Evaluating the role of the image of the destination on the loyalty of Zanjan tourists with a data mining approach

Document Type : Research Article (Applied - Development)

Authors

1 Master Student of Geography and Tourism Planning, Faculty of Humanities, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

2 Assistant Prof, Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

3 Master Student of Geography and Rural Planning, Faculty of Humanity Sciences,, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

4 4- Associate Prof, Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanity Sciences, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Knowing what the loyalty of tourists in tourist destinations depends on and how it is formed has become a principle for managers of companies and tourist destinations. A tourist destination, like any organization, must identify, attract and retain its target market. Creating any transformation and standardization of tourism services in Zanjan city requires knowing tourism capacities, conducting comparative studies, knowing the experiences of other successful countries in the world and localizing these experiences. Zanjan city has not been able to attract tourists like many of them, despite having significant tourist attractions in comparison with the cities of neighboring provinces.
Data and Method: The type of research is applied and descriptive-analytical in nature. The statistical population of this research includes tourists with at least one night stay in three and four star hotels in Zanjan city, and 281 tourists were investigated using Cochran's formula. The method of collecting information is library and field.
Results: The results of the research show that in the final analysis of the factor analysis of the image of the destination, it has the greatest to the least effect on the novelty of the trip, the cost of the trip, the financial cost, and the number of trips, respectively, with the factor load values of 0.481, 0.354, and 0.301. and has 0.247 on the loyalty of tourists.
Conclusion: Zanjan province is in its initial stages in terms of life cycle in the field of tourism and the sensitivity of the issue is due to the fact that this percentage can act as ambassadors who give information to others about this destination and a kind of free word-of-mouth advertising. They will do for Zanjan and depending on the image of Zanjan formed in their minds, these advertisements can be positive or negative.

Keywords


Alegre, J., & Cladera, M. (2006). Repeat visitation in mature sun and sand holiday destinations. Journal of travel research44(3), 288-297. doi:10.1177/0047287505279005
Agrawal, R., Gaur, S. S., & Narayanan, A. (2012). Determining customer loyalty: Review and model. The marketing review, 12(3), 275-289. https://doi.org/10.1362/146934712X13420906885430
Agyeiwaah, E., Otoo, F. E., Suntikul, W., & Huang, W. J. (2019). Understanding culinary tourist motivation, experience, satisfaction, and loyalty using a structural approach. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing36(3), 295-313.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2018.1541775
Andersson, M., and P. Ekman. 2009. “Ambassador Networks and Place Branding.” Journal of Place Management and Development 2 (1): 41–51. https://doi.org/10.1108/17538330910942799
Ardyan, E., & Wibisono, U. (2019). Between Self Congruity, Destination Relationship and Memorable Tourist Experience: An Empiric Study on the Loyalty of Tourist Destination. JDM (Jurnal Dinamika Manajemen)10(1), 111-123.‏ DOI: 10.15294/jdm.v10i1.17408
Beerli, A., & Martin, J. D. (2004). Factors influencing destination image. Annals of tourism research, 31(3), 657-681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2004.01.010
Blanaƙová, A. (2022). Management of Quality, Satisfaction, and Loyalty of Rural Destinations. In Innovative Strategic Planning and International Collaboration for the Mitigation of Global Crises (pp. 261-283). IGI Global.‏ DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-8339-5.ch016.
Bayih, B. E., & Singh, A. (2020). Modeling domestic tourism: motivations, satisfaction and tourist behavioral intentions. Heliyon6(9), e04839.‏ DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04839
Benítez-Márquez, M. D., Bermúdez-González, G., Sánchez-Teba, E. M., & Cruz-Ruiz, E. (2021). Exploring the antecedents of cruisers’ destination loyalty: Cognitive destination image and cruisers’ satisfaction. Mathematics9(11), 1218.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/math9111218
Baker, D. A., & Crompton, J. L. (2000). Quality, satisfaction and behavioral intentions. Annals of tourism research, 27(3), 785-804. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-7383(99)00108-5
Bloemer, J., & Schroder, G.O. (2002). Store Satisfaction and Store Loyalty Explained by Customer and Store-Related Factors. Journal of Consumer Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction and Complaining Behavior, 15, 68-80
Campón-Cerro, A. M., Hernández-Mogollón, J. M., & Alves, H. (2017). Sustainable improvement of competitiveness in rural tourism destinations: The quest for tourist loyalty in Spain. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management6(3), 252-266.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2016.04.005
Carvache-Franco, M., Carvache-Franco, W., Pérez-Orozco, A., Víquez-Paniagua, A. G., & Carvache-Franco, O. (2022). Satisfaction factors that predict loyalty in ecotourism: A study of foreign tourism in Costa Rica. Land11(1), 125.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/land11010125
Chansuk, C., Arreeras, T., Chiangboon, C., Phonmakham, K., Chotikool, N., Buddee, R.,. & Arreeras, S. (2022). Using factor analyses to understand the post-pandemic travel behavior in domestic tourism through a questionnaire survey. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives16, 100691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2022.100691
Centeno, D., & Mandagi, D. (2022). Destination brand gestalt and its effects on brand attachment and brand loyalty. Philippine Management Review, 29(1), 1-24.‏
Chen, C. F., & Chen, F. S. (2010). Experience quality, perceived value, satisfaction and behavioral intentions for heritage tourists. Tourism management, 31(1), 29-35.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2009.02.008
Chen, X., Cheng, Z. F., & Kim, G. B. (2020). Make it memorable: Tourism experience, fun, recommendation and revisit intentions of Chinese outbound tourists. Sustainability12(5), 1904. ‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051904
Chen, N., Wang, Y., Li, J., Wei, Y., & Yuan, Q. (2020). Examining structural relationships among night tourism experience, lovemarks, brand satisfaction, and brand loyalty on “cultural heritage night” in South Korea. Sustainability12(17), 6723.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/su12176723
Chen, A. H., & Wu, R. Y. (2022). Mediating effect of brand image and satisfaction on loyalty through experiential marketing: A case study of a sugar heritage destination. Sustainability14(12), 7122. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127122
Chen, N. C., and T. Šegota. 2015. “Resident Attitudes, Place Attachment and Destination Branding: A Research Framework.” Tourism and Hospitality Management 21 (2): 145–58. doi: 10.20867/thm.21.2.3
Chen, N. C., and L. Dwyer. 2018. “Residents’ Place Satisfaction and Place Attachment on Destination Brand-Building Behaviors: Conceptual and Empirical Differentiation.” Journal of Travel Research 57 (8): 1026–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287517729760
Chen, N. C., L. Dwyer, and T. Firth. 2018. “Residents’ Place Attachment and Word-of-Mouth Behaviours: A Tale of Two Cities.” Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management 36:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2018.05.001
Chen, N. C., L. Dwyer, and T. Firth. 2015. “Factors Influencing Chinese Students’ Behavior in Promoting Australia as a Destination for Chinese Outbound Travel.” Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing 32 (4): 366–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2014.897299
Chen, N. C., L. Dwyer, and T. Firth. 2014b. “Effect of Dimensions of Place Attachment on Residents’ Word-of-Mouth Behavior.” Tourism Geographies 16 (5): 826–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2014.915877
Chi, C. G. Q., & Qu, H. (2008). Examining the structural relationships of destination image, tourist satisfaction and destination loyalty: An integrated approach. Tourism management29(4), 624-636.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2007.06.007
Chu, P. Y., Lee, G. Y., & Chao, Y. (2012). Service quality, customer satisfaction, customer trust, and loyalty in an e-banking context. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal40(8), 1271-1283.‏  https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2012.40.8.1271
Cole, S. T., & Illum, S. F. (2006). Examining the mediating role of festival visitors’ satisfaction in the relationship between service quality and behavioral intentions. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 12(2), 160-173.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766706062156
Dietz, G., & Gillespie, N. (2011). Building and restoring organisational trust. London: Institute of Business Ethics.‏
Eid, R. (2015). Integrating Muslim customer perceived value, satisfaction, loyalty and retention in the tourism industry: An empirical study. International journal of tourism research17(3), 249-260.‏  https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.1982
Gursoy, D., Chen, J. S., & Chi, C. G. (2014). Theoretical examination of destination loyalty formation. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 26(5), 809-827. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-12-2013-0539
Haque, Ahasanul. & Khan, A. Highe. (2013) Factors influencing of tourist loyalty: A study on tourist destinations in Malaysia, In Conference: proceedings of 3rd Asia-Pacific business research conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (pp. 25-26).
Hernández-Rojas, R. D., & Huete Alcocer, N. (2021). The role of traditional restaurants in tourist destination loyalty. Plos one, 16(6), e0253088.‏
Hernandez-Rojas, R. D., Folgado-Fernandez, J. A., & Palos-Sanchez, P. R. (2021). Influence of the restaurant brand and gastronomy on tourist loyalty. A study in Córdoba (Spain). International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science23, 100305.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2021.100305
Hidayah, R. T., Rahayu, A., Wibowo, L. A., & Hendrayati, H. (2022). A MODEL FOR CREATING MEMORABLE TOURISM EXPERIENCES TO INCREASE THE INTENSITY OF TOURIST LOYALTY TO GEOPARK TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN THE PROVINCE OF WEST JAVA: https://doi. org/10.37178/ca-c. 23.1. 098. CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CAUCASUS23(1), 1031-1040.‏
Huete-Alcocer, N., & Hernandez-Rojas, R. D. (2022). Does local cuisine influence the image of a World Heritage destination and subsequent loyalty to that destination?. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science27, 100470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2022.100470
Hung, V. V., Dey, S. K., Vaculcikova, Z., & Anh, L. T. H. (2021). The Influence of Tourists’ Experience on Destination Loyalty: A Case Study of Hue City, Vietnam. Sustainability13(16), 8889.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168889
Izogo, E. E. (2015). Determinants of attitudinal loyalty in Nigerian telecom service sector: Does commitment play a mediating role?. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services23, 107-117.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2014.12.010
‏Jose, A., Rejikumar, G., Asokan Ajitha, A., Mathew, S., & Chakraborty, U. (2022). Destination image and perceived meaningfulness for visitor loyalty: A strategic positioning of Indian destinations. Tourism Recreation Research, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2022.2040294
Jeuring, J. H. G., and T. Haartsen. 2017. “Destination Branding by Residents: The Role of Perceived Responsibility in Positive and Negative Word-of-Mouth.” Tourism Planning and Development 14 (2): 240–59. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2016.1214171
Khoi, B. H., An, P. T. H., & Tuan, N. V. (2021, January). Applying the PLS-SEM model for the loyalty of domestic travelers. In International Econometric Conference of Vietnam (pp. 392-400). Springer, Cham.‏ https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77094-5_30
Kusdibyo, L. (2022). Tourist loyalty to hot springs destination: the role of tourist motivation, destination image, and tourist satisfaction. Leisure/Loisir46(3), 381-408.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/14927713.2021.1986420
‏Li, C., Lv, X., & Scott, M. (2021). Understanding the dynamics of destination loyalty: a longitudinal investigation into the drivers of revisit intentions. Current Issues in Tourism, 1-18.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2021.2012433
‏ Loi, L. T. I., So, A. S. I., Lo, I. S., & Fong, L. H. N. (2017). Does the quality of tourist shuttles influence revisit intention through destination image and satisfaction? The case of Macao. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 32, 115-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2017.06.002
Martínez, P., & Del Bosque, I. R. (2013). CSR and customer loyalty: The roles of trust, customer identification with the company and satisfaction. International journal of hospitality management35, 89-99.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2013.05.009
Masterson, V. A., Enqvist, J. P., Stedman, R. C., & Tengö, M. (2019). Sense of place in social–ecological systems: From theory to empirics. Sustainability science, 14, 555-564. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00695-8
Morgan, R.M., & Hunt, S.D. (1994). The Commitment Trust Theory of Relationship Marketing. Journal of Marketing, 58(3), 20-38. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299405800302
Ndubisi, N.O. (2006). Relationship Marketing and Customer Loyalty. Marketing Intelligence and Planning, 25(1), 98-106. https://doi.org/10.1108/02634500710722425
Neal, J. D., & Gursoy, D. (2008). A multifaceted analysis of tourism satisfaction. Journal of Travel Research, 47(1), 53-62. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287507312434
Oliver, R. L. (1980). A cognitive model of the antecedents and consequences of satisfaction decisions. Journal of marketing research, 17(4), 460-469. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378001700405
Oppermann, M. (2000). Tourism destination loyalty. Journal of travel research39(1), 78-84.‏
https://doi.org/10.1177/004728750003900110
Oppermann, M. (2000). Triangulation – A methodological discussion. International Journal of Tourism Research, 2(2), 141-146.
Parasuraman, A., Zeithaml, V.A., & Berry, L.L. (1988). SERVQUAL: A Multiple-Item Scale for Measuring Customer Perceptions of Service Quality. Journal of Retailing, 64(1), 12-40.
Patwardhan, V., Ribeiro, M. A., Payini, V., Woosnam, K. M., Mallya, J., & Gopalakrishnan, P. (2020). Visitors’ place attachment and destination loyalty: Examining the roles of emotional solidarity and perceived safety. Journal of Travel Research, 59(1), 3-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287518824157
Park, J., Lee, G., & Park, M. (2011). Service quality dimensions perceived by film festival visitors. Event Management, 15(1), 49-61.‏  https://doi.org/10.3727/152599511X12990855575141
Papadimitriou, D. 2015. “Destination Image Components and Word-of-Mouth Intentions in Urban Tourism.” Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research 42 (4): 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1096348015584443
Perez, A., & del Bosque, I. R. (2009). The social role of financial companies as a determinant of consumer behaviour. International Journal of bank marketing27(6), 467-485.‏  doi.org/10.1108/02652320910988339
Prayag, G., & Ryan, C. (2012). Antecedents of tourists’ loyalty to Mauritius: The role and influence of destination image, place attachment, personal involvement, and satisfaction. Journal of travel research51(3), 342-356. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287511410321
Prayag, G., Hosany, S., Muskat, B., & Del Chiappa, G. (2017). Understanding the relationships between tourists’ emotional experiences, perceived overall image, satisfaction, and intention to recommend. Journal of travel research, 56(1), 41-54. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287515620567
Purwati, A. A., Fitrio, T., Ben, F., & Hamzah, M. L. (2020). Product Quality and After-Sales Service in Improving Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty. J. Econ, 16(2), 223-235.
Ramesh, V., & Jaunky, V. C. (2021). The tourist experience: Modelling the relationship between tourist satisfaction and destination loyalty. Materials Today: Proceedings37, 2284-2289.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.07.723
Rezaei, M. R., Moradi Romghani, R., Akbarian Ronizi, S., & Lashgari Tafreshi, E. (2021). Evaluating the effect of security on tourists' loyalty to the destination with emphasis on the mediating role of satisfaction and destination image (Case study: Shiraz foreign tourists). Journal of Urban Social Geography8(2), 132-109.‏ [In Persian] 10.22103/JUSG.2021.2049
Ribeiro, M. A., Woosnam, K. M., Pinto, P., & Silva, J. A. (2018). Tourists’ destination loyalty through emotional solidarity with residents: An integrative moderated mediation model. Journal of Travel Research57(3), 279-295.‏ https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287517699089
Reichheld, F. F. (1993). Loyalty-based management. Harvard business review71(2), 64-73.‏
Reichheld, F.F., & Sasser, W.E. (1990). Zero Defections: Quality Comes to Services. Harvard Business Review, 68(5, September-October), 105-111.
Shaw, R. (1997). Trust in Balance: Building Successful Organizations on Results, Integrity and Concern. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Simpson, P. M., and J. A. Siguaw. 2008. “The Role of Traveler Type, Residents, and Identity Salience.” Journal of Travel Research 47 (2): 167–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287508321198
Stathopoulou, A., & Balabanis, G. (2016). The effects of loyalty programs on customer satisfaction, trust, and loyalty toward high-and low-end fashion retailers. Journal of Business Research69(12), 5801-5808.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.04.177
Stedman, R. C. (2008). What do we" mean" by place meanings? Implications of place meanings for managers and practitioners. Vols. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-744. In LE Kruger, TE Hall, & MC Stiefel (Eds.), Understanding concepts of place in recreation research and management. Portland, OR: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station.
Su, H. J., Cheng, K. F., & Huang, H. H. (2011). Empirical study of destination loyalty and its antecedent: The perspective of place attachment. The Service Industries Journal31(16), 2721-2739.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2010.511188
Stumpf, P., Vojtko, V., & Janecek, P. (2020). Do European tourists intend to revisit the same countries? Effect of satisfaction in European Union destinations. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism20(4), 398-417.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2020.1807405
Stylidis, D., Woosnam, K. M., Ivkov, M., & Kim, S. S. (2020). Destination loyalty explained through place attachment, destination familiarity and destination image. International Journal of Tourism Research22(5), 604-616.‏  https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2359
‏ Su, L., Hsu, M. K., & Swanson, S. (2017). The effect of tourist relationship perception on destination loyalty at a world heritage site in China: The mediating role of overall destination satisfaction and trust. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research41(2), 180-210.‏ https://doi.org/10.1177/1096348014525630
‏Suhartanto, D., Clemes, M. D., & Wibisono, N. (2018). How experiences with cultural attractions affect destination image and destination loyalty. Tourism Culture & Communication, 18(3), 176-188. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3727/109830418X15319363084463
Suhartanto, D., Brien, A., Primiana, I., Wibisono, N., & Triyuni, N. N. (2020). Tourist loyalty in creative tourism: the role of experience quality, value, satisfaction, and motivation. Current Issues in Tourism23(7), 867-879.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2019.1568400
Taylor, S.A., Celuch, K., & Goodwin, S. (2004). The Importance of Brand Equity to Customer Loyalty. The Journal of Product and Brand Management, 13(4), 217-227. https://doi.org/10.1108/10610420410546934
Tsai, S. P. (2012). Place attachment and tourism marketing: Investigating international tourists in Singapore. International Journal of Tourism Research, 14(2), 139-152. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.842
‏Wang, G., Huang, L., Xu, C., He, K., Shen, K., & Liang, P. (2022). Analysis of the Mediating Role of Place Attachment in the Link between Tourists’ Authentic Experiences of, Involvement in, and Loyalty to Rural Tourism. Sustainability14(19), 12795.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912795
Williady, A., Wardhani, H. N., & Kim, H. S. (2022). A Study on Customer Satisfaction in Bali’s Luxury Resort Utilizing Big Data through Online Review. Administrative Sciences12(4), 137. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci12040137
Wassler, P., and K. Hung. 2017. “Conceptualizing Residents’ Destination Brand Ambassador Behavior.” Paper presented at the INVTUR 2017 Conference, Aveiro, Portugal, May 17.
Xiong, L., C. King, and R. Piehler. 2013. “‘That’s Not My Job’: Exploring the Employee Perspective in the Development of Brand Ambassadors.” International Journal of Hospitality Management 35:348–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2013.07.009
Van der Werff, L., Legood, A., Buckley, F., Weibel, A., & de Cremer, D. (2019). Trust motivation: The self-regulatory processes underlying trust decisions. Organizational Psychology Review9(2-3), 99 -123.‏ https://doi.org/10.1177/2041386619873616
van den Heuvel, L., Blicharska, M., Stensland, S., & Rönnbäck, P. (2022). Been there, done that? Effects of centrality-to-lifestyle and experience use history on angling tourists’ loyalty to a Swedish salmon fishery. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 39, 100549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2022.100549
Vareiro, L., Ribeiro, J. C., & Remoaldo, P. C. (2019). What influences a tourist to return to a cultural destination?. International Journal of Tourism Research, 21(2), 280-290. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2260
Veasna, S., Wu, W. Y., & Huang, C. H. (2013). The impact of destination source credibility on destination satisfaction: The mediating effects of destination attachment and destination image. Tourism management, 36, 511-526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2012.09.007
Yoo, M., & Bai, B. (2013). Customer loyalty marketing research: A comparative approach between hospitality and business journals. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 33, 166-177.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2012.07.009
Zhang, H., Fu, X., Cai, L. A., & Lu, L. (2014). Destination image and tourist loyalty: A meta-analysis. Tourism management40, 213-223.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.06.006
Zhang, T., Chen, J., & Hu, B. (2019). Authenticity, quality, and loyalty: Local food and sustainable tourism experience. Sustainability11(12), 3437.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123437
Zhou, M., & Yu, H. (2022). Exploring How Tourist Engagement Affects Destination Loyalty: The Intermediary Role of Value and Satisfaction. Sustainability14(3), 1621.‏  https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031621