: Architectural Press.
[29] Mazursky, D., & Jacoby, J. (1986). Exploring the development of store images. Journal of Retailing, 62 (2), 145 - 165.
[30] Mazursky, D. (1989). Past experience and future tourism decisions. Annals of Tourism Research, 16, 333 - 344.
[31] Milman, A., & Pizam, A. (1995). The role of awareness and familiarity with a destination: the central Florida case. Journal of Travel Research, 33 (3), 21 – 27.
[32] Oppermann, M. (1996). First time and repeat visitors to New Zealand. Tourism Management, 18, 177 - 181.
[33] Oppermann, M. (1999). Predicting destination choice: A discussion of destination loyalty. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 5, 51 – 65.
[34] Oppermann, M. (2000). Tourism destination loyalty. Journal of Travel Research, 39, 78 - 84.
[35] Pike, S. (2002). Destination image analysis - a review of 142 papers from 1973 to 2000. Tourism Management, 23, 541 - 549.
[36] Smith, S. L. (1994). The tourism product. Annals of Tourism Research, 21, 582 – 595.
[37] Stern, E., & Krakover, S. (1993). The formation of a composite urban image. Geographical Analysis, 25 (2), 130 – 146.
[38] Walmsley, D. J., & Young, M. (1998). Evaluative images and tourism: The use of perceptual constructs to describe the structure of destination images. Journal of' Travel Research, 36 (3), 65 - 69.