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This study aims to assess the factors that influence consumer attitude towards a destination, and to present a new conceptual framework for further investigation of the role of cognition and metacognition in tourism attitudinal research. Existing research in social psychology has established that three factors influence consumer attitude; amount of thought, valence of thinking and thought confidence. While cognition, amount and valence of thinking, has been studied previously in tourism research, metacognition, measured as thought confidence, is often overlooked in the field. To address this gap, this research note employs the self-validation hypothesis from social psychology to explore consumers' attitudes towards a tourism destination. The findings show metacognition plays a central role in forming destination attitude. Also, valence of thinking has the strongest impact on attitude. This research note contributes to tourism knowledge by exploring the cognitive and metacognitive aspects of attitude formation. In addition, this study adds value by proposing a model to guide future tourism attitudinal research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visitor attitude is fundamental to destination selection in the tourism literature. Yet, there remains a notable dearth of critical reviews to assess the current status of knowledge on the topic. This study, therefore, seeks to map and critically evaluate the state of visitor attitudinal research to set the agenda for future scholarly enquiry. A review of journal articles on the topic in four leading tourism journals was undertaken. To critically explore the literature and identify research trends, a paradigm funnel approach was used. The findings demonstrate that most studies on the topic are based on empirical research and specific theories, most notably the contact model and theory of planned behaviour. However, few publications apply analytical methods and innovative ontological and epistemological approaches. This paper provides recommendations for future studies to advance visitor attitudinal research, advocating for the use of innovative methods and theoretical approaches in parent sub-disciplines, particularly psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating Cognitive Appraisal Theory with the transmission model of inspiration, this paper investigates the tourist inspiration-eliciting process in the context of wellness tourism. A questionnaire survey (N = 974) was provided to wellness tourists in Shizhu county, China, with findings revealing the motivations of wellness tourists positively influence goal relevance and goal congruence. Goal congruence led to the elicitation of inspiration, which could be separated into two stages of inspired-by and inspired-to. Tourist inspiration was found to diminish as frequency of visitation increased. This research provides conceptual clarity surrounding the intricate connection between motivations and tourist inspiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the advent of the experience economy, conceptualisations of authenticity are often both perplexing and uncertain. This paper argues for a nuanced understanding of the multi-dimensional nature of authenticity of restaurant experiences from the production perspective. It does this by proposing a framework to produce authenticity using the interrelationships of three fundamental elements of a restaurant experience, the Consumer, the Provider, and the Experience, and by discussing the consumers' experiential outcomes resulting from such interrelationships. By applying the interrelationships to reconceptualise the existing authenticity approaches in tourism and hospitality contexts, this paper suggests that direct interaction between the provider and the consumer can enhance authenticity of restaurant experiences. As a result, incorporating such direct interaction supports the multi-dimensional approach to authenticity in restaurants. The three outcomes resulting from the interrelationships can further strengthen perceptions of authenticity in restaurant experiences. The paper offers both theoretical and practical insights which advance the production of authenticity in restaurants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the analysis of vast amounts of user-generated content, which are currently dominated by text analytics and machine learning, need more methodical incorporation of reliable traditional methodologies to facilitate deeper understanding of concepts and theory building. Specifically, a systematic approach that integrates machine learning and traditional research methods is needed to overcome inherent drawbacks of both approaches. A step-by-step methodological framework for the analysis of online reviews is proposed and demonstrated. An application of the framework with an example drawn from the context of understanding authenticity in dining experiences illustrates its usefulness in the investigation of complex concepts. This paper represents one of the first attempts to systematise an integrated learning approach to understand complex concepts and build theories in tourism and hospitality, contributing to more rigourous procedures for processing and analysing large data sets of user-generated content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript critically assesses the relationship between novelty and memorable tourism experiences (MTEs). Prior literature indicates that novelty is an antecedent of attention, emotions, memory and behaviour. Despite this focus limited studies have considered the emergence of novelty in broader psychological literature. Subsequently, this manuscript explores the evolution of novelty across personality, behavioural, cognitive and neuropsychology. Drawing on a narrative review this manuscript observes that concepts from behavioural and personality psychology have traditionally dominated tourism literature. However, cognitive and neuropsychological approaches are emerging in prevalence, which presents an opportunity to advance discourse on MTEs. A core contribution of this manuscript is a visual representation which depicts the evolution of novelty across four schools of thought in psychology, outlining potential implications for the tourism scholarship. Future research on tourism experiences should consider advances in the parent discipline of psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript critically assesses progress in tourist experience research. A systematic review of 356 published articles on the tourist experience revealed studies are predominantly guided by the positivist paradigm, psychology-oriented, and survey-based. Quantitative methods dominated by structural equation modelling are prevalent, with advanced methodological approaches emerging, but still in their infancy. Five macro-level trends are articulated to advance discourse on the tourist experience, specifically: an internationalization of authorship; a movement from atheoretical to theoretical; a shift from single to multi-subject view; a trend from correlation analysis to causal inference; and a transformation from behaviourism to cognitivism. This research develops a conceptual model, termed the I-T-A (Issues-Trends-Avenues) framework, to apply the macro-level trends to shape a future research agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is strong growth in research on tourist emotion, with a substantial scholarly debate emerging, surrounding approaches to measurement. Recently objective physiological methods for measurement of emotion have been applied in the tourism field. However, there are few studies which explore the benefits and limitations of applying physiological and self-report methods to measure emotions. This research aims to compare and contrast physiological and self-report methods to assess emotional responses to tourism marketing stimuli where music was manipulated. This research assessed emotional responses from 37 participants to three tourism advertisements of Iran using four key methods; specifically, FaceReader™, skin conductance, self-report surveys and post hoc interviews. This research found that the light rhythmic music tends to evoke positive emotions and a higher level of emotional arousal in participants than does the traditional Iranian music or a video without music. Physiological and self-report measures of emotional arousal were inconsistent, but both techniques found similar results for assessing the valence of emotions. Thus, results highlight the importance of applying physiological techniques in combination with self-report surveys and post hoc interviews to provide a better and more accurate understanding of emotional experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, tourists' emotional responses to advertising and associated stimuli have been assessed using self-report questionnaires. Image recognition software, such as FaceReader™ provides a means to analyse emotional responses to stimuli, specifically the type of emotion, valence (positive/negative) and arousal (intensity) via facial expressions. This research note reports on the benefits and drawbacks of FaceReader™. Respondents from Iran (5) and Australia (5) were invited to a laboratory to watch a tourism advertisement (ski resort in Iran). A video camera was used to record the facial expressions of respondents while viewing the advertisement. Results provide an indication that participants had overall low arousal and positive emotions while watching the tourism video. FaceReader™ proved useful for collecting and analysing real time data concerning seven discrete emotions plus valence and arousal. Since FaceReader™ is sensitive to light and participants with thick frame glasses, it is recommended that future studies apply this software with additional physiological and self-report measures to advance understanding of the measurement of emotions in the tourism field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCause-related marketing is commonly regarded as an effective tool for tourism enterprises to bolster their commitment to sustainable practices, fostering environmental and social responsibility within their operations and offerings. However, despite this, there is limited research into the implementation of cause-related social marketing to achieve the sustainability goals of tourism enterprises. Consequently, this research leverages construal level theory to examine how goal framing in cause-related tourism marketing communications nudges consumers towards engaging in prosocial behaviours, with an explicit emphasis on the boundary conditions in which desired effects diminish. Results across two pilot studies and four scenario-based experiments demonstrate that the specific (vs. abstract) goal framing elicits a higher degree of prosocial behaviours through the critical role of empathy. Two moderating variables demonstrate the enhancement effect of specific goal framing is attenuated for consumers already high (vs. low) on the agreeableness trait and those who are primed with a cyclical (vs. linear) temporal perspective. Additional analyses and controls, including ruling out three alternative explanations, reinforce the reliability and validity of the results. This research provides evidence-based insights critical to amplify the effectiveness of cause-related corporate social responsibility initiatives in tourism, unveiling the specific mechanisms which underpin consumer responses to corporate social responsibility messages and communication framing. Future research should examine the critical role of goal framing in the social repositioning of tourism enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food and beverage (F&B) management education is essential to hospitality, and arguably tourism and event, management students. Higher educators are challenged in resourcing various approaches. As many students have experiences as F&B workers and/or consumers, reflective assessment leveraging these experiences may be an effective learning tool. Using student reflective journals from an Australian institution’s undergraduate F&B management cohort, this article reports the process, effectiveness, and challenges associated with reflective learning. Using Nvivo®, analysis identified three key themes: students demonstrated comprehension for a theoretical topic by effectively interpreting a past experience; they applied this greater level of theoretical comprehension to further evaluate that past experience and challenge assumptions; and they leveraged increased theoretical comprehension and the application and evaluative processes of past experiences to effect reflective thinking. Findings suggest students from Confucian heritage backgrounds require additional tutelage in attempting reflective tasks. Implications for educators are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the influence of formal education on lodging management success, opinions of 246 senior and middle-level executives from 28 states across the US were obtained. Success is measured in terms of competency development, and four highly relevant areas of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) are investigated: financial management, leadership and management, marketing and customer-centeredness. Consistent with the limited prior research in this area, the findings of the current research demonstrate that today's industry professionals perceive formal education as having only a moderate impact on lodging management success. Study findings have implications for educators, professionals and industry by providing opportunity for enhanced delivery of education and achieving lodging management success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article identifies hospitality firms that are frequent subjects of positive customer storytelling and examines these firms for common practices. Seven exemplar firms were identified. Themes drawn from data were categorized into 10 theme clusters. A single theme-related to customer and employee obsession-was determined to be the common thread. An assessment of customer and employee practices from the exemplar firms is provided to give illustrations of specific practices. By understanding some of the practices of exemplar firms, managers can gain insights into how customer and employee treatment strategies can be incorporated into their businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines current views of lodging industry executives as to competencies required of student interns and introduces a model for the development of these competencies through the 'work integrated learning' internship process. The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the intern competencies that are currently considered most necessary by the lodging industry - an area that is under-researched in the lodging internship literature - so as to progress understanding of how lodging management education programs, particularly internships, can improve educational outcomes for all stakeholders to the process - educators, industry and students. The paper first offers an introduction and background on work integrated learning, internships and lodging competencies, before presenting the results of a preliminary survey into lodging executive's views of desired intern competency levels, pre- and post-internships, across 18 core essential competencies (CECs). The results of this preliminary survey indicate that leadership and interpersonal skills are the intern competencies most required by industry and that interns should even display some level of competence in these skills prior to commencing the internship. The Lodging Internship Competency Model proposed is an introductory model designed to highlight potential relationships between key variables in the competency development process of the lodging internship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]