4 research outputs found
The Impact of Affective Destination Image on Domestic Tourist Preferences: A Study of Gaborone City, Botswana
No full textVisitor preferences is a personal choice of a destination for a defined purpose of travel. In most times it is influenced by value for money, intention to re-visit and the intention to recommend the destination to others. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence destinations affective image on visitor preferences in destination Gaborone City, Botswana. Descriptive survey design was used for describing the study population and their characteristics. The target population was 3750 and a sample size of 360 domestic tourists who visited Gaborone departing through SSKIA Structured questionnaires was used to collect quantitative data, and interview schedules was used to collect qualitative data. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results were presented in tables. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The study findings revealed R coefficient of 0.638, implying that destinations affective image as the independent factor had a correlation of 63.8 percent with visitor preferences in Gaborone City. This was supported by coefficient of determination (R-square) of 0.408. This meant that destinations affective image explained 40.8 percent of the variations in tourist preferences in Gaborone City. The study concludes that improving destination affective image has the likelihood of enhancing visitor preferences of destination in Gaborone City, Botswana. Gaborone city has a rich cultural heritage that can be showcased through cultural tourism, including cultural festivals, traditional dance performances, and visits to local museums and historical sites. By promoting cultural tourism, Gaborone can attract a niche market of travelers interested in experiencing local cultures and traditions. The study thus recommends that tourism destinations in Gaborone city needs to have a strong marketing strategy that promotes the city's unique features and attractions, including social media campaigns, collaborations with travel bloggers and influencers, and attending travel shows and exhibitions.
Keywords: Affective, Destination image, Domestic tourist, Destination preferences, Gaborone Cit
Stakeholder Networks in Tour Operators’ Sustainable Environmental Practices and Visitor Choice Behavior in Narok County, Kenya
No full textThere is no denying the fact that tourism is the largest industry in the world in terms of earnings and employment generation. Visitor Choice Behavior is the post visit behavior intentions of visitor on future choices. The choices are based on distinctiveness of travel experience which is greatly affected by environmental degradation in destinations. Tour operators play a critical role in promoting sustainable environmental practices in destinations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate stakeholder networks in tour operators’ sustainable environmental practices and their influence on visitor choice behavior in Narok County, Kenya. The study was informed by Stakeholder theory approach theory and Rational Choice Theory. The design used was descriptive survey research design. The study population was 176 tour operators registered by Tourism Regulatory Authority, and members of Kenya Association of Tour Operators and have access to Narok county and 397 visitors visiting attractions in Narok County. Questionnaires were issued to visitors and tour operator staff to collect primary data. Interviews schedules were used to get information from high ranking official of tour operators and tourism officials. Data was analysed using statistical package for social science SPSS software version 20.0. The coefficient of tour operators’ sustainable environmental practices had a positive and statistically significant effect on visitor choice behavior (β=.557, P<0.05). The coefficient of communities indicated a positive and statistically significant effect on visitor choice behavior (β=.298, P<0.05). The study concludes that there is need for the Kenya Association of Tour Operators to partner with the Ministry of tourism with the aim of educating and sensitizing visitors about the need to protect environment. There is need of periodic sustainable tourism and environmental related seminars and workshops to sensitize both the visitors and tour operators for the need to uphold sustainable environmental practices. There is need for joint participation in the development of sustainable tourism embedded in environment conservation.
Keywords: Stakeholder networks, Tour operators, Sustainable environmental practices, Visitor choice behavior, Narok County
Role of International Celebrity Events Destination Promotion on Tour Firms Performance in Nairobi City County, Kenya
No full textpossess important social, cultural, and economic outputs. International celebrity events provide additional destination attraction and they create a sustainable tourism industry across many parts of the world. Despite research in recent times in events gaining tremendous interest among scholars and emerging as a crucial area of study, little is known on how international celebrity events hosting influences tour firms’ performance. This study explored the role of international celebrity events destination promotion on tour firms’ performance in Nairobi City County, Kenya. A cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study. The sample size of the study constituted of 390 managerial employees who were drawn from all the 329 tour firms registered with the Kenya Association of Tour Operators. Stratified, systematic, purposive, and convenient sampling approaches were used to sample the respondents, while questionnaires and interview schedules were used for collection of data. Results showed that the international celebrity events destination promotion depicted a positive and statistically significant relationship with tour firms performance (p=0.000<0.05). The study recommends development and hosting of special international celebrity events in the country by event organizers as the basis of increasing the competitiveness of Nairobi City County as a preferred tourist destination.
Keywords: International Celebrity Events Destination Promotion, Image, Hosting, Tour Firms, Performance, Competitivenes
The Role of Tour Operators’ Sustainable Environmental Practices on Visitor Choice Behavior in Narok County, Kenya
No full textIn Narok County, which hosts the Maasai Mara National Reserve, tourism is a major earner important for Kenya’s economy overall. Nonetheless, the rise in tourism operations in this ecologically sensitive area has caused environmental degradation, endangering the sustainability of the region\u27s natural heritage. Narok County is thus the epicenter of this study. The objective of this study is to examine the contribution of tour operators\u27 sustainable environmental practices on the choice behavior of the visitors. The research design used was mixed method research design. The target population was 314 tour operators and sample population were 176 tour operators that are registered by Tourism Regulatory Authority, are member of Kenya Association of Tour Operators and have access to Narok county. The target population of visitors were 76,217 and sample population was 397 visitors visiting attractions in Narok County. simple random sampling technique was employed to select the tour operators and visitors. Questionnaires were issued to visitors and tour operator staff to collect primary data. Interviews schedules and observation checklist were used to get information from high ranking official of tour operators. Data was analysed using statistical package for social science SPSS software version 20.0. The value of R square was 0.259, an indication that 25.9 percent of visitor choice behavior is caused by tour operators’ sustainable environmental practices. The coefficient of tour operators’ sustainable environmental practices had a positive and statistically significant effect on visitor choice behavior (β=0.557, P<0.05). The beta estimate suggests that a unit change in tour operators’ sustainable environmental practices result to 0.557 units change in visitor choice behavior in Narok County, Kenya. The outcomes of the study lead the to the conclusion that the sustainable environmental practices of tour operators have an impact on the decision-making behavior of visitors. The study recommends for the need of the government to actively involve tour operators in key decisions regarding achieving sustainable tourism in destinations
