Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
  • Publication
    Different native languages as proxy for cultural differences in travel behaviour: Insights from multilingual Switzerland
    Purpose - Differences in travel behaviour between tourists from different nations (implying different cultural backgrounds) have been investigated in several studies. However, most studies do not reveal the potential confounding effects associated with cross-nation studies, such as differences in the economic, legal/regulatory or subcultural contexts of their residents. This exploratory study tries to overcome this gap by investigating differences in travel behaviour between language groups within one country: Switzerland. By holding potential confounding effects constant, our results reveal differences in travel behaviour associated with language, including travel motivation, choice of destination, choice of type of accommodation, duration of trip and travel expenses. Design/methodology/approach - The study is based on data from one of the most comprehensive outbound travel behaviour survey: Travel Market Switzerland. Findings - By holding potential confounding effects constant, our results reveal differences in travel behaviour associated with language, including choice of destination, choice of type of accommodation, duration of trip and travel expenses. Originality/value - Differences in travel behaviour between tourists from different nations (implying different cultural backgrounds) have been investigated in several studies. However, most studies do not reveal the potential confounding effects associated with cross-nation studies, such as differences in the economic, legal/regulatory or subcultural contexts of their residents. This exploratory study tries to overcome this gap.
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  • Publication
    Segmenting outbound tourists based on their activities: toward experiential consuption spheres in tourism services?
    (Emerald Group Publishing, 2013-06)
    Finsterwalder, Jörg
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    Classical socio-demographic segmentation approaches of tourists mostly fail to cluster customer groups appropriately. More recent segmentation approaches have employed a more customer-centric perspective, attempting to capture consumer behavioral patterns. Within such segmentation, one very promising approach examines the activities pursued by tourists. This research aims to identify activity patterns of outbound travelers for segmentation and ultimately to recognize experiential consumption spheres created by tourists at a destination. This paper applies a posteriori, data-driven, activity-based segmentation to outbound travelers. The present study identifies six activity-based clusters: average short-haul holiday experiences (Cluster 1); short repeat healthy winter experiences (Cluster 2); new beach experiences (Cluster 3); short social encounter experiences (Cluster 4); new place experiences (Cluster 5); and seniors' new place experiences (Cluster 6). This research is unlike many other studies that apply segmentation to inbound travelers. The authors' approach analyzes outbound travelers and is based on the notion that activities are the basis of the experiential consumption of consumers and the idea that customers co-create experiences in so-called experiential consumption spheres during activity-based encounters with service providers at a destination.
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    Scopus© Citations 19
  • Publication
    Customer issues related to limited air connectivity
    Air access can be crucial for regional economic development, especially when global industries are involved. However, air traffic generates negative impacts, such as noise and air pollution that can lead to politically motivated calls to reduce air traffic. This paper investigates customer issues and potential responses of frequent flyers to non-market-driven limitations on air transport. Based on a survey conducted at Zurich International Airport we show that frequent air travelers tend to be more senior and to work in industries that involve travel outside of the worker's country of origin. Consequently, they are more critical of potential restrictions on air travel.
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    Scopus© Citations 1
  • Publication
    Predicting Online Travel Purchases : The Case of Switzerland
    (travel & tourism research association, 2011-06-19)
    This paper examines why and under what conditions prospective travelers complete their bookings through online services compared to other methods. The study is based on a repre-sentative survey within 1,898 Swiss households, recording their travel behavior during the entire year 2007. The results show that the likelihood of booking online increases if someone is drawn to a website to gather information in the first place, and if the product sold through the website is transparent and well-understood (either per se or because the customer is familiar with the product), or if any other booking-related communication would impose a financial charge, independent of the socio-demographic background of the prospective traveler.
  • Publication
    Customer Value of Second Home Ownership: Insights from a Mature Market (Switzerland)
    (Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy, 2007-12-03)
    Weinert, Robert
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    This paper discusses the customer value of second home ownership. Because non-rented second homes are an increasing problem in many Swiss alpine destinations (under-utilisation of costly communal infrastructure, visual impairment, loss of potential income from visitors) an investigation into the drivers and barriers of renting out second homes is needed. This study presents the results from approximately 50 in-depth interviews using the means-end approach in a hierarchical value map. The results reveals that the prime reason for renting out second homes is economic, and the reasons people do not rent out are psychological. Therefore, measures to increase the willingness to rent include economic incentives, but also reducing psychological barriers.
  • Publication
    Travel expense estimation by hedonic regression - The case of Switzerland
    This paper estimates the expenditures of Swiss travellers by means of a hedonic regression. Based on the constituting elements of a trip (number of travel companions from the same household, duration of trip, choice of destination, means of transport and accommodation), the overall and marginal costs of a trip (and thus expenditures) are estimated by log-linear regression. The key determinants of travel expenditure are (1) with regard to domestic tourism the number of participating household members, and (2) with regard to international tourism the duration of a trip. With regard to all forms of tourism, the type of accommodation has the comparably highest effect on trip expenditures.
  • Publication
    Travel expense estimation by hedonic regression - The case of Switzerland
    ( 2008-02-07)
    This paper estimates the expenditures of Swiss travellers by means of a hedonic regression. Based on the constituting elements of a trip (number of travel companions from the same household, duration of trip, choice of destination, means of transport and accommodation), the overall and marginal costs of a trip (and thus expenditures) are estimated by log-linear regression. The key determinants of travel expenditure are (1) with regard to domestic tourism the number of participating household members, and (2) with regard to international tourism the duration of a trip. With regard to all forms of tourism, the type of accommodation has the comparably highest effect on trip expenditures.
  • Publication
    Travel expense estimation by hedonic regression - The case of Switzerland
    ( 2006-04-22)
    The paper presented estimates the expenses of Swiss travellers by means of a hedonic regression. Based on the constituting elements of a trip (number of travel companions from the same household, duration of trip, choice of destination, means of transport and accommodation), the overall costs of a trip (expenses) are estimated by log-linear regression. The results reveal that the travel expenses per person and trip underproportionally increase in the case of an increase of distance and duration, with an underproportional negative effect of the number of participating household members. The value drivers identified are the number of participat-ing household members (with regard to domestic tourism) and the duration of a trip (with regard to international tourism). Overall, the type of accommodation has the comparably highest elasticity.