Determinants of International Tourists’ Satisfaction: Evidences from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59645/abr.v13i2.19Keywords:
Determinants, Tourists, Satisfaction, Serengeti, TanzaniaAbstract
This study was conducted to assess determinants of international tourists’ satisfaction at Serengeti National Park (SENAPA) in Tanzania. The study adopted cross-sectional research design and it involved 1,148 tourists who visited the park between March and September in 2019. Data were collected by a structured survey questionnaire and were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique. Findings revealed that service quality (SQ) had a positive significant effect on tourists’ satisfaction (SAT). Similarly, destination image (DI) and perceived value (PV) were found to be positive predictors of tourists’ satisfaction. Further findings showed that the effects of service quality and destination image on tourists’ satisfaction were maximized when mediated through perceived value. The study concluded that the international tourists left the park with feelings of satisfaction due to good quality of services, reasonable prices as well as good image of the park that included natural and cultural attractions. In order to ensure that tourists are always satisfied, SENAPA management should strive to sustain provision of services of good quality at competitive rates that would make visitors realize value-for-money for their trips.
References
Adams, J. S. (1963). Toward an understanding of inequity. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67, 422-436.
Allameh, S. M., Khazaei Pool, J., Jaberi, A., Salehzadeh, R. & Asadi, H. (2015). Factors influencing sport tourists’ revisit intentions. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 27(2), 191–207.
Alnawas, I. & Hemsley-Brown, J. (2019). Market orientation and hotel performance: investigating the role of high-order marketing capabilities. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 31(4), 1885-1905.
Assaker, G. & Hallak, R. (2013). Moderating effects of tourists’ novelty-seeking tendencies on destination image, visitor satisfaction, and short-and long-term revisit intentions, Journal of Travel Research, 52(5), 600-613.
Awang, Z. (2015). SEM Made Simple: a Gentle Approach to Learning Structural Equation Modelling. Bandar BaruBangi: MPWS Rich Publication.
Bajs, I. P. (2015). Tourist perceived value, relationship to satisfaction, and behavioural intentions: The example of the Croatian tourist destination Dubrovnik. Journal of Travel Research, 54(1), 122–134.
Bang, N.V. & Hai, H.N. (2019). Factors Impact on Tourist Destination Loyalty: A Case Study in Ho Chi Minh City. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 8(3), 44-55.
Bentler, P. M. & Chou, C. P. (1987). Practical issues in structural modelling. Sociological Methods & Research, 16(1), 78-117.
Brunner, M. & Süß, H. (2005). Analyzing the Reliability of Multidimensional Measures: An Example from Intelligence Research. Retrieved in May 16th, 2019 from: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download
Chaulagain, S., Wiitala, J. & Fu, X. (2019). The impact of country image and destination image on US tourists’ travel intention. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 12, 1–11.
Chen, C.F. & Tsai, D. (2007). How destination image and evaluative factors affect behavioural intentions. Tourism Management, 28(4), 1115 – 1122.
Chen, L., Li, Y.Q. & Liu, C.H. (2019). How airline service quality determines the quantity of repurchase intention: Mediate and moderate effects of brand quality and perceived value. Journal of Air Transport Management, 75, 185–197.
Cheng, B. L., Shaheen, M. & Cham, T. H. (2014). The Associations between Service Quality, Corporate Image, Customer Satisfaction, and Loyalty: Evidence from the Malaysian Hotel Industry, Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 23 (3), 314-326.
Chi, C.G. Q. & Qu, H. (2008). Examining the structural relationships of destination image, tourist satisfaction and destination loyalty: An integrated approach. Tourism Management, 29, 624-636.
Dedeoğlu, B. B. (2019). Shaping tourists’ destination quality perception and loyalty through destination country image: The importance of involvement and perceived value. Tourism Management Perspectives, 29, 105–117.
Fornell, C. & Larcker, D.F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18, 39-50.
Gallarza, M. G. & Saura, I. G. (2006). Value Dimensions, Perceived Value, Satisfaction and Loyalty: An Investigation of University Students' Travel Behaviour. Tourism Management, 27 (3): 437-452.
Garson, G. D. (2009). Structural Equation Modelling. Statistical Publishing Associates: Southington
Global Alliance for National Parks (GANP) (2021). Continent National Park Spotlight. Retrieved in July 20th, 2021 from: https://national-parks.org/
South African National Parks (2021): Kruger National Park tariffs: retrieved in June 15th, 2021 from:
Gorsuch, R, L. (1983). Factor Analysis (2nd Edition). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: New Jersey.
Government of Kenya (2019). Tourism Sector Performance Report. Nairobi: Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M. & Sarstedt, M. (2017). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (2nd Edition.). Thousand Oaks, California.
Hair, J.F., Anderson, R.E., Tatham, R.L. & Black, W.C. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th Edition.). Prentice Hall: New Jersey.
Han, H. & Hyun, S. S. (2015). Customer retention in the medical tourism industry: Impact of quality, satisfaction, trust, and price reasonableness. Tourism Management, 46, 20–29.
Hapsari, R., Clemes, M. & Dean, D. (2016). The Mediating Role of Perceived Value on the Relationship between Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction: Evidence from Indonesian Airline Passengers. Procedia Economics and Finance, 35, 388–395.
Jeong, Y., Kim, S.K. & Yu, J.G. (2019). Determinants of Behavioural Intentions in the Context of Sport Tourism with the Aim of Sustaining Sporting Destinations. Sustainability 11 (11), 1- 15.
Kasiri, L.A., Cheng, K.T.G., Sambasivan, M. & Sidin, S.M. (2017). Integration of standardization and customization: impact on service quality, customer satisfaction, and loyalty. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 35, 91-97.
Kazururu, B., (2014). Determinants of Tourist Length of Stay in Tanzania. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 5(9) (1), 204 – 214.
Kazuzuru, B. (2018). Determinants of Tourist Spending in Tanzania. International Journal for innovative research in multidisciplinary field, 4(4), 116 – 130.
Kim, K.H. & Park, D.B. (2017). Relationships among perceived value, satisfaction, and loyalty: community-based ecotourism in Korea. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 34(2), 171-191.
Kim, S., Kim, J. & Park, S. (2017). The Effects of Perceived Value, Website Trust and Hotel Trust on Online Hotel Booking Intention. Sustainability, 9(12), 1- 14.
Kline, R. B. (2015). Principles and practice of structural equation Modelling. Guilford publications: New York.
Kotler, P., & Armstrong, G.M. (2018). Principles of Marketing. Pearson: New Jersey
Kotler, P. & Keller, K. L. (2012). Marketing Management (14thEdition). Prentice Hall: New Jersey.
Li, H., Lien, C. H.,Wang, S.W., Wang, T. & Dong, W. (2021). Event and city image: the effect on revisit intention. Tourism Review, 71(1), 212-228.
Lim, W. M. (2019). An equity theory perspective of online group buying. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 54(5), 1 – 10.
Mallya, H. H. S. (2013). Dimensions for Positioning Tourists’ Destinations: The Case of Tanzania. PhD thesis submitted to the Open University of Tanzania. Retrieved in July 2018 from: http://repository.out.ac.tz/823/
Matolo, R.J. & Salia, P.J. (2017). Relationship between Tourists’ Expectations and Experiences: Empirical Evidences from Visitors to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(8), 440 – 450.
Mlozi, S. & Pesämaa, O. (2013). Adventure tourist destination choice in Tanzania. Current Issues in Tourism, 16(1), 63–95.
MohdSuki, N. (2017). Determinants of Consumers’ Purchase Intentions of Organic Vegetables: Some Insights from Malaysia. Journal of Food Products Marketing, 24(4), 392–412.
Oliver R. L. & DeSarbo, W. S. (1988). Response Determinants in Satisfaction Judgment, Journal of Consumer Research, 14, 495- 507.
Parasuraman, A. (1998) Customer service in business-to-business markets: An agenda for research. Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, 13, 309-321.
Parasuraman, A., Zeithaml, V. A. & Berry, L. L. (1985). A conceptual model of service quality and its implications for future research. Journal of Marketing, 49, 41–50.
Pike, S. (2010). Destination Branding Case Study: Tracking Brand Equity for an Emerging Destination between 2003 and 2007. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 34 (1), 124 – 139.
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.
Reisineger, Y., & Turner, L. (1997). Tourist Satisfaction with Hosts: A Cultural Approach Comparing Thai tourists and Australian Hosts, Pacific Tourism Review, 1, 147-159.
Ryu, K. & Han, H. (2009). Influence of the Quality of Food, Service, and Physical Environment on Customer Satisfaction and Behavioural Intention in Quick-Casual Restaurants: Moderating Role of Perceived Price. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 34(3), 310–329.
SafariBookings (2021): Top 10 Best African Safari Parks and Destinations of 2021. Retrieved in June 5th 2021, from: https://www.safaribookings.com/blog/top-10-best-african-safari-parks-and-destinations
Sangpikul, A. (2018). The effects of travel experience dimensions on tourist satisfaction and destination loyalty: the case of an island destination. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 12(1), 106-126.
Schreiber, J. B., Nora, A., Stage, F. K., Barlow, E. A., & King, J. (2006). Reporting Structural Equation Modelling and Confirmatory Factor Analysis Results: A Review. The Journal of Educational Research, 99(6), 323–338.
Shen, Ye (2014). Perceived Value in Tourism Experience. Tourism Travel and Research Association: Advancing Tourism Research Globally. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 32(4), 401-415.
South African National Parks (SANParks) (2021): Kruger National Park tariffs: retrieved in June 15th, 2021 from: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/tourism/tariffs.php
Swan, J. & Oliver, R.L. (1989). Consumers Perception of Interpersonal Equity and Satisfaction in Transaction: A Field Survey Approach. Journal of Marketing, 53, 21-35.
Teeroovengadum, V. (2020). Service quality dimensions as predictors of customer satisfaction and loyalty in the banking industry: moderating effects of gender. European Business Review, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print).
Tosun, C., Dedeoğlu, B. B. & Fyall, A. (2015). Destination service quality, affective image and revisit intention: The moderating role of past experience. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 4(4), 222–234.
United Nations World Tourism Industry (2019). International Tourism Highlights 2019 Edition. Madrid: UNWTO.
Andreassen, W. T. (2000). Antecedents to satisfaction with service recovery. European Journal of Marketing, 34(1/2), 156–175.
Williams, P., & Soutar, G. N. (2009). Value, Satisfaction and Behavioural Intentions in an Adventure Tourism Context. Annals of Tourism Research, 36(3), 413–438.
Williams, P., Soutar, G., Ashill, N. J., & Naumann, E. (2017).Value drivers and adventure tourism. Journal of Service Theory and Practice, 27(1), 102–122.
Woodruff, R. B.; Ernest, R. C.; Jenkins, R. L. (1983). Modeling Consumer Satisfaction Processes Using Experience-Based Norms, Journal of Marketing Research, 20, 296-304.
Wu, C.W. (2016). Destination loyalty modelling of the global tourism. Journal of Business Research, 69 (6), 2213-2219.
Wu, Y. L., & Li, E. Y. (2018). Marketing mix, customer value, and customer loyalty in social commerce. Internet Research, 28(1), 74–104.
Zameer, H., Tara, A., Kausar, U. & Mohsin, A. (2015). Impact of service quality, corporate image and customer satisfaction towards customers’ perceived value in the banking sector in Pakistan. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 33(4), 442–456.
Zeithaml, V.A.1988. Consumer Perceptions of Price, Quality, and Value: A Means-End Model and Synthesis of Evidence. Journal of Marketing, 52, 2-22.