Destination Branding as an Informational Signal and its Influence on Satisfaction and Loyalty in the Leisure Tourism Market

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dc.contributor.authorHuh, Jinen
dc.contributor.committeecochairMcGehee, Nancy G.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairUysal, Muzaffer S.en
dc.contributor.committeememberLittlefield, James E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMihalik, Brian J.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMcCleary, Ken W.en
dc.contributor.departmentHospitality and Tourism Managementen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:13:45Zen
dc.date.adate2006-08-15en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:13:45Zen
dc.date.issued2006-06-28en
dc.date.rdate2007-08-15en
dc.date.sdate2006-07-05en
dc.description.abstractThis study provides an integrated approach to understanding the relationship between destination branding and tourist behavior, and attempts to extend the theoretical and empirical evidence about the structural relationships among the following constructs: destination image, perceived quality, destination awareness (elements of destination branding), tourist satisfaction, and tourist loyalty (elements of tourist behavior) in the leisure tourism market. This study develops and empirically tests a destination branding model and its relevant components from the perspectives of tourists, so that it will help destination marketers to build more competitive tourism destinations. The destination brand model is based on relationship marketing theory, signaling theory, and brand equity theory. The model proposed four major hypotheses: 1) destination branding has a direct positive influence on tourist loyalty; 2) destination branding has an indirect positive influence on tourist loyalty through tourist satisfaction; 3) tourist satisfaction has a positive influence on tourist loyalty; and 4) the relationship between destination branding and tourist satisfaction is moderated by trip types. A sample population consisting of residents of Virginia was surveyed. A stratified sampling method and a random sampling method were used to select the sample. A total of 304 usable questionnaires out of 2,000 questionnaires were collected. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test hypotheses in this study. The results revealed that: 1) cognitive destination image and destination familiarity had a direct influence on tourist loyalty as well as an indirect influence on tourist loyalty through tourist satisfaction; 2) affective destination image had only an indirect impact on tourist loyalty through tourist satisfaction; 3) tourist satisfaction had a significant relationship with tourist loyalty; and 4) cognitive destination image, affective destination image, and destination recognition were moderated by trip types. This study can initiate the development of theoretical foundations for destination branding. Also, the implications of these findings can help destination managers and marketers build competitive strategies for destination branding in order to ensure long-term relationships between tourists and their destinations.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-07052006-205649en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-07052006-205649/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/28212en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartJin_Huh.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectSatisfactionen
dc.subjectPerceived Qualityen
dc.subjectDestination imageen
dc.subjectDestination Awarenessen
dc.subjectStructural Equation Modelingen
dc.subjectLeisure Tourism Marketen
dc.subjectLoyaltyen
dc.subjectDestination Brandingen
dc.titleDestination Branding as an Informational Signal and its Influence on Satisfaction and Loyalty in the Leisure Tourism Marketen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineHospitality and Tourism Managementen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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Doctoral Dissertations
Theses and Dissertations, Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM)